Psalms 27: 4, 7-8 – One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple…. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, and be gracious to me and answer me. 8When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.”
Psalms 34:1-4 – I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice. 3O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. 4I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
When reading about the great men and women of Scripture, it is not their power or courage that leaves the greatest impact. The intriguing part of their life is the intimacy with which they walked with God.
Enoch “walked with God: then he was no more, because God took him.” (Genesis 5:24) Abraham was called God’s friend. (2 Chronicles 20:7) God knew Moses by name. (Exodus 33:17) David was a man “after His own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)
What will be stated about you when your life is over?
David’s life, as recorded in Scripture, leaves little wonder about why he loved the Lord. In the midst of his weakness was God’s strength. In the midst of his enemies was God’s protection. In the midst of his sin was God’s mercy.
Psalms 34 is one of the few Psalms that discloses the circumstances surrounding its creation: “A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.” In the crucible of life’s trials, in personal pain and agony, many songs of worship are born.
The book of Psalms shows David with inflamed desires and heightened passions for God. His connection with the Lord was a zealous love relationship; filled with expressive devotion. The praises for his Beloved were continually on David’s lips; God’s name was the delight of his heart.
This is the kind of union God desires with all His children. He seeks a bond with us like a Lover with His beloved. He longs for a relationship that is intimate, passion-filled; flowing out of truth and goodness.
David and Solomon’s approach to a friendship with God were clearly different. They show the contrast between the richness of an intimate-based relationship and the folly of an insight-based relationship. The approach someone takes will determine how fulfilling life will be.
Lifestyle does not flow out of insight.
All that we are and do flows out of passions and desires. God has designed us to be passionate people. Those things that you purpose to do come from the heart (desires), more than from the mind (reason).
Jonathan Edwards, the brilliant scholar used by God to bring a spiritual awaking to America, wrote a classic treatise called “The Religious Affections.” Although no longer the way we normally communicate, look carefully at the following:
“If we be not in good earnest in religion, and our wills and inclinations be not strongly exercised, we are nothing. The things of religion are so great, that there can be no suitableness in the exercises of our hearts to their nature and importance, unless they be lively and powerful.” [The “exercises of our hearts” must be powerfully engaged if we are to be earnest in our pursuit of God.]
“And such, when they receive the Spirit of God in his sanctifying and saving influences, are said to be ‘baptized with the Holy Spirit, and with fire,’ by reason of the power and fervor of those exercises the Spirit of God excites in their hearts, whereby their hearts, when grace is in exercise, may be said to ‘burn within them;’ as is said of the disciples.” [The workings of the Holy Spirit excited the hearts of the disciples and His grace caused their passions to become inflamed.]
“Wherever true religion is, there are vigorous exercises of the inclination and will towards divine objects: but by what was said before, the vigorous, lively, and sensible exercises of the will, are no other than the affections of the soul.” [True spiritual expression and faith flows out of intimacy with God.]
People are generally uncomfortable speaking about affections but regularly show them. Men and women are passionate about sports. Men are often passionate about vehicles. Women are often passionate about clothing.
A believer’s heart is to be burning with excitement for God. Our relationship with Him is to be affectionate. Principles and insights, however, have become the preferred way of being associated with God. We are more comfortable talking about goals and objectives (measurable things) than about tenderness and fondness (passionate things).
Designing a plan for spiritual development is proper and essential. Regular Scripture reading and prayer, faithful attendance at worship gatherings, meaningful involvement in a faith community, telling the unchurched about Jesus are beneficial. Problems occur when a person places more confidence in spiritual disciplines than in intimacy with God. By putting more emphasis on strategy than love a believer actually causes spiritual weakness. Programs for spiritual advancement end up the object of adoration.
Why are many insight-driven instead of intimacy-driven?
The answer is linked to the Garden of Eden. God placed Adam and Eve in an environment of beauty and fullness; a place to enjoy the wonders of creation. He invited them to be co-workers. They were to stimulate into greater fruitfulness what He had made.
Two trees were located in the middle of the garden; the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God called Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Life. God would then be the source of their needs in every dimension of life; spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and physically. God would pour Himself into them as they ate of the tree. Abundant life would be found in Him; the only place it can be found.
God warned them to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; if they did, they would die. Being instructed to eat from one tree and forbidden to eat from the other reveals one of the most basic, protective truths of all time. God was telling them, “It is better to know Me than to possess the sum of all the knowledge and information this world can give you.”
The first couple ate from the wrong tree and every generation since then has made the same choice. People are still feeding on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
What is the fruit of this choice? We live in the midst of the greatest explosion of knowledge this world has ever seen. We cannot assimilate knowledge as fast as we are gaining it. In the field of computers, medicine and space exploration, we have become overwhelmed by the information we possess.
Has all this knowledge and information made any difference in the human heart? Has it affected what is happening in the war-torn and poverty-stricken areas of the world? Has it brought justice to the oppressed and peace to the depressed? Not at all!
With all our knowledge, the heart is still becoming more and more depraved with every passing generation. We know more and are increasingly wicked.
In the Garden of Eden intimacy was sacrificed for information. Since that day we have become insight-driven.
God designed us to find fulfillment in the relationships of life; with Him and with one another. People often take an insight-driven approach to the Ten Commandments. They are referred to as “principles to live by.” This was not their intended purpose.
Being insight-driven the Ten Commandments are measured by the Golden Rule: Do unto others what you want done to you. We refrain from such behavior as murder and stealing because we do not want the rules violated against us.
Look at the Ten Commandments from the intimacy-driven approach of the Tree of Life: The first four are about a love relationship with God and the last six are about a love relationship with others created in His image. The commandments are not about breaking rules; they are about ruining relationships.
The Fall of Adam reveals the outgrowth of knowledge is fear – hiding from the God of relationships; a fear of intimacy. The only thing left to pursue, the only other alternative to gaining a measure of fulfillment, is information.
David, with intimacy, wrote, “4I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalms 34:4)
The outgrowth of the Garden of Eden is a formula-driven mindset.
The natural recourse of the Fall is for pragmatism to become part of faith. Pragmatism is the mindset that “if it works it is right.” Ever since Satan said to Eve, “You do this and you will be like God,” we are convinced that if someone tells us how to correctly do something, we can accomplish it. We believe that if someone will insightfully tell us the rules, we are able to do anything we determine in our minds.
Many live convinced that, within ourselves, we have all the resources we need. People prefer a “how to” kind-of-life but still feel something is missing and end up unfulfilled. It is only natural in the information age that “how to” books quickly become best sellers.
Formulas for Christian living and basic procedures for character building are very appealing. “Ten Steps to a Successful Marriage” or “Twelve Principles for a Winning Career” are far more attractive than “trust God in the dark times.”
One minister stated, “It is interesting to me as a pastor that the two things people want most from me are insight into something God is doing and a formula to get out of the struggle of spiritual development. The mysterious workings of God often do not allow me to give either one.”
The trouble with pragmatism is that it appears to be successful. While it makes a great deal of sense and in some ways gets the job done, we lose more in the process than we gain. While great things are happening around us, even though they might seem right, we can very well be drying up inside. The inner core of our being is sustained only by intimacy with God. Out of intimacy flows His life and His work, which transforms us in eternal ways. Everyday existence should come out of the overflow of our link with God.
Describe to yourself your relationship with God? Is He an occasional visitor, a counselor-on-call, a teacher of principles, or is your relationship like a Lover with His beloved? Is your relationship characterized by knowledge or filled with passion?
What is your first waking thought in the morning? Who do you think of most frequently during the spare moments in a day? How much time is spent intimately with God through meditation and prayer?
While involved in youth ministry I was a judge during a Bible Quiz’s State Finals competition. One of the stronger teams in the tournament was led by a brilliant young coach. His group was thoroughly trained in Bible knowledge.
During one of the matches a team member answered a question incorrectly. The Quiz Master’s decision was contested by the coach. He approached the Judges Table and presented his argument. Even with the correct answer in front of us, he nearly convinced us to give a favorable ruling. His defense was extremely logical.
Ten years later, while serving as Executive Vice President of Trinity Bible College, a church in the same State where I had been a youth minister invited me to speak. I attended Sunday School before the worship service. A poorly-dressed man, appearing to be a street person, came late to class. Just before ending our session the teacher acknowledged him as a guest and asked his name. He told us who he was and then said, “I used to be a Bible Quiz coach; I just decided to come to church today.”At that moment I recognized him. Although worn, weary and weathered by life, he was once the brilliant young coach of a very competitive Bible Quiz team.
After the closing prayer I approached him and said, “I remember you. You coached that great team in the State finals.” He looked away sadly and no longer gave eye contact.
“What happened?” I asked.
After a long pause, he said, “I don’t know; I just don’t know!”
We prayed before he left.
His knowledge of Scripture was indisputable but it failed to translate into an abiding love for God.
The Holy Spirit longs to help you love God, more than simply know rules to live by and formulas for success. The Holy Spirit wants to keep you, by His grace, from sacrificing intimacy for insight; regardless how appealing it is to understand the confusing and perplexing circumstances of life.
David’s passionate hunger for intimacy with God enabled him to endure the most devastating afflictions, pressures and pain. Passionate love for God will give you the ability to endure your pressure moments, as well.
Next we look at Solomon’s approach to knowing God.
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