The Face Seeker

Psalm 27:7-9a says, “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice; have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face: my heart said unto thee, Thy face Lord will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me…”

Somewhere I heard tell of a little boy in Sunday School class looking at a picture of Jesus. The teacher said, “Johnny, that’s not really a picture of Jesus, just an artist’s conception.” Johnny answered, “Yea, I know. But you have to admit, it sure looks a lot like Him.”

There has been much speculation about the idea of seeking God’s face. Exodus 33:20 says, “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” In verse 22, God did allow Moses to see His back parts, but not His face. In verse 18, Moses had asked to see His glory. I believe the key to this passage is found in verse 19, “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and l will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee: and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” This verse seems to point directly to Jesus the Messiah.

When Jesus passed before us, we saw all God’s goodness (Acts 10:38). The phrase “proclaim the name of the Lord” points to the ministry of John the Baptist preparing the way for the Messiah (Matthew 3:5). When Jesus came, He showed us God’s mercy as He died in our place on the cross. You may think that Moses didn’t get to see Jesus, however, we know he did on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Moving from that, let us look at the great need for revival in our land. Many are praying for revival—even praying “start the work in me.” I pray the same. I now ask, how earnest is my prayer, your prayer, the nation’s prayer? 

David asked God to hear him when he cried with his voice. It was a cry for mercy. We must want revival so much that we cry and beg for mercy. I think of a little girl crying in church and her daddy carrying her out in the midst of the service. I still remember her cry. “Please Daddy, please. No Daddy, please Daddy” amidst crying and wailing. Our Heavenly Father hears our cry, “And ye shall seek me and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Revival also comes when the Holy Spirit brings conviction and we repent. When God says to seek His face we have a choice. Often our heart pounds when He speaks to us. When we yield to Him, and say “yes” from our heart, we receive the blessing—a heart full of joy. When we say “no,” we are in danger of God leaving us to our choice and not convicting us anymore.

In 1739, Charles Wesley wrote the words to the familiar hymn, “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” One year later he wrote, “Jesus, Thine All-victorious Love” that would be put to the same tune. I quote verses 2, 3, and 4: “O that in me the sacred fire might now begin to glow. Burn up the dross of base desire, and make the mountains flow. O that it now from heav’n might fall, and all my sin consume. Come Holy Ghost, for Thee I call: Spirit of Burning, come! Refining Fire, go through my heart; Illuminate my soul. Scatter Thy life thro’ every part, and sanctify the whole.”

When Jesus looked over Jerusalem, He wept (Luke 19:41). His heart was for the lost. True revival should make us seek the lost. First, seek God’s face. Then, become a face seeker!