Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart . . .
Psalm 119:2,176
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
The idea of fervently seeking God and his ways is repeated throughout Psalm 119. Verse 2 sets the stage for the topic, “Blessed are those who . . . Seek him with their whole heart.” It’s a bit surprising to me that the Psalm ends with what seems to be an opposing thought—the psalmist asks God to seek him.
I can’t help but think about playing hide and seek (or as we called it in Canada, “hide-and-go-seek”) as a kid. The excitement of finding the one you’re looking for and then racing him back to home base. And from the other side, wondering how close you are to being discovered by the seeker. Fun times.
Did you ever pick a hiding place so great that the seeker couldn’t find you? And then start to wonder, “Is anyone actually looking for me?” And then discover the seeker had to go home for dinner and you were playing alone?
It’s a horrible feeling to think no one is looking for you.
I love that the psalmist asks God to seek him.
Like the psalmist, I am committed to seeking after God. And like the Psalmist, I recognize that I often get distracted and off course. God knows when I’m no longer seeking Him so I ask, like the psalmist, that at those times, He seek me.
Gracias Steve por este pensamiento. Yo pienso que el mejor escondite es en Dios y el no me dejaría jugando sola. El me encontraría y me daría animo. Me recuerda de Salmo 32:7
Pues tú eres mi escondite; me proteges de las dificultades y me rodeas con canciones de victoria.
Muchas gracias Maria. Que gran verso. ¡Canciones de victoria!
i love the image this paints in my head…and how truly amazing – that the God of the universe should want to seek after *us*.. even after we’ve been distracted and are not seeking after Him? His love is gracious.
Thanks, Ana!
A few passages came to mind as I read your Hide and Seek thoughts, Steve:
Ps 34:8–Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed us the man who takes refuge in Him. (In a sense we hide in Him.)
Is. 26:20–Come, My people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past.
Thanks, Lin! I wondered how The Message might word Psalm 34:8—I like it:
Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.
Isaiah 26:20 sounds a bit like comfort during the current social distancing.
I love this.
Lord, please seek me and please seek us.
Thanks, Corina!