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“Seek and Pray”
Seek And Pray
Wade Webster
Over the last couple of weeks we have been studying prayer. In past studies, we looked at prayer in connection with watching, fasting, preaching, and repenting. In this study, we are going to consider prayer in connection with seeking.
Following the dedication of the temple, God appeared to Solomon by night, and promised, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14). God put into place a plan of reconciliation for when His people went astray. Please note the three my’s in the passage - My people, My name, My face. God spelled out four things that He required of His people - humility, prayer, seeking Him, and repentance. If they would do these four things, then He would do three things in return - hear their prayers, hide their sins, and heal their land. Since we have covered humility and penitence in previous lessons, our focus in this lesson will be on prayer and seeking God’s face. When we sin, God hides His face from us. Isaiah declared, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2). In like manner, Micah declared, “Then they will cry to the LORD, But He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, Because they have been evil in their deeds” (Mic. 3:4). God will not look on evil and He will not listen to those who practice it (Hab. 1:13; Prov. 28:9). However, if we will leave sin and seek His face again, He will hear us. David declared, “Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” 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” (Psa. 27:7-9). When those of us who wear God’s name seek His face again, He will make His face to shine upon us and give us peace. We read, “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace” ’ (Num. 6:22-26).
As we get ready to worship this week, let’s pray and seek God’s face. If we will do this, then God will cause His face to shine upon us. If we don’t, then He will turn away His face from us.
