Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
David sang these words on the day the ark came to rest in Zion. They call a whole nation to stop looking at itself, to draw its strength from the Lord, and to stay in His presence. The verse raises two questions: why is seeking put in terms of strength, and why must it be continual?
The day David gave this song
These words come from a song for a turning point in Israel's history. One writer sets out the occasion:
H. L. RossierThe song of 1 Chronicles 16 is completely different. It is the hymn that opens the kingship, announced by setting the ark in Zion. The ark is God's throne among His people, and at last it has entered its rest. This song is closely tied to the ark's return. On that day, we read, "David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers." So this psalm is called "the first" song of praise to the Lord.
A call back to old promises
What does "seek the LORD" mean here? One writer ties the call to promises older than the Temple:
J. N. DarbyIt is a call to Israel to stand again on their true ground, the ancient promises, and to seek the LORD. The ark of the covenant now rests among His believing ones, not because it is set up in the Temple, but because God is faithful.
Three marks of the people addressed
The song's opening call places the seeker between two other callings — thanks before, and witness after:
Hamilton SmithThe psalm opens with a call to Israel to give thanks to the Lord; to call upon His name, and to make known His deeds among the peoples. So restored Israel is to be a praising people, a dependent people and a witnessing people.
Why strength is the thing sought
Why strength, and why without a break? The same writer answers both, quoting an older wording, "seek his face," where the ESV has "seek his presence":
Hamilton SmithThey are to call upon Him, or "seek the Lord," because they are weak and "strength" is with Him. This dependence must be constant: they must "seek his face continually" (compare John 15:5).
Seeking His face
Where is God's face seen? One writer answers:
L. M. GrantGod's face shining on His people means that He is revealed in His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus. We see it in the transfiguration, when "his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light" (Matthew 17:2). And 2 Corinthians 4:6 confirms it: God "has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Believers today enjoy this shining out of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
What it does for the weak
One writer turns the command into a habit for today, and says what it proves:
William J. HockingLet us, then, follow these examples of Scripture. If we seek the Lord and His strength — Psalm 105:4 — we shall prove how He can enable feeble ones to stand against the storm. And then let us not forget to render to Him the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His holy name.
The chapter's own lesson
The joy of this chapter came at a cost. A severe lesson at a threshing floor came first, and seeking the Lord is one of the lessons it names:
F. A. HughesThe magnificent psalm of 1 Chronicles 16 looks back and looks forward. It pours out present praise, and it draws praise to God from ALL the people. All of this is the precious result of what they went through and the lesson they learned at this threshing floor... God's choosing; God's preparation; God's due order; God's command according to His own word; the need for sanctification and for seeking the Lord.
Summary
- Occasion — David gave this as the "first" psalm of public thanks, when the ark, God's throne among His people, came to rest in Zion.
- Ground — the call sends Israel back to the ancient promises, which stand on God's faithfulness.
- Reason — you seek His strength because you are weak, and the strength is with Him.
- Duration — this dependence must be constant, so you seek His face without a break.
- Result — He holds weak people up in the storm and makes them a praising, dependent, witnessing people.