The Face of God – David’s Deepest Desire

The Face of God – David’s Deepest Desire.

“How long, Lord, will you hide your face from me? Will you look the other way now that I am need? Just let me see your face and turn your heart to me. Hide not yourself from my prayers, Lord. When you said to me, ‘Seek my face,’ my spirit responded and I replied, ‘I am seeking your face with all my heart!’ So, don’t overlook me, Lord, don’t hide your face or turn away, O God of my salvation. Lift up the light of your face, Yahweh!’ (excerpts from David’s psalms 4, 13, 27, 55, and 69).

In the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament), the word that was usually translated as “face” was “panim” (paw-neem). That Hebrew word was also translated as presence, front, surface, countenance, and before or in front of. Panim is recorded over 2,000 times in the O.T., and is a very significant idea all through Scripture. The root Hebrew word means to turn, to incline towards. The face of God in the Hebrew sense was of course more of a metaphor, because God is a spirit, doesn’t have a body, hence doesn’t have a face. The face of God in the Hebrew Bible, then, was intended to mean the presence of God, the entire Person of God. When David sought God’s face, he sought His presence. But even that is a mystery, since God is everywhere in the universe. We couldn’t escape the presence of God even if we wanted to. It is simply impossible to be outside of God’s presence. So why should we seek God’s presence, His face, if He is already present?

The face of God points to intimacy with God. Being in the light of His presence with His face shining on us speaks to the level of intimacy we enjoy with the Lord. When we seek the face of God, we are saying that we earnestly want to be closer to Him. When we seek the face of God, we are asking for a more intimate sense of His presence. When God hides His face, He is in a sense turning His back and becoming less intimate in His relationship with us. But we will see later in this series that God doesn’t turn His back on us unless we first turn our back to Him. And even if God hides His face, He is still present. When God hides His face, He is, in His wisdom, deciding not to be as close as He could be. There is an eternal with-ness of God that is a part of His nature. He will not withdraw His presence, He will not completely hide His face, but he may withdraw His intimacy for a time if that is what is needed. As David implied so many times in his psalms, seeking God’s face is practically a life-long quest for growing intimacy with the Lord God

“Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my spirit is failing! Do not hide your face from me, or I will die. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting in you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.” (Psalm 143:7-8).

David was a man of many appetites, but throughout his life nothing compared to his hunger for God’s face, for an intimate sense of God’s presence. Perhaps that was what most attracted God to David in the first place, when God said that David was “a man after God’s own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14). God saw that He was first in David’s heart, and that’s precisely the kind of heart God is looking for. David was a lover of God. He thirsted for God, he longed for Him, he declared his love for God unabashedly in his songs, and he even said that there was no desire on earth that could compare with his love for God.

How else can one say this? David was in love with God, and continually sought His face.  David and Yahweh engaged in a deep spiritual romance. If ever the presence of God was threatened, David was vulnerable and bereft, like a jilted lover. For God to hide His face was an unthinkable tragedy for David, a catastrophe, a fate worse than death. “Do not hide your face from me, or I will die, like those who go down to the pit.” (Ps. 143:7).  For David, that wasn’t a lover’s hyperbole, that was the simple truth. David’s holy land was in his heart, where he could bask in God’s presence and gaze upon His face.

There were many times in his psalms in which David begged for God not to hide His face. They are powerful passages that deserve deep meditation:

(1.)  “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? (Psalm 13:1-2).

(2.)  “Many people say, ‘Who will show us better times?’ Lift up the light of your face upon us, Yahweh. Let your face smile on us. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” (Psalm 4:6-8).

(3.)  “Hear, O Yahweh, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When you said, ‘Seek my face,’ my spirit responded and I replied, ‘I am seeking your face with all my heart!’ Do not hide your face from me; Do not turn your servant away in anger; You have been my help. Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.” (Psalm 27:7-9).

(4.)  “When I was prosperous, I said, ‘Nothing can stop me now!’ Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. But then you hid your face from me, and I was shattered. I cried out to you, O Lord. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying, ‘What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave?’ Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me, O Yahweh.” (Psalm 30:6-10).

(5.)  “Hear me, O Lord, for your lovingkindness is wonderful. Turn to me according to the multitude of your tender mercies. Do not hide your face from your servant, for I am in trouble; Hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; Deliver me from my enemies.”  (Psalm 69:16-18).

(6.)  “How long will this go on, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your fury burn like fire? Lord, where is your mercy, your unfailing love? Where are the acts of grace you once did in your faithful pledge you promised to David? (Psalm 89:46, 49).

David seemed to know instinctively the secret to a flourishing relationship with God. Desire Him in a deep way, in a way that is like spiritual lust. Find your fulfillment in the Lord’s intimate presence. Develop a hunger to personally experience God in an increasingly meaningful way. It’s only right that David, “the sweet psalmist of Israel,” (2 Samuel 23:1), has the last word here: “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the people! Sing to Him, sing psalms of praise to Him! Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name! Let those seeking the Lord have joyful hearts! Seek the Lord and His strength; Let’s always be seeking the light of His face; Seek His face forevermore!” (Psalm 105:1-4).