How Often Do You Seek God? (Psalm 102-105)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Do you seek God all the time?

Psalm 105 celebrates God's faithfulness to his covenant with Abraham and his people. “The psalm most likely was composed after the exile and the completion of the Pentateuch, because the psalm seems to accept the theology of the Priestly Code, which sees the Sinai covenant as the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.”^[1] Verses 1-3 say, ¹ “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; proclaim his deeds among the peoples. ² Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell about all his wondrous works! ³ Boast in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.”

From here, the psalmist recounts the mighty works God has performed, from freeing Israel from Egypt to leading them into the Promised Land. As Leslie Allen notes, “This hymn has the triple aim of inciting the worshiping people to praise, encouraging them in their faith in God’s continuing purpose, and exhorting them to live in accordance with God’s revealed will. Its overall theme is Yahweh’s faithfulness to ever valid promises concerning the land.”^[2] The Gospel Transformation Bible writes,

Part of what gives the people of God this confidence is the history of God’s constant care for his own people, as Psalm 105 records. When wandering without a permanent home in the Promised Land (vv. 12–15), seeking food to survive during famine (vv. 16–22), living as slaves in Egypt (vv. 23–38), wandering in the wilderness following the exodus (vv. 39–42), and finally fulfilling the promised conquest of the land given them by God (vv. 43–44)—in all these episodes of the life of Israel, the constant commitment and care of God is evident.^[3]

It’s easy to see this psalm as merely a rehearsal of God’s miracles. “But to focus primarily on the miracles is to miss the forest for the trees—the miracles are recited as evidence of the character of the God who is faithful and keeps promises.”^[4] Verses 4-5 are especially meaningful. The psalmist says, ⁴ “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. ⁵ Remember the wondrous works he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he has pronounced.” Seeking God’s face always means consistently turning to him in every situation, relying on his guidance, and maintaining an ongoing relationship through prayer and worship. It involves acknowledging his sovereignty, recalling his works, and trusting in his faithfulness.