12.12.24 ~ Hunkering Down, Pressing In

Good Morning!

Winter has really settled in here in Stanton, MI. Chilly willy!!! While the temps drop the hunger for the Lord/Yahweh continues to increase. There's a longing for more intimacy and face to face encounters with His reality.

David penned words similar to the desires of many here and throughout the U.S. and the world. In Psalm 24:6 he says, "This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face - even Jacob."

No matter how you look at this verse, intimacy and close proximity are a prerequisite for those who seek Him. Seeking someone's face is the longing to see them more clearly and closer than ever before.

One thing is clear. When David wrote this poem, he knew that he wanted to have the same relationship that Jacob had with Yahweh Elohim (Gen. 28, 32). He wanted to be face to face. David, the man after God's own heart, knew that his life depended on this face-to-face relationship.

Throughout the Psalms, we find David’s deep desire to draw as close to the Lord/Yahweh as possible. There is much more to Jacob's wrestling match with Yahweh than simply struggle. There is intimate contact. There is gripping involvement. There is engagement of all my strength, mind and soul. Wrestling with God is a close encounter of the best kind, which we will see this week in our Torah study!

The question I asked myself this morning, 'Am I like David? Do I seek a face-to-face encounter with the God of Jacob? Or do I choose to be spectators to His Olympic wrestling matches? Do I avoid the struggle in order to keep my life comfortable? The God of Jacob is looking for those who are ready to do battle with the issues within our own lives. Even when we don’t initiate the conflict, He does; as we see with Jacob.

David learned something important from his history. The Lord sought out Jacob and Jacob took the challenge. As a result, He gave Jacob a new identity. David says, “Lord, I’m ready to struggle with You because I want a new name from You (Isa. 62:2; Rev. 2:17; 3:12). Bring on the battle over my old ways. Give me the courage to wrestle through it. I want to know you face to face.”

In my circles of rubbing elbows, many are taking the challenge. What about you?  Are you avoiding the fight or fully engaged? When the God of Jacob gets a grip on you, do you have David’s attitude or are you trying to run away to the old patterns in your default settings?

Shalom!

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