Ver. 1.-&eking Gor£sface. "David sought the face of the Lord" (Revised Version). The Authorized Version has here "inquired of the Lord," as in eh. ii. 1, where it is the traIJslation of a different phrase. Doubtless the substantial meaning is the same. But, as with words, so with phrases, two are seldom wholly synonymous; l\nd the differences are often instructive, suggesting ench its own train of thought. So it is with these two phrases. That in the Revised Version leads us to think of- I. TRE NA.TUBE OF TBUE WOBSRIP. It is seeking the face of God, to realize his presence, behold his glory, be made sensible of his majesty, holiness and loving-kind- ucss. Or, in greater strictness, this may be said to be preliminary to the worship of him. We come into his presence tha.t we may present to him our adoration, praises, confessions, and prayers. We must not be content with coming into his ~ouse, seeing his servants, joining in ceremonies-leaving, as it were, our names and messages, en.,cra~ing and depending on the intercession of those who are supposed to approach nearer to him. Our heavenly Father does not keep such state as to exclude or repel any one from coming near to him. He wishes to see his children, to smile upon them, to embrace them, to speak with them. Any methods of worship which keep men at a distance from him are contrary to his will. 'l'he mediation of Chl'ist is not a substitut.e for intimat.e converse with God, but a means of attaining it, as we may see by considering- IL T11E POSSIBILITY A!-"D WA.BRANT OF suc11 woRSIIIP. '!'here are, doubtless, diffi- culties in the way of the approach of men to God. These are r~moved pre-eminently by the mediation of our Lord. 1. Ignorance separatesfrO'Tn God; Chri,t makes him known. By bis teaching, by his own character, and by the Spirit he imparts to his disciples. "In the face of Jesus Christ n we see that of the Father (2 Cor. iv. 6; John xiv. 8, 9). 2. Bin separates from God; Christ deUver, from sin. (1) He has atoned for sin by his death. He "suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God" (1 Pet. iii. 18). He hu thus removed the barrier presented by the justice of God and "the curse of the Law" (Gal. iii. 13). And through faith in Christ the conscience is purged from sin by his blood (Heb. ix. 14), and the believer has "bold- Def!S to enter into the holiest" (Heb. x. 19-22). Through Christ the face of God shines with a benignant brightness on those who approach him. (2) Christ cleanses the nature and character from sin. He tbus produces that purity of heart which is necessary for those who wo•tld "see God" (Matt. v. 8). 3. Not only the putting away of sin, but certain positive dispositions are neussary in sreking the face of God. Christ ]1as secured and he imparts these. 'fo his disciples is given "the Spirit of adoption (Rom. viii 15), and thus they come to God with confidence, affection, and self-sur- render. Thus Christ iB "the Way" by which we" come to the Father" (John xiv. 6). '' Through him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Erb, ii. 18). JU. 'l'nE KECESSITY OF suc11 wonsHIP. We must seek Gods face if we would behold it witli joy. He sometime~ surprises men by sudde11, ~d ~nexpec~ed i;11e.nif~s- (lll, XXJ, 1-22.] TIIE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 5'27
tntions of himself to them; but this will ordionrily be to those who lovo him nncl nro in tho hnbit of seeking him (soe John xiv. 19-23), Hence the exhorl:alinn•, "Seek the Lord, . . . seek hie face evermore" (Ps. cv. 4); "Seek, and ye shall find" (Matt. vii. 7; comp. 2 Chron. vii. 14). IV. GODLY MEN ARE DISTINGUISHED DY BUCH WORSHIP, "This is the generation nf them that seek him, that seek thy face, 0 God of Jacob" (Ps. xxiv. 6). "When th,,u eaidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek " (P~. xxvii. 8). 1. The godly are impelled to this: (1) By love to God, and consequent longing after him (Ps. xlii. 1, 2; lxiii. 1, 2). (2) By faith in him and in hi~ promises (Heb. xi. 6). (3) By the sense of needs which only God can supply. (4) By memory of former converse with God, and of the enjoyment and profit derivfd from it. 2. Hence they seek God's face daily; and with special earnestness in times of special difficulty or danger. David felt how much he needed Divine guidance in reference to the famine which for three years had harassed the country; hence he "sought the face of the Lord." In trouble the Divine call may be heard," Seek ye my face;" and many begin to do so when trouble is upon them. V. Suen WORSHIP IS FHUITFUL OF BLESSING, It is never in vain (Isa. xlv. 19), although at times it may appear to be so (Job xxiii. 3-9). "Ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart" (Jer. xxix. 13) is a promise of universal applicability. And to gain the vision of God's face is to be blessed mdeed. The sigh~ of him : 1. Oalms and soothes and comforts the heart. As a mother's face soothes the suffering child. • " Sorrow and fear are gone, Whene'er thy face appears : It stills the sighing orphan's mDBn, And dries the widow's tears : It hallows every cross : It sweetly comforts me, Makes me forget my every losa, And find my all in thee." 2. Encoura_qes to pray. When his face is seen, we are enabled to tell him all that is in our heart, with the assurance of success in our suit. 3. Sheds light into the soul. The "light of his countenance" scatters the darkness. Perplexities aro half solved as soon as we have caught sight of the face of God. 4. Produces likeness to him. " We shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 John iii. 2) is a promise partially fufilled in the present life. 5. The crowning result is to" see his face" in the/ulness of its glory, and for ever. (Ilev. xxii. 4.) But to those who refuse to seek him, turning to him their back, and not their face (Jer. ii. 27), he says," I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity" (J er. xviii. 17); and they will at length say "to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb" (Rev. vi. 16).-G. W.