Psalms 27:8 “When thou saith, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee thy face, Lord, will I seek.”
I have been in many circles where people talk about feeling the presence of the Lord. They have all sorts of ideas on how to seek God’s presence. Many suggest you need a background of quiet, worshipful music to feel God’s presence. Some say you must worship with up lifted hands. I have experienced some places where it was felt that the faster the music, the more you will feel God’s presence. Some seem to insist that the louder the music, the more you will feel God’s presence. It is suggested that you should shout, clap your hands, dance etc. and you will feel God’s presence. I even had a guy tell me that you could not worship God without drums. I am certain that the fact he was the drummer for a worship team had absolutely nothing to do with his opinion.
In searching the Scriptures I do not find the Bible giving instruction about music as a vehicle to experience God’s presence, nor do I find worship and praise as a means of feeling God’s presence. The presence of God is a byproduct of worship and praise, but that is not the reason why you worship and praise. I am surprise at how much we accept as truth in our churches, when there is nothing in the Bible to back it up. It seems if something works, or has worked in another church, then that is truth.
Jewish literature and ancient Jewish scholars often render the word pani, which we translate as face, as the presence of God. The only real instruction I find to experiencing the presence of God is to seek it. Psalms 27:8 could be rendered as “When you say: seek my presence, my heart says unto thee, I will seek your presence.” My question, however, is: “How do we go about this seeking business?” Do we seek it by reading Scripture, praise and worship, fast music or slow music?” I believe the answer is found in the word seek.
The word in Hebrew for seek is baqash which means to seek, search, beg, demand, inquire or investigate. None of these usages, however, really tell me how to go about this seeking business.
Against my better judgment, I fear I must journey behind my Looking Glass hanging from my Daleth to find an answer. But I am not going alone. I call out to my Hebrew Bible and request that Baqash seek to present themselves front and center. Immediately the letters Beth, Qof and Shin Baqash seek jump out of my Hebrew Bible and appear on my desk. Beth is wearing a Chauffeur’s uniform complete with Chauffeur’s cap. Shin is dressed in a khaki outfit wearing a Pith Helmet and Qof is a sour, prune faced, bitty looking women wearing a granny dress and her hair in a bun, looking much like my high school English teacher, Miss Haas.
Shin announces that he represents a fiery passion and with his arm around Beth says that Beth represents my heart and Shin will fill my heart with whatever I make my passion. Miss Haas, uh, I mean, Qof points her boney finger at me and says: “If you intend to seek Pani (God’s presence) I am here to make sure your heart is filled with no other passion than to experience Pani (God’s presence) and that your heart’s motive is pure and holy. You sorry excuse for an English teacher and now, oh my gosh, you’re teaching Hebrew? Where did I go wrong?” I look at Qof and wonder how holiness can be so prudish.
As I am to be guided by my passion, Shin (who represents passion), takes the lead and we follow him beyond the Daleth and through my Looking Glass. Instantly I find myself in front of a shiny new Hummer Stretch Limousine. Beth in his chauffeur’s outfit opens the door. “A Hummer?” I ask excitedly, “We are going to search for Pani (God’s presence) in a Hummer?” “Your heart’s desire,” smiles Shin. “And why not?” I say, “Some of my favorite preachers and teachers serve God first class, why should I not seek God’s presence going first class.” I glance over at Qof who just turns her nose up at me, says: “Humph!” and steps into the Hummer in front of me. I get in next followed by Shin (my passion) and Beth (who represents my heart) takes the steering wheel. Shin opens the bar and there I see bottles of regular, not diet, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola and (gasp!) Mountain Dew. By the side door sit’s a pile of Big Macs, Fries, McNuggets and, yes, a double bacon cheeseburger. “I can’t eat this” I say, “My blood sugar and blood pressure will sky rocket and besides when I eat too much of this I get sick to my stomach.” “Not to worry,” says Shin, “We are following your passion, you can eat whatever you want in Hebrew Esoteric Land and it will not make you ill.” “Really?” I gasp. “Then surely we have already found God’s presence.” I joke. Qof gave me a look of disgust like Miss Haas used to do when I didn’t finish my homework. I also noticed that Beth was trying to start the car and it would not start. Qof speaks to me in a stern voice: “Man shall not live by bread alone.” I suddenly realize what happened, and that is I lost my focus, Qof was right, my stomach became my passion and not Pani (God’s presence). I humbly repent and the car’s engine suddenly starts.
“What’s that noise?” I ask. “That’s the Hummer,” says Beth, “It’s humming because it is happy and excited to be seeking Pani.” “Well, then,” I say, “Let’s get the show on the road here,” as I sit back , I begin to chow down on a Big Mac and Chocolate Shake when the car engine dies again. Shin scratches his head and says; “I guess we need to leave the Hummer behind and walk the rest of the way.” It was hard to leave the Hummer and burgers behind. I patted the Hummer on the fender: “I’m going to miss you and your Air Conditioner.” I tell Hummer. “Hummmm!” says Hummer.
We walk into a jungle and I see a sign “Democratic Republic of Congo.” It is hot, (how I miss Hummer’s air conditioning) and I’m getting thirsty and I can’t help but think of all those bottles of Pepsi Cola we left behind. We walk all day through swamps, heat, bugs, and I am firmly convinced we are lost. I look over at Qof (holiness, purity) who has a smug look on her face as if to say: “Is Pani (the presence of God) more important that creature comfort to you?” I am determined to tough this out when suddenly I see another baqash seek appear. There I see another Beth, Qof, and Shin Baqash seek, but they are outfitted like Congo villagers. I do remember that Baqash is found twice in Psalms 27:8. My Baqash greets the Congo Baqash and they start to consult about directions when suddenly I hear drums off in the distance. “What’s that,” I ask nervously. The Congo Qof speaks up. “Those are drums Bawana,” “Drums?” I ask. Qof replies: “Drums Bawana. Drums speak Bawana.” Now I begin to feel real terror creeping into me. I hesitantly ask the Congo Shin: “What do the drums say?” The Congo Shin replies: “They say Da Boom Boom, Da Boom Boom.” “Ok!” I shout, “That’s it, I’m out of here.” Qof grabs my shirt and asks ,“So your passion is to save your own gizzard? Don’t you desire Pani God’s Presence enough to take a risk?”
Once again I repent and express my desire for Pani (God’s presence). Immediately, we see a light open a path through the Jungle. At the end of the path is my old friend Hummer. There, with the door open, stands Pani (God’s presence) welcoming me in. I jump in followed by Beth Qof and Shin and as I settle in I see the supply of burgers and soda. “I knew it, I knew it. I can have God’s presence and cola too.” I look at Qof (holiness and purity) who is glaring at me over her Mr. Whipple glasses. She only says: “You must seek Pani with all your heart. Your heart must be filled with me, Qof, purity and holiness. That must be your Shin (passion). Any other passion in your Beth heart and this is what will happen.
Suddenly, I find myself back in my office with a half-eaten Big Mac and super-sized chocolate shake, I finish off my burger and shake just as Beth, Qof, Shin come walking through my Looking Glass and make their way back to my Hebrew Bible. Beth and Shin refuse to speak to me. Qof only turns her head and says: “Man shall not live by bread alone. Oh, and by the way, it’s only in Esoteric Land where burgers do not make you sick,.” With that, Qof jumps back into my Hebrew Bible leaving me to ponder just how passionate I really am about seeking Pani (God’s presence). I wanted my Big Mac and Cola and God’s presence too, so what was wrong with that? Does that show a lack of holiness and purity which I must have to experience God’s presence?
I really can’t dwell on that right now, my stomach is making a noise and it is not a Humming noise. I don’t think I am feeling too good.
When I think about what you said I’m reminded how many times a day Holy Spirit arrests us and holds us in moments of holiness and purity and “wa la” we are there in God’s presence and peace.