Isaiah 55:6; Psalm 78:31-41
Theme: This
is important because God should be the number one priority in our lives.
In the “Me” generation we struggle with doing anything if we
cannot perceive what the immediate value is for ourselves. What will I get out of it? Or what’s in it
for me? These questions are commonly used like laser beams to shoot down
anything not suiting our personal tastes. The truth is we need to get over
ourselves and perceive Someone far more magnificent than we could ever
be.
Why Should We Be Interested?
I.
Because We are Commanded to Seek God
A.
Isaiah 55:6, Seek ye the
Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
i.
It is important for us to seek the Lord and be wholly
devoted to Him, but it is also important that we share this invitation with the
world.
ii.
What is involved in “seeking the Lord”?
1. For
one thing, it means admitting that we are sinners and that we have offended the
holy God of heaven.
2. It
means repenting (Isa. 55:7), changing one’s mind
about sin, and turning away from sin and to the Lord.
3. We
must turn to God in faith and believe His promise that in mercy He will
abundantly pardon. Repentance and faith go together: “repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).
iii.
But no one should delay in doing this!
1.
The phrase “while He may
be found” suggests that, if we do not take His invitation seriously, the
invitation may cease while we are delaying.
2.
In the Parable of the Great Supper, God closed
the door on those who spurned His invitation (Luke
14:16–24; see Prov. 1:20–33).
3.
“Behold, now is the
accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).
B. Matthew 7:7, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
i.
You and I are human and fallible; we make mistakes.
Only God can judge the matters of life perfectly. Therefore, we must pray and
seek His wisdom and direction. “If any of you lack
wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5).
ii.
Young King Solomon knew that he lacked the needed
wisdom to judge Israel, so he prayed to God; and the Lord graciously answered (1 Kings 3:3ff).
iii.
If we are to have spiritual discernment regarding the
decisions of life, we must keep on asking God, keep on seeking His will, keep
on knocking at the door that leads to greater knowledge of Him and ministry to
others. God meets the needs of His children.
II.
Because Afflictions are Designed to Lead to Seeking God
A.
Psalm 78:33-34,
Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. [34]
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired
early after God.
i.
After 9/11 many Americans sought God’s protection,
justice, peace, help, care, and strength. Many wondered why would God let this
kind of thing happen to our country? God
permits tragedy to prompt us to seek Him, not merely what He can do for
us. He is to be sought, not merely His
blessings!
ii.
Despite all the proofs of His love, Israel’s
hearts were still unfaithful.
1.
Nothing God did pleased them. The works of God
are described as the crossing of the sea, the guidance of the cloud and the
pillar of fire, the provision of water, manna, and quails. (Anders)
2.
Despite His miracles, they were compulsive
grumblers.
iii.
So, from time to time Jehovah visited the nation
with death and destruction.
1.
Whenever the Lord punished His people, they
turned to Him as their Rock and Redeemer. They turned to the Lord, repented of
their wickedness, and became earnest seekers.
2.
They realized what a refuge He had been to them,
how He had redeemed them from the terrors of Egypt.
iv.
But soon again they were living a lie, speaking
piously and acting perversely. They were fickle and disobedient.
1.
The Lord showed tremendous restraint. Because of
His super-abounding compassion, He forgave their chronic backsliding and withheld
the disaster they deserved.
2.
He remembered that they were mere men, here
today and gone tomorrow (Ps. 78:10-41).
B. Hosea 5:15, I will go and return to my place, till they
acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will
seek me early.
i.
Looking upon idolatrous Israel, God says, “I will go and return to my place” (heaven), leaving
His rebellious people to suffer for their sins.
1. When
destruction to Israel’s two kingdoms came, God allowed His people to suffer
their well-deserved punishment!
2. Not
merely to punish them, but to bring them to repentance—“till they acknowledge their offence” (Hos.
5:15).
3. When
in their affliction they sought God, He
would be ready to come to their aid.
ii.
“In their affliction they will
seek Me early”
1. God
does not only give us hope, that He would be present when we seek Him, but He
promises that we will seek Him! He would
give us His grace by which we could seek Him effectively.
2. Affliction
alone can drive people to despair and stimulate greater rebellion and the
complete rejection of God. Through the grace of God, “evil brings forth
good; fear, love; chastisement, repentance.”
3. With
all diligence and earnestness, we should rise early to seek our God with the
hope He will respond. (Anders)
III.
Because We are Properly Motivated to Seek God
A. The
Assurance That Seeking God Is Never in Vain, Useless, or Empty.
i.
Isaiah 45:19, I have not
spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of
Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things
that are right.
1. God
has not said, “Seek ye me,” without the
anticipation of meeting with His people. No, He has promised the seeker and He
will not fail to fulfill it, because He is the Lord speaking righteousness,
declaring things that are right! He follows through with His purpose and plan
of salvation, and His sincere desire for our good.
2. Firm
assurance is dependence on God's promises.
a.
Exodus 4:17, And thou
shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
b. Moses
clung tightly to the shepherd's staff as he left for Egypt to face the greatest
challenge of his life. The staff was his assurance of God's presence and power.
When feeling uncertain, some people need something to stabilize and reassure
them. For assurance when facing great trials, God has given promises from his
Word and examples from great heroes of faith. Any Christian may cling tightly
to these.
3. Firm
assurance is based on God's care for us.
a.
Luke 21:14-15, Settle it
therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: [15] For
I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be
able to gainsay nor resist.
b. Jesus
warned his followers of coming persecutions in which they would be betrayed by
their family members and friends. Christians of every age have had to face this
possibility. It is reassuring to know that even when we feel completely
abandoned, the Holy Spirit stays with us. He will comfort us, protect us, and
give us the words we need. This assurance can give us the courage and hope to
stand firm for Christ no matter how difficult the situation.
ii.
Drawing neigh to God will not prove to be anticlimactic
or a letdown or a disappointment! He
does not build Himself up to be something that He is not, nor does He make
promises he cannot keep. Pursuing God is never a waste of life, energy or time!
B. The
Blessedness and Great Joy of Seeking God.
i.
Psalm 119:2, Blessed are
they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
ii.
Psalm 70:4, Let all
those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy
salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
iii.
Psalm 105:3, Glory ye in his
holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
C. The
Rewards for Diligently Seeking God by Faith.
i.
Hebrews 11:6, But without
faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
ii.
Happiness, joy and pleasure are not illegitimate
experiences in the Christian life; they are central to God's intentions. Most
of us could be much happier than we are. So, step number one in the pursuit of
God is to admit our longings.
Some of this may seem too good to be true or too grandiose
to take seriously. So, let’s take a minute to state some things clearly to avoid
misunderstandings. First, note that we will still have our share of troubles
and difficulties; we are not exempt from pain. If there is anyone in the Bible
who had a broad range of experiences and still knew the blessedness and true
happiness that comes from a relationship with God, it would be David. He wrote
Psalm 62:1–12, during the time of his son Absalom’s rebellion and conspiracy (2
Samuel 15–18). Even in this heartbreaking and seemingly hopeless situation,
David knew God was in control. His hope can be detected by the various
references he made of God and his personal intimate association with Him. He
describes God as “my salvation,” “my rock,” “my glory,” “my strength,” “my
defense,” and “my refuge.” He found true relief and happiness because he put
his hope in God.
Secondly, even though we will have our share of hard times, we
still have the Lord. Believing in God does not exempt us from life’s problems
and pain. Instead, our faith in God gives us the courage and strength to face
our trials. This psalm teaches us that the key to resolving problems is to
depend on God for help and wisdom. Many Bible passages teach us about finding
true happiness, consider Psalm 126:2–6; 145:17-19; Habakkuk 3:17–19;
Philippians 4:11, 12; 1 Timothy 6:6–8.
Now consider these summary thoughts from Mr. Lucado....
The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves to be home on earth. Since we are aliens, we cannot forget our true homeland.
The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves to be home on earth. Since we are aliens, we cannot forget our true homeland.
Unhappiness on earth cultivates a hunger for heaven. By
gracing us with a deep dissatisfaction, God holds our attention. The only
tragedy, then, is to be satisfied prematurely. To settle for earth. To be
content in a strange land.…
We are not happy here because we are not at home here. We
are not happy here because we are not supposed to be completely happy here. We
are like foreigners and strangers in this world (see 1 Pet. 2:11).
Take a fish and place him on the beach. Watch his gills gasp
and scales dry. Is he happy? No! How do you make him happy? Do you cover him
with a mountain of cash? Do you get a beach chair and sunglasses? Do you bring
him a Playfish magazine and martini? Do you wardrobe him in double-breasted
fins and people-skinned shoes?
Of course not. Then how do you make him happy? You put him
back in his element. You put him back in the water. He will never be happy on
the beach simply because he was not made for the beach.
And you will never be completely happy on earth simply
because you were not made merely for earth. Oh, you will have moments of joy.
You will catch glimpses of light. You will know moments or even days of peace.
But they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead.—When God
Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado [modified]
