The term ‘seeker’ is used a lot by Christians today.  It is meant to be less offensive to someone who is not a believer to label them as a seeker.  After all, the theory goes, they are a believer in something, to say that they are a non-Christian is a very negative definition for someone who might be well on the path to faith.  We make seeker-friendly churches that those who have questions are more likely to enter.  This approach is problematic in my opinion.  It creates passive places where charismatic speakers do all the work and Christians leave all the disciple making to the few professionals in their church.

In Psalm 27, the psamist, is a seeker. He seeks God.  He is a believer who doesn’t have a further commitment of faith to make before he is saved.  This shows that the realtionship we have with God is on-going.  If we are God’s, we actively seek after him on a daily basis. In this sense, the church should be seeker-friendly.  It should be a place where believers spurr each other on to experience more of God.

Psalm 27

Of David.

 ¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
   whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
   of whom shall I be afraid?

 ² When the wicked advance against me
   to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
   who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
   my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
   even then I will be confident.

 ⁴ One thing I ask from the LORD,
   this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
   all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
   and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
   and set me high upon a rock.

 ⁶ Then my head will be exalted
   above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
   I will sing and make music to the LORD.

 ⁷ Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
   be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
   do not turn your servant away in anger;
   you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
   God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
   the LORD will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, LORD;
   lead me in a straight path
   because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
   for false witnesses rise up against me,
   spouting malicious accusations.

 ¹³ I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.

Questions

1. How does this psalm allude to the exodus?
2. Which verses describe seeking Yahweh’s (the LORD’s) face?
3. Who, what, or where are the strongholds of David’s life?
4. Who, what, or where are the strongholds of your life?
5. How could you wait for God so that you gained strength and courage today?