1 Chronicles 16:10-11 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

It’s hard to know where to stop when reading this Psalm, and indeed, we will read more of it tomorrow. David was naturally thrilled that the Lord had allowed him to bring the Ark into Jerusalem, particularly after what had happened with Uzzah, as came up yesterday. The focus right here is on seeking God, as David definitely was doing at this point. He tells all who do so to rejoice, and we have every reason to do so. He also tells us to “inquire of the Lord’s strength,” as the Japanese puts it. David had experienced many times that when he sought the Lord, strength was provided. I’m sure there were plenty of times when he realized his own strength was insufficient. And then he says to earnestly seek the face of the Lord, without ceasing. That is good advice for as long as mankind exists! Some people seem to seek God casually, thinking it might be interesting, or at least a good idea. That’s no way to find Him, though in His grace He does sometimes shock such people by showing up. It’s like he told Jeremiah, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) Actually, there are countless passages that tell us to seek God, because without knowing Him, we have no purpose in life. However, He is very gracious and loving, and as David famously said in Psalm 51, “A broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”(Psalm 51:17) Every objection to seeking God is a lie of the devil, because he knows that when we are in right relationship with our Creator, we are invincible. As Isaiah exhorts us, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked
forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

By the grace of God and the loving instruction of my parents, I have always found the Lord to be very near, to the point of taking Him foolishly for granted. He is not stingy with His presence, but I certainly need to make Him my first priority. However, I have certainly learned that any time I don’t feel Him, He’s not the one who moved! As a pastor and as a believer, my desire is that everyone seek the Lord, and find Him as I have. I rejoice to know Him, but there is no hint of exclusion in that feeling. I am deeply grateful not only for my own salvation, but also for the privilege of drawing others into that salvation as well. God gives me opportunities to witness of Him and His grace, and I don’t want to miss a single one of those. I won’t know until heaven how many of the seeds I’ve planted have born fruit, but that is in God’s hands. I am to seek Him!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all that You are doing in the world. The news of the election of a new Pope is exciting, and the fact that a close friend of mine is on first-name basis with him is mind blowing. However, it’s all in Your hands. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!