1 Chronicles 16:11 (The Message)

“Study God and his strength,
seek his presence day and night;”

 

David was a man that knew God.  After the ark had come back to Jerusalem, David gave this psalm to Asaph.  When we get down to verse 11 other versions say, “Seek God and His strength…”  The Message paraphrased it to, “study God and His strength.” The dictionary.com defines study as:                application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, as                 by reading, investigation, or reflection; to think deeply, reflect, or consider.

What David is implying is that we have to make an effort to know God.  It wasn’t enough for David to hear stories about God; he decided to know Him personally.  We sometimes can get stuck with just listening about God, but in reality God wants us to pursue Him.  Make an effort to study Him; get your mind thinking about Him.  There are so many bad things that cross our minds throughout the day, but God just wants us to just focus our thoughts on Him.  When you do that, then it won’t be hard to believe His promises.  When you are constantly thinking about God, then you can expect to get what you’ve been thinking.  If you think about how good God is, then His goodness will come over you.  If you think on His power to heal, save or deliver, then you’ll get that.  Think about God and what He can do for you.  Your faith will come alive.

The second part of this verse is important: to seek His presence day and night.  Other versions say, “Seek His face always.”  I believe David is making a statement here: don’t seek God for what He can give you, but seek Him just because you love Him.  In a relationship, when you are with someone just for what they can give you, the day you don’t what you want, you’ll be upset and want to leave them.  God is not our ATM or a drive-through window guy.  He wants a personal, deep relationship with you.  It’s an amazing privilege that the Creator of heaven and Earth wants to have a relationship with us.  Don’t take it like someone you can date for a day or two and leave for someone else.  God wants a real commitment from you.  Give Him your heart.  The psalmist reminds us here: seek His face first.  Let your love for Him make you wanna be with Him day and night.  Don’t just go to God whenever you’re in trouble.  You wouldn’t want friends like that, what makes you think God does, too?  Seek His face.  Study Him and be changed!

 

Filed under: Devotionals by Adilson Chacón