Seek the Seeker

This morning my eyes fell upon Psalm 84:8-10:  "O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah ⁹ O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed. ¹⁰ For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."  What a privilege it is to be in the presence of the King of kings!  An eternity apart from the presence of the LORD cannot compare with a single day as a servant in His presence.  When we love people, we desire to be near to them.  A loving husband and wife do not live in separate houses as a rule, but they long to abide as close to each other as possible.

It is obvious that followers of Jesus Christ should rejoice in His presence.  We are the ones who are honored to serve Him and be known by Him.  We are blessed, privileged, and humbled to have the Spirit of God within our hearts.  But did you realize that God highly regards our presence as well?  While reading the Bible this morning, I was drawn to consider a passage in 2 Kings.  The king of Moab rebelled against Jehoram king of Israel.  Jehoram asked Jehoshaphat (great names aren't they!) king of Judah and the king of Edom to aid him in attacking Moab which they agreed to do.  After the three kings and army traveled for seven days they ran out of water for both man and beast.  While Jehoram lamented and blamed their situation on God, Jehoshaphat desired to inquire of the LORD and sought after Elisha the prophet.

2 Kings 3:14 records a remarkable statement and principle from God's perspective:  "And Elisha said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you."  Elisha was a man who stood in God's presence and knew the will of God.  Had the faithful Jehoshaphat not been among the kings who inquired of the LORD, their request would have been disregarded.  For the sake of Jehoshaphat God gave directives to supply both the water shortage and victory in battle they desired.  God looks upon all men, but He sees those faithful to Him with great joy and pleasure.  His ear is open to their cries, and He stretches out His arm to deliver, heal, save, and restore.  The first part of 2 Chronicles 16:9 reads, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."   Yet God does not only look down from heaven like a divine voyeur:  God became flesh in Jesus Christ; He sent the Holy Spirit; He hears, speaks, and answers; He delivers and saves!

Neither Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, or even Elisha were worthy of such favor from the Almighty.  That God would regard man is proof of His goodness and grace, not ours!  King David wrote in Psalm 8:3-5:  "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, ⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? ⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor."  How amazing it is that God would honor the presence of one man and respond to his request!  God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  If we will humble ourselves to repent and seek God, He joyfully crowns us with glory and honor!  What amazing, unfathomable condescension!  Have you taken time to stand before the LORD in praise and thankfulness today?