This morning we looked at our identity as ‘God-seekers’. In Psalm 27:8, David declares that the one thing he needs is to seek God’s face. To seek God means to put Him first, something we need to do both individually and corporately. We must learn to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. (Matt 6:33)
A God-focussed life is not without problems, as Psalm 27 makes clear. David had enemies, armies besiegning him and even talks of his family forsaking him. Yet he is confident in God’s goodness and knows that God has never forsaken those who seek Him. (Ps 9:9-10) Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing, for God’s abundant provision is promised to them (Ps 34:10, Phil 4:19). Blessing and vindication from God are promised to those who seek Him. (Ps 24:3-6)
The practicalities of seeking God involve setting time aside to pray and read His word, which requires prioritisation and (at times) renunciation. Nehemiah and Daniel were both busy men who still made time for God and who served Him faithfully. We need to look to the Lord and His strength (rather than our own.) (Ps 105:4, Ps 127)
We must also seek God collectively, learning to humble ourselves, pray, repent and seek God (2 Chron 7:14), relishing the time spent in His house. Seeking God leads us to obey His commands, to do what He tells us, as Asa demonstrates (see 2 Chron 15:2-15).
The benefits of seeking God are manifold. As we seek God, we find joy (see Ps 40:16, Ps 70:4), life (Amos 5:4, 6, 14) and the assurance that those who seek will find. (Jer 29:13, Matt 7:7-8) God’s desire is to be found by us and to bless His people. We need to enter into covenant with Him and be determined to seek His face.