In His Name Devotionals
GOD'S FACE IN HIDING
In His Name Devotionals
GOD'S FACE IN HIDING
“Thou hidest thy face and we are troubled...” (Psalm 104:29)
The writer of Psalms often gets our attention by the figures of speech he employs. In Psalm 104:29 he wrote our verse above. Consider the sun is always there, but it is not always visible. For years the presence of God was manifest to the children of Israel by a pillar of fire or a cloud. Now they complain His face is hidden.
Here we observe, God does not withdraw His presence as an evidence of His divine sovereignty. Jeremiah wrote, “He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men” (Lamentation 3:33). Isaiah wrote, “Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither His ear heavy that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”
If the consolations of the Lord seem “small” to us as Eliphaz suggested to Job (15:11), it very well may be because He is trying to prevent some sin, correct some error, or remind us of some duty we have neglected. We would do well to remember these words:
The dearest idols I have known,
What e’re that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only Thee.
So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame,
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
