Renewing Our Strength #24

Between the time David was anointed as king and the time he was actually established as king was about fifteen years. During much of that time he was on the run - from Saul and from the Philistines, who both wanted him dead. One of the things that hurt his heart during that time was that he was unable to go to worship at the house of the Lord.  Finally, in I Chronicles 16, the tabernacle was established in Jerusalem and the Ark of the Covenant was brought in, and one big worship service ensued. And David sang:

8 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
10 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek his presence continually!

Often David had had a tired, weary and weakened heart while on the run, but now what he had hoped for was finally coming to pass, and he said: Let it out: give thanks, sing praises, rejoice, tell the Lord how great and wonderful our God is. But most of all, Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! My hope for you today is that you will be able to join God and His people, to worship Him, to seek His presence, and to seek His strength. For David, it was a passion. May it be the same for us too.