Seek God While He May Be Found

Psalm 32:1-2 this is a song about the relief and joy a person feels flowing through them when they face up to their sins, confess them to YHWH, and are forgiven. Because of the benefits of these positive thoughts and emotions... the song implies "why wait"... yet it also says "don't delay".

Psalm 32:3-4 Before this emotional breakthrough, the singer is aware of their sin... but keeping silent... pushing it down in his conscience. It makes him miserable, worn out emotionally and physically.  Why is this person so miserable while so many seem happy to adopt “not caring about sin” as a rather comfortable way of approaching life?

Because of God’s great love for him... he feels the heavy weight of God's hand upon him. When God is working with you... when His hand is heavy upon you...  (it could be the guilty conscience convicted by the spirit, maybe a test or trial, or perhaps sickness)... when God calls for your attention... it takes a lot of mental effort to bury that awareness of sin... its exhausting .

I think a lot of us know what our issues are: breaking a commandment, passive aggressive rebellion against God's authority over us, gossip, falling short of true righteousness.... things we are doing... important things we are not doing. However, we are also good at covering it all over.... spreading a nice thick blanket over it, so we don't have to see it... we make excuses in our mind.... "my situation is unique"... "I've got good reasons for having the attitude I have"... "at least I am not as bad as her".

Psalm 32:5  the singer has a breakthrough.... he lets go of what ever it is that has been holding him back. He's been trying to cover over his sin so he does not have to see it. Then (through internal compunction, or external trial) he lets it out. He brings it before God in prayer. He confesses and receives God's forgiveness. What a great feeling!

Now we’re back to the beginning of the song "blessed is the one whom God forgives"... " whose spirit in no longer filled with self deceit" [remember, self deceit is exhausting]. So the song promises emotional, intellectual and spiritual benefits... by letting go... admitting the truth about yourself... taking it before God... seeking and receiving His forgiveness.

Aside: the OT often speaks of forgiveness. I think people view the OT as full of judgment... whereas the NT is full of mercy and forgiveness. NOT SO! Logic: What is the need for mercy and forgiveness if there is not judgment first?

After this sequence of pent-up guilt and release, the song advises listeners to "act now". Not only because the benefits to your mind and spirit are wonderful... but there's another reason implied in such a statement... because there might come a time when you can"t.

Psalm 32:6 implicit in saying "pray to God while He may be found" is the alternative... that there may be a time when you cannot find Him.

The example of Israel and Judah indicates that under certain circumstances God may withdraw Himself and become inaccessible Jeremiah 7:16.

The people of Jerusalem had become thieving, adulterous, idol-worshippers... God had called them out on it through the prophets.  God had pleaded with them to face up to their sins, seek forgiveness... and make significant course corrections [IE. repent]. But the people also had the idea that as long as they were within Jerusalem, living in close proximity to the holy temple, they were safe from enemy armies.

His heavy hand had been upon them but they would not repent.

There are times when the best thing for everyone involved is to let the consequences of bad behavior play out. Just like a loving father might let their child suffer the consequences of their behavior so they might learn an important lesson [Adam’s alarm clock]... God our Father might allow the cards to fall where they may... it does not mean God stops loving, stops being merciful, won't forgive... He's working toward the best possible outcome... God plays the long game.

Matthew 22:1-14 here's a NT example; warning of a time when the door is shut. An interesting parallel here is the attitude [and behavior] of the guest who gets the door shut in his face. Like the people living in Jerusalem, he thinks that just by being in the right place at the right time he's good. Instead he hears "you have not properly prepared yourself to be here, get out". This person has missed out on the marriage of Christ to the Church.

Both the OT and the NT indicate there's a point of no return.

Both the OT and the NT indicate simply being in the right place at the right time is insufficient.

The idea of a point of no return is left a little hazy in scripture... if God gave us a detailed description of just how far we could go before it was too late... we'd probably use that as an excuse to walk right up to the edge of the cliff before we turn back. God does not want you flirting with the edges... He wants you securely in the middle [kid told to not go past the curb].

But, there are some events which qualify as points of no return.

Death: most would agree that one of these points is the day you die. If you have not sought God, become reconciled to God, repented of sin before you die then you have missed out on something important. You'll miss out on the marriage of Christ to the Church.

2nd coming: Another important point of no return is the 2nd coming of Christ…  the earth will be covered with living breathing people. A small portion of those living will be gathered together to be alongside Christ forever thereafter [those who have sought and found]. They will experience this at the same time as the equally small portion of God's chosen are resurrected from the dead 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. At that moment a lot of people will have missed out.

We have a general idea of when we will probably die [76 for men, 81 for women in U.S.]... like wise we are told there will be observable signs that His coming is immanent. However, death could come suddenly at any time. In a similar way, we do not know the day of Christ's return...yes there are signs... but we're also told will come suddenly at any time... no one knows the day or hour. You cannot game it.

The bible's message is consistent; seek God now because you don't know when your time runs out. Don’t miss out on the better resurrection, being part of the bride of Christ.

Revelation 20:5 the bible teaches that people who miss out on that those who miss out on the first resurrection will be included in a second resurrection of the rest of the dead which comes after the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth . But its not as good… for some it will be very hard.

Discussing what lays ahead for the rest of the dead is an important subject... about which there is a lot of confusion and false teaching. I am going to leave that subject for another day [LGD]. Because that's not you... You are here... you are listening... you have God's forgiveness on you mind… hopefully you are seeking. Let's talk about you...

A point of no return for believers to be concerned about is; those who have know the truth and rejected it, let the holy spirit die within them, who have hardened their hearts against God. I think this state of mind is closely related to [or synonymous with] those who have blasphemed the holy spirit [called the works of the holy spirit the works of Satan]. There is another "point of no return".

The bible does not give a detailed description of what that looks like. Again, I think this is left vague on purpose so that we do not presume we can walk up as close to the edge as possible thinking we can always turn back. What is not vague or hazy is this:

Again I will say: that's not you... You are here... you are listening... you have God's forgiveness on you mind… hopefully you are seeking, not hardening  Let's talk about you...

Isaiah 55:6-8 how is God near to you and able to be found?

God is to be found through His judgments, statutes and commands... IE. through His word. For example, if a person seeks God in prayer, begs for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness... how do they do that? [PAUSE] Through repentance... but repentance of what? [Q: SIN] We only fully know sin and transgression through the definitions we get in the written word of God.

If a person seeks God's holy spirit... how do they do that? Through belief, repentance, and baptism... How do they believe unless they hear... how do they understand unless they have a teacher... of what do they repent of without a clear definition of sin... how do they know to become baptized without the instructions found in scripture? Its not intuitive. You know because you have been told.

Q: to whom does God give His holy spirit? To those who obey Him Acts 5:32.

So, even in the intensely spiritual ways we might seek Him; through prayer, or communing with the holy spirit we are guided by the objective declarations God has made through the written word. Seeking God begins with His written word.

The psalmist felt the heaviness of God's hand upon him... which drove him to repentance. In his trial he remembered that God was available, near at hand and ready to be found.

Isaiah’s words about seeking God while He may be found sometime during the reigns of Hezekiah and Manasseh.  The military activity of Assyria made Judah's future look grim... punishment was on the horizon. But even while God's heavy hand was on them His message was "there is still time".

A point of no return would come when God stopped protecting them from their enemies. He would let the inevitable consequences of their choices play out. Time ran out on Israel. They would never again be a holy nation, free and under God.

The bible's message is consistent: whatever you have to do to reconcile yourself to God... do it now... do not delay… don’t miss out.

Let’s use Isaiah’s words:

Forsake your ways... seeking God means letting go of habits that may be near and dear to you. Seeking is behavioral change which begins with taking God's commandments seriously.

Forsake your thoughts... seeking God means letting go of attitudes and ways of thinking... some of which are hard-wired into you. Some of which you have picked up through society, family, or time and chance. Think fruit of the flesh vs. Fruits of the spirit.

Return... how did you depart? ... through disobedience. Become a student of God's commandments, statutes and judgments... so you know when you are departing from God's ways... get back on track ASAP.

Ask pardon... pardon is yours... but you have to ask... and you have to know enough to ask. If you want Jesus' sacrifice for sin applied to you, you have to claim it.

God  can be found, and He wants you to seek Him. God's favor is of great value and He wants you seek it out as a pearl of great price. The invitation to finding God for those who seek Him is open to all people [even you]  Isaiah 55:1-2.

Psalm 32: 6-7 you do not have to wait for God’s heavy hand upon you to begin seeking Him. You can get started now.

Psalm 32:8-10 Gods wants you to willingly choose to seek Him out. Do not put it off for a later time... don’t wait until God will have to drive you to it like a horse, a mule, or an ox. Willingly let Christ rule you NOW... while the yoke is easy and light... don't wait for the time when He comes wielding a rod of iron. Seek God now and don't miss out. It is the better resurrection!