The Face of the Lord
Turn to me and grant me grace, for alone and afflicted am I. Psalm 25:16 Robert Alter translation
Turn – We just want to see a smile. We want to look on the face of the Lord and see Him smiling. Growing up under the Roman idea of God as Judge, we have buried deep within our psyches the frown of a God who focuses on our faults, who holds us in contempt, who demands retribution. But that is not the major theme of Scripture. God describes Himself as ‘erek appayim, the long-nosed face of a God who is patient, slow to anger and forgiving. God’s face is turned toward His people with a smile, a countenance of grace and care. In David’s poem, the opening word of this sixteenth stanza begins with the verb pana, “to turn,” the same verbal root that is the basis of panim, face. David pleads, “Turn your smiling face toward me,” and the Lord responds, “Yes, my child. Of course I will. I love you.”
“Turn toward me and grant me grace.” What David wants, what we all want, is grace. In Hebrew, hanan. Far too often we discover that we think of God as one who withholds favor (hen) because of our sins. That same Roman image of God as Judge, the Ancient of Days leaning over the courtroom seat piercing us with eyes that see our every fault, causes us to want to run from His presence. But David reminds us that God Himself says He is filled with grace (Exodus 34:6), ready to pour out favor on anyone who looks to Him. Put away that archetype of judicial penalties and look at the face of the one who loves you right to the core, who loves you even though He sees you as you are right now. David doesn’t have to beg God to grant him favor. God is running to David to do just that, the Father on the road speeding toward his wayward son, anxious to just have him back.
The heart of an addict whispers, “If they really knew you, they wouldn’t love you.” You are alone. It doesn’t matter what mood-altering behaviors are used to deflect the psyche convinced that it is unlovable. It doesn’t matter what masquerades are presented to the public world. In the end, every addict knows no one could love the mess that he is. Every addict knows that no one really knows who he truly is. He is alone. David uses the word yahid. It means “only” as in “only begotten son.” Here it is about being the only one. But Hebrew hides the addict’s solution to loneliness. Yahid comes from yahad, a word that means, “to be joined, to be united.” The very description of feeling alone contains the solution—united with the smiling face of God.
God is not Judge when it comes to the prodigal. He is delighted, overjoyed, compassionate, caring and smiling. That dark image of desperation evaporates in the brilliance of His smile. “I’m so glad to see you again. You have no idea how I missed you. Welcome home.”
Topical Index: turn, pana, face, smile, judge, grace, hen, hanan, Psalm 25:16
Jonathan Edwards would have trouble with this, but then I always had trouble with him and his sermon “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God.” The image of hanging onto the end of a rope over a fiery pit just never did much for me.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHY HIS WORDS DID NOT SIT RIGHT WITH YOU>..
Thank you, thank you, I needed to hear this!
The Human Face of God
Lavish grace. (Both) grace and truth came by Jesus (who is the) Christ. (John 1.17) Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah, is the human face of God. God humbled Himself and became a man. The incarnation of YHWH, One born in a barn in Bethlehem, One who lived among us for thirty three years, -most of those years in obscurity. Yes, there is much we do not know about His life while here on earth.
But there is much we do know for (thankfully) “it has been written.” More to the point, “it is written.” ~ And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself ~ You see, there is One Mediator between God (who is holy) and man (who is a sinner) and that One Mediator between us both (One to plead our case before the Judge) is the Man, the Second Adam, Christ (the Anointed) Jesus. (1 Timothy 2.5)
“O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son.” He is the (only) Way. The Way. The Truth. And The Life. The (one and only) Door. He has said, ~No man, (no, not one) comes to the Father, but by Me ~ (John 14.6)
I hope by now, we have come to realize, there is much that was concealed in the Old(er) Covenant., that is now revealed in the New(er). “New and Improved” indeed! ~ For by *One Sacrifice* He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy ~ (Hebrews 10.14) And where did this *one* (one and done) Sacrifice take place? At Calvary.
We don’t speak much of Calvary, for some strange reason…- I can’t imagine why. Paul’s admonishment is this: ~ Always bearing about in the body the dying of the LORD Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. ~ For the message, the word, the proclamation of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God ~ (1 Corinthians 1.18) If this is true.. (hello) then why do we not hear more of this “message of the cross?”- Is not the cross of (the) Christ, (the Chosen One) central to our shalom?- Just sayin’.
What we may call the story or parable (an earthly story with a heavenly meaning) of the “prodigal son” is really the story of the prodigal Father. Who is the central character in the story? It is not the two sons- (there are two sons in this story), but it is the broken heart of the Father, trying His very best, longing to reconcile His family. Yes, ~ how good and how pleasant it is for brothers (and sisters) to live together in unity (and shalom!) ~ (Fathers everywhere would agree!)
~ But God (the LORD our God) was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself ~ Once again, – at Calvary. ~ Come, and see the place where our LORD lay. ~
~ For God, who spoke that Light would shine out of the darkness, has dawned in our hearts that we would be enlightened with the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Yeshua The Messiah ~ Jesus, (who is the) Christ. (2 Corinthians 4.6)
His amen? ~ Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father ~ (John 14.9)
BEAUTIFUL CONFESSION OF THE CHRIST.
YES, THE FATHER HAD A PLAN SINCE GENESIS .
THAT PLAN WAS THE MAN CHRIST JESUS.
YOUR WORDS MINISTERED TO ME Carol… thank you