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Thought for Jun 15, 1998 : My Portion - Part III

Saturday and yesterday we began looking at Psalm 119:57-60. Today, let's focus on verse 58, which says:

I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.

This is at the very center of revelation about worship- that our portion in life is to seek the very face of God, with all our heart. This expression of devotion shows both an understanding of our responsibility in pursuing our relationship with God, and a reliance on God's mercy. This verse is very similar to God's call for prayer in 2 Chronicles 7:14. The psalmist says "I have sought your face with all my heart", showing that he was intent on not just knowing about God, but knowing him personally. The verse also shows that even our seeking after God is still ultimately in reliance with God's mercy, as the psalmist concludes it with "be gracious to me according to your promise."

What is this promise? It is clearly stated in Deuteronomy 4:29:

But if from there you seek the LORD your God,
you will find him if you look for him
with all your heart and with all your soul.

This same promise is reiterated in Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29, and in the New Testament in Matthew 7:7 and Acts 17:27. How many of us can say "I have sought your face with all my heart"? No doubt the answers are not 100% for everyone. And that is where God knows us better than ourselves- that even in our seeking Him, we need His mercy, as the psalmist calls out "be gracious to me".

Seek the Lord with all your heart! And in your seeking, let His mercy draw you near. If you fall down let His mercy lift you up. Realize that your pursuit of Him was His idea, and initiative, in the first place (John 6:44). While we, as children, continue to pursue the Father, we also continue to need His help. Paul tells us that God wants to meet that need by placing His Holy Spirit in us. The Holy Spirit, once in our hearts, will pursue the Father-

Because you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
Galatians 4:6

Selah!

Kim Anthony Gentes