Seeking the Face of God
(Psalm 27:8-9)
Mike Johnson
Many think David wrote Psalm 27 when fleeing from Saul, which is likely the case. Earlier in the Psalm, he expresses strong faith and confidence in God, but verses 8-9 reflect him apparently facing difficulties. In these verses, he addresses God saying, “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.” David says he will seek God’s face and asks God not to turn His face from him. This may have been at a time when David was struggling with himself or God. Perhaps he felt God had not responded to his prayers as quickly as he would have liked and had turned His face away. What does the concept of God turning His face from someone mean? We will look further at this concept and see what we might learn.
To begin with, the concept of seeking the face of God or God hiding His face from someone appears several times in the Scriptures (Job 13:24; Ps. 13:1; 34:15-16; 44:24; 69:17; 88:14; 102:2). But, God is a spirit and does not have a face. References to the “face” of God is a figure of speech called “anthropomorphism,” which means attributing human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object. God turning His face toward a person entails receiving His protection, presence, guidance, and favor. God hiding His face from someone would mean being without these things.
Next, we see in these two verses that God took the initiative, asking the Psalmist to seek His face. His statement tells us that the Lord wants to have a relationship with us; He wants everyone to be saved (2 Pet. 3:8-10). So often, rulers and others of importance are not interested in having contact with the people. This attitude is not the case with God, as He wants us to seek His face. David’s response was like an echo as he said he would seek God’s face. Then David, perhaps expressing frustration, asked God not to hide His face from him.
How do we seek the face of God? How do we keep God from hiding His face from us? Various passages tell us how to do this and the benefits which will follow. Note 2 Chronicles 7:14.
“if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
The verse above shows that seeking God’s face involves humility, praying, and turning from wicked ways. God will then “hear from heaven,” and we will receive forgiveness. Consider Psalm 105:104.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!”
From the verses above, we learn that one must give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, and make known His deeds, among others. We must also sing psalms to Him, talk of His wondrous works, glory in His name, and seek His strength. Note another passage.
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face” (Ps 24:3-6).
From these verses, we see that seeking the face of the Lord involves having clean hands and a pure heart and not having worshiped idols or having sworn deceitfully. As a result, we will receive blessings and righteousness from God, who will save us.
Are we seeking the face of God? Is God hiding his face from us? We must always seek the face of God!
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Some Facts About the Judgment
Mike Johnson
What does the Bible teach about the Judgment Day? It is frequently mentioned in God’s Word and was often preached (Acts 24:25; 10:42). Consider some facts found in the Scriptures about the judgment, which everyone should know.
IT IS CERTAIN
Few things in life are absolute. The judgment, however, will happen. Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Paul says in Acts 17:31 that God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world. To say that the judgment will not occur is to deny the Word of God
ALL WILL BE JUDGED
There are few things we must do in life. Everyone, however, must face the Judgment Day. We cannot bribe our way out of it or hide from it. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Romans 2:11 tells us that God is not a respecter of persons. This principle certainly applies to the judgment.
GOD’S WORD IS THE BASIS
We will not be helped on the judgment day by:
- our earthly possessions (Lk. 16:19-23);
- our claims of righteousness (Mt. 7:21-23, Lk. 18:10-14);
- our color, race, or sex (Gal. 3:28);
- our feelings (Lk. 18:10-11);
- what our parents have done (Rom. 14:12).
Instead, God’s Word will judge us. In John 12:48, Christ said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” Romans 2:16 tells us, “in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” Our life must correspond to God’s Word. 2 Corinthians 5:10 also points out, in speaking of the judgment day, “. . . that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
IT WILL BE FINAL
There are many areas where we can get a second chance today. For example, criminals might be taken from society for their crimes but may serve a sentence and get another opportunity to live in society. In contrast, the judgment is final with no second chances. In describing the judgment, Matthew 25:46 says, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal.” The thought of dwelling eternally in Hell is frightening, while the idea of living forever in Heaven is joyous.
We need to consider the facts about the judgment. Toward what eternal destination are you now headed?
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What Is Happiness?
R.J. Evans
How many times have you reasoned, “I’d be happy, if only…”? And then the dream usually continues with “if only I had more money,” or “if only I had married someone else,” or “if only I had more friends, a better education, a better job, a bigger house,
better health,” etc. The breakthrough into happiness for many hinges upon those two words, “if only.”
What Is Your Concept?
Most of those of the world have little trouble coming up with their own formula for happiness. It usually consists of wealth, status and power, and freedom from frustration of any kind. If this is similar to what you have conjured up in order to be happy, then you need to consider whether this is a worthwhile goal or not. The best way to find out is to consider others who have lived in such conditions. King Solomon is a prime example of one who “had everything.” According to 2 Chronicles 6-9, Solomon had enough wealth to make some of our modern-day “tycoons” seem like paupers.
Consider Solomon’s Wealth
On a yearly basis, Solomon received six-hundred sixty-six talents of gold (2 Chron. 9:13), “Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.” (2 Chron. 9:14). Six-hundred sixty-six talents of gold would be about 960,000 ounces. Comparing that with today’s standards (say at $300 per ounce) it would amount to something like $288,000,000.
There was no need for Solomon to purchase certain items. He made two hundred targets of beaten gold and three hundred shields made of beaten gold (2 Chron. 9:15-16). His throne was made of ivory, overlaid with pure gold — “There was not the like made in any kingdom” (2 Chron. 9:17-19). All of the drinking vessels of King Solomon were made of gold, in fact, “none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon” (2 Chron. 9:20).
In 2 Chronicles 9:21-22, we read of Solomon importing finery from all parts of the world. Then, those who visited him, seeking his wisdom, brought “vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by
year” (2 Chron. 9:23-24). When the Queen of Sheba came “to prove Solomon with hard questions,” she brought spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones (2 Chron. 9:1-2).
But wealth was not everything. The Bible says that Solomon “loved many strange women” (1 Kgs. 11:1). Of course, this is an understatement, for “he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines” (1 Kgs. 11:3). A total of a thousand women!
But Was Solomon Happy?
Being king, Solomon could do just about anything he desired, and that is precisely what he set out to do. He wrote about this in the book of Ecclesiastes. He experimented with almost everything under the sun, but this non-stop entertainment grew tiresome (Eccl. 2:1); he mentions drinking wine (Eccl. 2:3); he built elaborate houses, temples, vineyards, gardens, etc. (Eccl. 2). He stated, “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor” (Eccl. 2:9-10).
In consideration of the aforementioned, one would be almost certain that Solomon was a very happy man. But was Solomon genuinely happy? Unfortunately, Solomon was miserable. “Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Eccl. 2:17).
Consider Paul
At this point, another man comes to mind who, to some, would have had every right in the world to be miserable. This man is the apostle Paul. At times he had to go back to his old trade of tent making. He did much traveling under adverse conditions by foot or by ship. His life was one of constant danger. Paul catalogs many of his sufferings, perils, and anxieties in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28. Also, there was a great deal of worldly honor given up by Paul “for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:4-11). Then, on top of all that, Paul had what he referred to as a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7).
Yet Paul Was Happy
True abiding happiness is not derived from earthly wealth, position, sexual freedom, or unlimited power. Paul was a contented man. A “contended” man is a “happy” man! “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content” (Phil. 4:11). “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).
Did Paul know something about happiness that Solomon didn’t? No, Solomon knew the basic formula for happy living, but he ignored it and it literally ruined his life. As an old man, reflecting over the wasted years, he gave wise advice to the young: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Eccl. 12:1). Then his closing words, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). And these same principles, if you obey them, can make you happy, no matter what your situation in life may be. If you choose to ignore these principles, then the results will be otherwise.
Conclusion
Christians can be happy! Christians should always be happy! What an occasion for rejoicing a Christian has with all the joys and blessings that are ours as children of God. We enjoy all the spiritual blessings which are in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3). We enjoy the peace of God, which passes all understanding (Phil. 4:4-7). Happiness is obeying and faithfully serving God. If you have not yet obeyed the gospel of Christ, we encourage you to do so now.
— Via Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, October 20, 1988
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Daddy, What Is a Christian?
A little boy once asked his father, “Daddy, what is a Christian?”
The father thought for a minute, then replied, “Son, a Christian believes in God and in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He has heard the gospel of Christ and in faith obeyed it. This means that he repented of his sins and confessed Jesus to be God’s Son. He was then baptized for the remission of sins. When he did this, the Lord added him to His church.”
“He loves God very much. He loves his family, his brethren, his neighbors, and even his enemies. He is one who takes his religion seriously. He lives it seven days a week. He worships God with other disciples at every available opportunity. He really enjoys his service to God. He is not covetous or stingy, but from a generous and cheerful heart gives his money to help others and further the Lord’s work.”
“He prays frequently and fervently. He chooses his words carefully at all times. He does not choose good words when he assembles with the saints, then uses bad words on the job or elsewhere. He is kind, considerate, gentle, patient, caring, and in general, is a good neighbor and citizen. He reads the Bible regularly and shares it with anyone who is willing to study. He leads his family in praying with them and for them. He is dependable in the work of promoting God’s truth. He is hospitable, visits the sick, is honest in his dealings, and is a good example to others. He loves and is loved. These are just a few of the things that constitute a Christian.”
The boy thought for a moment and then asked, “Have I ever seen one?”
Author Unknown
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The Best Day
Today, when I woke up, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did, I’m going to celebrate!
Today, I’m going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships, because they have served to make me stronger.
I will go through this day with my head held high and a happy heart. I will marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.
Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I’ll make someone smile. I’ll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don’t even know.
Today, I’ll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I’ll tell a child how special he is, and I’ll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her/him and how much she/he means to me.
Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don’t have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. I’ll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and His Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.
And tonight, before I go to bed, I’ll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.
As the day ends and I lay my head upon my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!
Author Unknown
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Editor: Mike Johnson
www.seekingthingsabove.org
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