Does God hide his face from us? (Psalm 27:9)
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; have mercy and be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word]. 9 Hide not Your face from me; turn not Your servant away in anger, You Who have been my help! Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation! 10 Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].
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Tim Maas
Supporter
The Bible speaks of God's "face" as a metaphor for His favor toward believers. The passage that comes first to my mind in that regard is the familiar blessing or benediction from Numbers 6:24-26, which contains the phrases, "The LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The LORD lift up His countenance [that is, His face] upon thee, and give thee peace." By contrast, then, the withdrawal of God's favor caused by His displeasure over individuals' actions, or their unrepentant sin, can be symbolically regarded as God turning His face away, or "hiding" it. However, in mercy, God has provided for the forgiveness of human sin through our repentance and faith in Christ's incarnation, atoning death, and resurrection.
Robyn Keal
Supporter
No one can see God's face and live because the glory of God is so great. God doesn't hide his face or turn away. What it's representing is to seek God's face, in other words, seek Him with your prayers and petitions, and when you ask, ask with a thankful heart.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Psalm 27:9 is basically David crying out, “God, don’t pull away from me.” When he talks about God “hiding His face,” he isn’t saying God literally vanishes; he’s talking about feeling abandoned, like God’s guidance, protection, or favor isn’t near (Psalm 10:1; Isaiah 54:7). It’s the human experience of feeling distant from God. David knows people can fail him, even his closest family, but he trusts God to never fail (Psalm 27:10; Deuteronomy 31:6). Seeking God’s face is him saying, “I need You above everything else; I want Your presence in my life” (Psalm 63:1; James 4:8). So even if God seems distant sometimes (through trials or tests), it doesn’t mean He has truly forsaken us (Isaiah 41:10; Romans 8:38-39). David’s words remind us that it’s okay to admit our fear of being alone while still holding fast to God’s faithful presence. In short: God may feel hidden at times; but His love and salvation are never gone, and we can confidently reach for Him, knowing He won’t abandon us (Psalm 94:18-19; Hebrews 13:5).
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