Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
As kids we played many rounds of hide and seek growing up in a safe neighborhood. We played until the sun went down and our parents would call us to finally come in for supper. We knew that if we looked hard enough we would win the game by eventually finding all our friends who were hiding and giggling behind trees and bushes. We loved the game. We love the hiding but we also loved to be found.David tells us that those who seek God, on a quest for God in their lives, will never be disappointed. God does not hide from us. He is easy to be found…even today. The benefits of finding and following Him is no game, it is real, abundant life.
Psalm 24, The Message
A David Psalm
1-2 God claims Earth and everything in it, God claims World and all who live on it.
He built it on Ocean foundations,
laid it out on River girders.
3-4 Who can climb Mount God?
Who can scale the holy north-face?
Only the clean-handed,
only the pure-hearted;
Men who won’t cheat,
women who won’t seduce.
5-6 God is at their side;
with God’s help they make it.
This, Jacob, is what happens
to God-seekers, God-questers.
7 Wake up, you sleepyhead city!
Wake up, you sleepyhead people!
King-Glory is ready to enter.
8 Who is this King-Glory?
God, armed
and battle-ready.
9 Wake up, you sleepyhead city!
Wake up, you sleepyhead people!
King-Glory is ready to enter.
10 Who is this King-Glory?
God-of-the-Angel-Armies:
he is King-Glory.
SOMETHING TO CHEW…This psalm presents a threefold privilege God has given His people.
1. Seekers Are Stewards (v. 1-2).
The earth is God’s, everything on it and in it is God’s, and all the people on the earth are God’s, made in His image and accountable to Him. He is “possessor of heaven and earth” (Gen. 14:19, 22), and we are guests on His planet, stewards of all that He gives us to enjoy
2. Seekers Are Worshippers Who Experience His Grace in Redemption (v. 3-6).
The reward is the gift of salvation, the righteousness of God (Gen. 15:6). However, nobody on God’s earth is able to meet these standards. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
Good works or religious character cannot save us. The only way we can enter into God’s presence is through the work of Jesus Christ, which means we must repent of our sins and put our faith in Him. Only Jesus Christ qualifies to enter the Father’s presence, and He has gone to heaven to represent His people and intercede for them before the Father’s throne. To “seek God’s face” means to have an audience with the King and this is now possible through the work of Christ on the cross.
3. Seekers Are Victors Who Celebrate His Glory in Conquest (v. 7-10). Five times in this text God is called the King of Glory. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd who will one day return in glory and give each faithful servant a crown of glory. The administration of an ancient city was transacted at the city gates, so the gates were to those people what the city hall is to citizens in the Western world today. Interestingly, Jerusalem’s gates opened out to the world. David was commanding the whole city to welcome the Lord and give honor to Him.
As children of God, we belong to three worlds: the world of creation around us, the world of the new creation within us (2 Cor. 5:17), and “the world to come” of the wonderful final creation that will be our home for eternity (Rev. 21–22).
Heart Check:
We who seek God find God and all the love and grace benefits of God.
How can we turn away from the God of the universe? How can we praise and thank God for all He has done, is doing and will do in our lives?
Are we playing a game of hide and seek with God? Are we hiding something from Him, with hope He doesn’t find it and take it from us? What is it? Is it time to let go of that game?In view of terrorism, crime, and a declining commitment to morality, do you see any hope for our planet? If so, what is your hope based on?
All we have belongs to the One who gave. Are we good stewards of all He has given to us to manage?
Dear Heavenly Father,In a prayer of praise to You, King of Glory, we have many thoughts about You. We praise you. We seek You, Your will and plan for us. We seek Your Kingdom thoughts that are higher and nobler than our own thoughts. We seek hope and You give it with blessings. We seek protection and you hide us. We seek You because we love you with all that is in us. Thank you for making it easy for You to found. I ask that you help me help others find and follow You, too. You know their names.
In Jesus Name, Amen
