Man of sorrow – Albrecht Dürer

7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. 8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. 13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. 

1. The difficult situation the poet is in (10-12)

a) Broken relationships (10)

10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

b) Enemies’ presence (11, 12)

11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. 

Summary

God is watching over your life. It is good but not good enough for you. In order to surely receive the good things God is trying to give you, you also have to be watching God. What should we do to see invisible God? Worshipping God is the way to see him. Not only in church services or family/individual worship times but when you pray or read the Bible, it is necessary to keep in mind that those actions are two-way communication with God. Let us be face-to-face with God, by opening our minds, eyes and ears.

For Discussion

1) What are your difficulties now?
2) What does it mean to “seek the LORD’s face”?