Nearly all of us, at some point in our walk with the Lord, have found ourselves longing for a greater heart-to-heart connection with Him. You are probably experiencing that today. That’s why you’re here at this site, reading this post.
Thankfully, Holy Spirit is ever-ready to escort us into the Father’s heart, for a fresh experience of His love, and a deeper, more intimate fellowship and communion with Him.
In a previous post (7/2/24), we learned of Moses’ special relationship with Jehovah, which grew out of His passion to know God more deeply. And we saw how Moses’ hunger and thirst for more of God’s presence radically changed him, so that his face radiated the very light of God’s glory.
What better place to start today’s quest for God’s heart than David, a man passionate in his love for God?
You know the story. The Lord had rejected Saul, the king of Israel, and planned to dethrone him because of his stubborn disobedience. He then directed the prophet Samuel to find and anoint a new king for Israel. He was searching for a person to rule over His covenant people, and wanted someone whose heart was in-sync with His own. Samuel, following God’s instructions, met seven of Jesse’s sons, all strong, capable, and handsome young men. But none of these seven were chosen.
The Lord told Samuel, “Do not look at (their) appearance or at the height of (their) stature, because I have refused (them). For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
Finally, Jesse’s youngest son, David, the most unking-like of all Jesse’s sons, was brought before Samuel. And David was chosen based on God’s assessment and approval of his heart.
Jehovah, the great “I AM”, is never bound by the limitations of time or space. He could see David, the simple shepherd boy, faithfully watching his father’s flock; David, the faith-fueled teenager, bravely charging the giant Goliath; and David, the king, leaping, whirling, and dancing with unrestrained worship before the Ark of God’s Presence. Simultaneously, I AM could see all three events. In fact, He could see every detail of every moment of David’s life, all in the present tense.
God recognized David’s passion, and described him as “a man after my own heart.” But what does that mean?
A more literal translation from the Hebrew identifies David as “a man with a heart like God”. Aramaic texts describe David as a man who “had a heart such as God”, or “as though he shared it with God”. David had a heart matched God’s heart, beat for beat. David shared God’s priorities, God’s purposes, and God’s passions. A man after God’s heart, indeed!
Before the Lord ever sent Samuel to anoint David as king, He had pre-screened and pre-selected David as His anointed chosen. He always chooses people by their inner character, their motives, and their heart-passion for Him, regardless of their natural talents, outward characteristics, or worldly circumstances. David’s heart for God was more important than any external gifts or qualities he possessed. (1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22)
Let’s look at a picture of David’s heart in David’s own words: “One thing (the Hebrew words translated as “one thing” here mean “something boiled down to its most essential element” = a passionate focus!) have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; 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 inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
We are invited to seek and enjoy a heart-to-heart connection with the Lord. We are encouraged to “Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually, longing to be in His presence”.
(1 Chronicles 16:11, Amplified Bible)
The dictionary definition for the word “seek” is
“to pursue; to look for; to hunt; to attempt to find something”. We can all relate… keys… TV remote… our car in the Wal-Mart parking lot… something that someone else (not me!) lost.
But I just can’t seem to connect these meanings with what I know about the Lord, and His desire for intimate relationship and fellowship with His people. He’s not running from us. He’s not hiding from us. He’s not lost. So I know that when we are speaking of seeking God, we are not talking about frantically seeking Him like we would our lost keys. That’s not faith. That’s pure panic!
The Hebrew word in 1 Chronicles 16:11 that is translated as “seek” is “daresh”. It means “to follow; to tread frequently; to inquire; to require; to worship.”
When I saw the definition for “daresh” it was like Holy Spirit wove all those threads together into one beautiful tapestry. Or as we would say in Texas, He took all those pieces and made a “purty quilt from ’em.”
So blending those nuances of meaning together, we get this montage of “daresh”:
“I am seeking my Father today. I know exactly where to find Him. I will follow Holy Spirit down the well-worn road of His Word, a path I have
tread so often. As I go, my heart breaks into song. I know Abba is there, His loving heart eager for our fellowship today. He hears me as I walk in the Way, worshipping Him. Before I can calI out to Him, He answers me.” (Isaiah 65:24)
“He comes to meet me and we embrace. We settle into the comfortable heart-to-heart communion we have enjoyed so many times before. He inquires of those things which concern me, and I have the quiet assurance from Him that He will perfect them.”
(Psalm 138:8)
“I have complete trust that my every request will be granted. My heart is in tune with His heart, so I will only ask for those things that I know to be His will, revealed through His Word.”
(Psalm 34:4 and 1 John 5:14,15)
“I express my gratitude and my love to Him through my worship. I want to make sure that He knows that He alone, not anyone or anything else, is my greatest need, and the most essential requirement of my heart. Knowing Him, and being known by Him, loving Him, and being loved by Him truly is life eternal.” (John 17:3)
Can you see how comfortably easy it is to “seek” God? It’s not sweating and straining and stressful. Seeking God’s heart is not difficult. I know exactly where to find Him. He speaks to me through His Word, and by the still, small, voice of His Spirit. He inhabits my praises and He seeks me as I worship Him! (John 4;23)
He desires intimate, heart-to-heart communion with me even more than I can desire it. If my heart is prepared and cleansed, freed from sin and distractions, it will act like a compass, perfectly pointing me to His presence.
I would encourage you to meditate on this marvelous promise:
“And we all with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are progressively being transformed into His image from one degree of glory, to even more glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18, Amplified Bible)
Notice that the continual desire and longing for Him, progressively transfigures us into His image, degree by degree. You might even say that as we seek His heart, we are working on our “Master’s Degree”!
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