God’s Face | 2 things to keep in mind: remember Him and share about Him now (Psalm 75-81)
Have you ever been shunned by someone to the point they turn away from you and avoid eye contact? It is often not a pleasant encounter. Do we consider the seriousness when God’s face is turned away from us? What is our response, do we even notice?
The Israelites were living through seasons where entire generations were not remembering His goodness. The entire Northern kingdom had separated allegiance from Him in nearly every aspect of their lives. It could easily be likened to the church of Laodecia in Revelation 3.
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Ultimate Goals…
It can be easy to become so busy with our lives that our daily focus is on the things of this world: jobs, spouses, children, finances, your goals, friends, etc.
How often is it that we consider these all in light of Heaven? If our entire purpose on earth is wrapped up in glorifying God, are we living that out when our focus remains on worldly things distracting us from our ultimate goal?
We can easily see ourselves in the lives of the Israelites. They would love God, obey Him, and enjoy the benefits of God’s face upon them… only to turn around and completely swing the pendulum in the opposite direction.
I remember hearing stories as a little kid about the Israelites turning away and was shocked how often they did it, they just didn’t get it. It wasn’t until I took stock of my own life until the realization hit: I am really no different. It’s true. We are no different than the Israelites, but we have the benefit of learning from their errors, should we choose.
Do you forget to remember Him?
Do we go about even our days forgetting to remember His goodness in our lives? That God’s face has been turned toward us when we believe in Him and put our faith in Him? What about in times of trouble?
Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Psalm 77:10-12
Here the Psalmist is in distress and fighting to have a Godly mindset.
Faith’s decision to look beyond the present troubles–and God’s bewildering inactivity–to draw hope anew from God’s saving acts of old.
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Often the trials lead us to remembrance…
When our focus settles on our daily living, our focus easily sways away from God. The trials can often be what draw us back to Him and our remembrance of His goodness, help, comfort, care, etc.
Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. … When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant.
Psalm 78:21-22,34-37
Let the above description not be how God would describe you or me! Are we only remembering Him in our trials? If so, we need to seriously reevaluate our lives.
Keep in mind, you can be in right relationship with God only for a trial to come along that draws you closer to Him.
Commands to remember and share…
The Israelites were actually commanded to remember Him w mindset approach is needed. A mindset where we consider them in light of Heaven. Are they winning at life? Maybe. Will they win in the end? …
We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Psalm 78:4-8, emphasis added
Did you catch that? It was commanded to the fathers to teach their children. Christian fathers have a duty to their families still and it rests in this command; to teach their children about God.
Why? So the next generation might ‘set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments’. It is teaching the to remember so they can always recall the goodness of God, no matter what trials they face.
The best gift you could possibly give someone is a solid foundation in the Lord… God reserves that place on earth for Fathers first.
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God’s face…
When the Bible speaks of God’s face turned toward us, it is in reference to His divine favor. When He turns away, He is essentially taking that favor away.
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved! … Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Psalm 80:3,19
The phrasing here is derived from the blessing the Lord gave to Moses, but commonly referred to as the Aaronic benediction.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
It was a blessing to offer for everyone you wished God would accept and offer His divine favor.
Prayers…
My husband likely never knew this, but back when we were first married, this was my prayer for him as I went into work each day.
It is often a prayer that speaks so much more than the words spoken. It can be a beautiful tribute to offer to those around you in a way that you are bringing them up to the Lord for their ultimate benefit.
Whether you have a spouse, children, parents, family, friends, neighbors, enemies, pastors, etc. this prayer can endeavor you to see them with Heavenward eyes. Pray for them to seek God’s face, but also that God’s face turns toward them.
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All our masking and isolation has kept my thoughts close to the biblical imagery of unveiled faces in the presence of God. We are so blessed that he desires intimacy with us.
Thank you for this.