Topical Bible: Seeking God: should be While he May be Found

◄ Seeking God: should be While he May be Found ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of seeking God "while He may be found" is a profound biblical theme that emphasizes the urgency and necessity of pursuing a relationship with the Divine. This theme is rooted in the understanding that there are opportune times for seeking God, and it is imperative for believers to respond to His call without delay.

Biblical Foundation

The phrase "while He may be found" is prominently featured in Isaiah 55:6 : "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near." This verse underscores the immediacy and accessibility of God, encouraging individuals to seek Him earnestly and without procrastination. The context of Isaiah 55 highlights God's invitation to abundant life and His readiness to forgive and restore those who turn to Him.

The Nature of Seeking

Seeking God involves a sincere and wholehearted pursuit of His presence, will, and righteousness. It is not a passive endeavor but an active engagement with God through prayer, worship, and the study of Scripture. Psalm 27:8 reflects this active pursuit: "My heart said, 'Seek His face.' Your face, O LORD, I will seek." This verse illustrates the personal and intimate nature of seeking God, where the believer's heart responds to God's invitation.

The Urgency of the Call

The urgency of seeking God is further emphasized in the New Testament. In 2 Corinthians 6:2 , Paul writes, "For He says, 'In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!" This passage highlights the present opportunity for salvation and the importance of responding to God's grace without delay.

Barriers to Seeking God

Several factors can hinder individuals from seeking God. These include sin, pride, distractions, and a hardened heart. Isaiah 59:2 warns, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." Recognizing and confessing sin is crucial for restoring fellowship with God and seeking Him effectively.

Promises for Those Who Seek

Scripture assures that those who earnestly seek God will find Him. Jeremiah 29:13 promises, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." This assurance is a testament to God's faithfulness and His desire to be known by His people. Additionally, Hebrews 11:6 states, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

The Role of Repentance

Repentance is a critical component of seeking God. It involves turning away from sin and turning toward God with a contrite heart. Acts 3:19 exhorts, "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." Repentance opens the way for a renewed relationship with God and the experience of His presence and blessings.

Conclusion

The biblical call to seek God "while He may be found" is a timeless exhortation that resonates with believers across generations. It is a call to prioritize one's relationship with God, to seek Him with urgency and sincerity, and to embrace the transformative power of His presence.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 55:6
Seek you the LORD while he may be found, call you on him while he is near:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Privilege of Prayer
... Those who are really seeking for communion with God will be seen in the prayer meeting,
faithful to ... God does not mean that any of us should become hermits ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 11 the privilege of.htm

'Seek Ye' --'I Will Seek'
... the Saracen woman who came to England seeking her lover ... God individualises us, and
God speaks to Thee, 'Wilt ... why should you limit the blessedness that may come ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/seek yei will seek.htm

The Search that Always Finds
... than that a whole-hearted search after God should be a ... there are, in that case, two
seekers"God is seeking ... And if the mother is seeking her child, and the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the search that always finds.htm

Communion Broken --Restoration
... that GOD should desire fellowship with us; and that He whose ... her LORD, but the
Bridegroom who is seeking for her ... Should trial and darkness come He will be sure ...
/.../taylor/union and communion/section ii communion brokenrestoration.htm

Seeking Richly Rewarded
... When he lives as he should, his whole life is seeking ... to any, operates practically
in an outward seeking of the ... that he does the glory of God, the extension of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/seeking richly rewarded.htm

Go Forth, O Ye Daughters of Zion, and Behold King Solomon with the ...
... spiritual, then, we must begin by seeking God within, by ... Then our progress in God
should be measured by our ... While the soul is advancing towards its centre, it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/11 go forth o ye.htm

The Gaze of the Soul
... Psa.123:1-2). Here the man seeking mercy looks ... Unbelief has put self where God should
be, and is perilously ... set my throne above the throne of God." Faith looks ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tozer/the pursuit of god/vii the gaze of the.htm

The Heavenly Race
... and put another after him with a drawn sword seeking his life ... us every afar of our
lives, how we should run ... O God, I cannot die." And his agony has been fearful ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the heavenly race.htm

Explanation of the Words of Christ, "No Man Knoweth the Father ...
... He should say to us, "Never mind seeking after God ... and are desirous that their own
testimony should not be ... and through all things, there is one God, the Father ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter vi explanation of the words.htm

The Hopeless Condition of the Left-Behind Ones.
... Their seeking will be in vain, because they have delayed the all ... And for this cause
God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/2 the hopeless condition of.htm