Seek the Lord

Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.

Psalm 105:4

Psalm 105 calls God’s people to give him thanks and praise in response to his “wonders” (105:5). The bulk of the Psalm highlights God’s special work with the Israelites, beginning with the covenant with Abraham and focusing on the exodus from Egypt and movement to the Promised Land.

Verse 4 urges us to pay attention to God in a particular way: “Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.” The Hebrew verbs translated here as “search” and “seek” are similar in meaning. “Search” (darash) suggests care and intentionality in the process of looking for something, while “seek” (baqash) implies eagerness and desire. Thus Psalm 105:4 could be paraphrased, “Carefully search for the LORD and his strength; continually and eagerly seek him.”

How do we seek the Lord? What does this mean for those of us who are already in covenant relationship with him? In part, seeking God is a matter of paying attention. We find this nuance in the translation of Psalm 105:4 found in The Message: “Keep your eyes open for GOD, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence.” If we’re seeking God, then we are watching for him and his work each day as we go about our business. We pay attention to him from the moment we awake to the moment we close our eyes at night.

Seeking the Lord also involves living intentionally with reliance upon him. We are to search for “his strength” by calling out to him for help and allow his Spirit to guide and empower us. We seek the Lord when we desire to honor him with all of our lives, not just the obviously religious stuff. Yes, to be sure, we seek God by praying, reading Scripture, gathering with other believers for worship, and joining in the work of the church. But we are to seek the Lord “continually,” according to Psalm 105. When we’re in the classroom or the boardroom, when we’re chatting with our friends or deliberating with our colleagues, we seek the Lord by being open to his guidance, wisdom, and strength. The very act of seeking God honors him, giving him rightful place as Lord of our lives. It also enables us to live for his purposes, advancing the presence of his kingdom.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: How do you seek the Lord? What would it mean for you to seek God throughout the day today? What might help you to do this?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, when I seek you, when I listen for you, when I desire to honor you with every part of my life, it just feels right. It’s as if my soul knows that I am fulfilling my rightful purpose in life. How wonderful it is to seek you!

There are times, however, as you know better than I, when I seek you irregularly, or maybe not at all. I can rely on my own wisdom. I can desire my own glory. I can easily want to do things my own way. Forgive me, Lord, when I fail to seek you.

Help me, by your Spirit, to seek you carefully. May I learn to pay attention to you throughout the day, always being open to the still, small voice of your Spirit.

Help me to seek you eagerly. Stir up in me a great desire for you. No matter what I’m doing or where I am, may I seek you with my whole heart.

To you be all the glory! Amen.