Psalm 105 4

Psalm 105:4 kjv

Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Psalm 105:4 nkjv

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

Psalm 105:4 niv

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Psalm 105:4 esv

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Psalm 105:4 nlt

Search for the LORD and for his strength;
continually seek him.

Psalm 105 verses

Psalm 105 4 Meaning

Psalm 105:4 is a powerful exhortation to continuously and diligently pursue a relationship with the Most High God, emphasizing reliance on His divine power and an intimate seeking of His very presence. It is a call to active and persistent engagement with the Giver of the covenant, recognizing that true strength and eternal communion are found only in Him.

Psalm 105 4 Context

Psalm 105 is a hymn of thanksgiving and remembrance, recounting God's faithful dealings with Israel from the time of Abraham to their settlement in the Promised Land. The psalm serves as a didactic praise, instructing the congregation to remember and recount the marvelous deeds of Yahweh. Following an opening call to praise (vv. 1-3), verse 4 stands as an imperative call to the people to proactively and perpetually seek God, linking their response to the historical faithfulness just recounted and about to be detailed. The historical context is Israel’s national identity founded on God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and His subsequent miraculous deliverances and provisions. The emphasis on "His strength" and "His face" is a contrast to the powerlessness of pagan idols and the unreliability of human strength. It encourages absolute reliance on the One True God, whose historical actions prove His unwavering commitment.

Psalm 105 4 Word analysis

• Seek (Hebrew: דָּרַשׁ - darash): This verb implies much more than a casual looking. It means to search, inquire, investigate, resort to, diligently seek out, pursue, frequent, require. It denotes intentional, active, and persistent effort in pursuit. It suggests a journey or a focused quest, not just a passive desire.
• The LORD (Hebrew: יְהוָה - Yahweh): The unique covenant name of God revealed to Israel, emphasizing His personal, relational, eternal, and unchanging nature. It is the name signifying God as the great I AM, the Self-Existent One, distinct from all other gods. To "seek Yahweh" is to seek the true God who reveals Himself and acts in history for His people.
• And his strength (Hebrew: וְעֻזּוֹ - v'uzzo): Literally "and His might" or "His power." This refers to God's inherent omnipotence, His ability to execute His will and deliver His people. Seeking His strength implies an acknowledgment of human weakness and a complete reliance on His divine enabling, power to save, and sovereign rule over all creation. It’s a call to trust in His omnipotent capability to fulfill His promises and intervene.
• Seek his face (Hebrew: פָּנָיו - panav): "His face." In the ancient Near East, to seek the face of a king or ruler was to seek an audience, to gain favor, or to enter into a direct, intimate presence. Biblically, "God's face" represents His manifested presence, favor, approval, direct revelation, and intimate communion. It signifies the desire for a deep, personal relationship and experience of His manifest glory, not just His attributes or actions. It also carries the connotation of desiring God's light, blessing, and benevolent regard.
• Evermore (Hebrew: תָמִיד - tamid): Means perpetually, continually, always, without ceasing. This adverb emphasizes the continuous, unending nature of the pursuit. It's not a one-time act or a seasonal seeking, but a lifelong commitment to growing in relationship with God, seeking His power and presence in every moment and circumstance.
• "Seek the LORD and his strength": This pairing instructs believers to seek God not just for who He is in His nature but also for His active power in their lives. It combines the pursuit of relationship with the dependence on His intervention and capability. It's an holistic pursuit: seeking His person and His ability to act.
• "Seek his face evermore!": The immediate repetition of "seek" coupled with "his face" and "evermore" powerfully reinforces the concept of unceasing, deep intimacy. It elevates the seeking from a practical reliance on strength to an earnest, never-ending desire for God's manifest presence and relationship. It calls for constant communion, a perpetual state of seeking to abide in His favor and direct gaze.

Psalm 105 4 Bonus section

The threefold imperative "Seek... seek... seek" found in Psalm 105:3-4 (referring to "his wondrous works," "the LORD and his strength," and "his face") demonstrates an intensifying and progressive call to engage with God. From remembering His deeds (vv. 1-2), to actively pursuing His person, power, and presence, this Psalm invites not merely intellectual assent but wholehearted spiritual devotion. The Hebrew word for "seek" (darash) can also imply consulting an oracle or diligently inquiring. This suggests that seeking God’s strength and face involves not only desiring His presence but also earnestly consulting His wisdom and will. This verse, positioned early in the psalm, serves as an entryway into understanding how to respond to God's historical faithfulness: by continuously looking to Him. The inverse is also implied: failing to seek God leads to spiritual decay and detachment from His covenant blessings and strength.

Psalm 105 4 Commentary

Psalm 105:4 serves as a timeless summons to the faithful, following a call to remember and declare God's magnificent works. It shifts from historical reflection to personal application, urging the worshiper to engage in a diligent, proactive, and unending pursuit of the Lord. "Seeking the LORD" signifies active dedication to His Person and covenant. "His strength" highlights a humble recognition of human inadequacy and absolute dependence on His omnipotence for life, provision, and deliverance. It reminds believers that true power comes not from within themselves or worldly alliances, but from God alone. The repeated command to "seek his face" points to the profound desire for God's personal presence, favor, and intimate fellowship—a relationship marked by communion, not just service. The concluding "evermore" emphasizes the continuous nature of this spiritual discipline, signifying that the journey of faith is a perpetual quest for deeper relationship and reliance on God. This verse calls for an enduring lifestyle of divine pursuit, echoing that abiding joy and true power are found in relentless seeking of the ever-present, all-powerful God.