{"id":1070,"date":"2020-08-29T08:44:48","date_gmt":"2020-08-29T08:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/?p=1070"},"modified":"2020-08-29T08:56:53","modified_gmt":"2020-08-29T08:56:53","slug":"seeking-gods-presence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/seeking-gods-presence\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeking God’s Presence…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Hebrew word for “world” or “age” is olam<\/em> (\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05dd), which is derived from a root verb (\u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b7\u05dd) that means “to conceal” or “to hide.” God “hides” His face from us so that we will seek Him, and that means pressing through ambiguity of this world to discern and take hold of the truth. Therefore King David said, \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e7\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc \u05e4\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05d3\/ bakeshu fanav tamid:<\/em> “Seek His face continually” (Psalm 105:4). Note that the Hebrew gematria (numerical value) for the word “fanav” (i.e., “His face”) is the same as that for the word “olam.” When we truly seek God’s face (i.e., His Presence), that is, \u201cdo teshuvah,\u201d we are able to discern the underlying purpose for our lives in this age… As it is written in our Scriptures: “Blessed is the one who endures temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life (\u05e2\u05b2\u05d8\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd) that the LORD has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). The present age, then, constitutes a test that God providentially designs to lead us to the “crown of life,” and we are made happy when we go through its fires and are not consumed. Indeed, only those who love the Lord will be able to withstand the fires… The \u201ccrown of life\u201d symbolizes that we have truly received the purpose for which we were created and that we are identified with God\u2019s own passion and love. The light of the crown represents the Divine Presence within us, the Life that overcomes despair on our behalf.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt is not the path which is the difficulty; rather, it is the difficulty which is the path.\u201d The ancient Greek version of the Torah (i.e., the Septuagint) translates this verse, \u201cSeek the LORD and be strengthened; seek His face through everything (\u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u1f79\u03c2).\u201d The LORD God gives us “inner strength” (i.e., \u1f10\u03b3\u03ba\u03c1\u1f71\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1, from \u03b5\u03bd-, “in” + \u03ba\u03c1\u1f71\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, “strength” or “power”) when we yield to \u201cthe power of His might” (\u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff7 \u03ba\u03c1\u1f71\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f30\u03c3\u03c7\u1f7b\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6) (Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 6:10). Therefore we must remember God\u2019s power and glory, for \u201cHe is the LORD our God (\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc); His judgments are in all the earth\u201d (Psalm 105:7).<\/p>\n

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