PSALM 27:7–14 Seeking the Face of the LORD
READ: PSALM 27:7–14
v. 8 “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’”
In Psalm 27:8 David beautifully expresses his desire to have fellowship with God, “My heart says to you, ‘Your face, LORD, do I seek.’” This longing to see the face of God is not just an individual desire of David. It is supposed to be the desire of all God’s people. We know this because in verse 8 we read: “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’” The way this command is phrased in Hebrew tells us that God addressed these words to more than one person.
If this is the case, it’s important to understand what it means to seek the face of the LORD. Is David hoping to see a visible form of God with his physical eyes? This question is all the more pressing since in verse 4 David expresses the wish to visit the house of the LORD and “gaze upon the beauty of the LORD.” You would almost think that David wanted to “see” the LORD!
David knew—as we know—that God is invisible. He also knew that there was no image of God in the tabernacle. So David can’t be wishing to see a visible form of God. At the same time he wants to have fellowship with the LORD in such a tangible way that you might almost call it a “face to face” meeting.
How could David “seek the face of the LORD” in the temple? By observing the sacrifices and ceremonies that were performed by the priests. These rituals would preach to him the message of the forgiveness of sins. He would “see” God’s goodness and faithfulness toward his people in these ceremonies.
In the Heidelberg Catechism we confess that these sacrifices and other ceremonies foreshadowed the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ (Lord’s Day 6). We could say that David was able to see the shadows of the face of Christ when he visited the sanctuary. Likewise, we are able to see the face of Christ when we hear the gospel being preached to us and when we witness the sacraments of baptism and Lord’s Supper. What a privilege! Let us continue to seek the face of the Lord in every worship service.
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