1 Chronicles 28-29 / Romans 5:6-21/ Psalm 15 / Proverbs 19:18-19
I’ve heard the argument that the Old Testament portrays God as angry, hard, and lacking in desire for intimate relationship with His people. It is true that there were only a few who God spoke with on an intimate level – at least from what we have recorded in scripture. There are likely many stories of which we are unaware.
In reading scripture, I have read several stories of intimate relationship between God and men like Abram, Moses, Jacob (Israel), Kind David, and several others. As I was reading in 1 Chronicles 28, it seems as if David is encouraging his son to have the same intimate relationship with God that he has enjoyed. Let’s read verse 9 together, then I want to study some of the wording because I believe we’ll find friendship with God at the center of this verse.
1 Chronicles 28:9 And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
Intimately – yada (yaw-daw) – to know by experience, to see and understand.
Whole heart – salem (shaw-lame) – especially friendly, at peace, safe.
Willing mind – hapes (khaw-fates) – pleased with, delight in, desire, favor.
If you seek Him, you will find Him – masa (maw-tsaw) – to be encountered, to be discovered.
This does not sound like a distant and angry relationship to me. Words such as peace, safe, and pleased with all sound like words one might use to describe a close friend. I’ve written about this before, but I’ll say it again, God is not hiding from us making sure we never encounter His presence or understand His heart. He wants us to find and know Him.
As a matter of fact, I believe He is as excited about relationship with us as we are with Him. Imagine the God Who created everything wanting to spend time with little ol’ me! He does want to spend time with me, and with you. He doesn’t want to spend time out of duty either; He loves our times together. I hope you enjoy His friendship in the same way.
Let me encourage you to find a quiet space and to sit with Him for a bit. Whether you have 10 minutes or an hour, I promise you’ll come to enjoy your time together. He will speak to you, share pictures with you, tell you about your future and most of all He’ll tell you how much you’re loved!
