S143P2 – The fruit of truth: God’s attention
Psa. 145:17-20
You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
Of all the kings in the land, there was only one who proved to be good. Citizens from other kingdoms would go to him because they had heard that he was benevolent and just. Each time, the king would welcome these prospective subjects with open arms. All were welcome, but that did not mean all could stay. This king could discern the intentions of his subjects, and those intentions mattered to him. He was not flattered by the many who wanted to be near him and be a part of his kingdom for their own gain or interest. To be a citizen of his and live in his presence, one had to be there to advance the kingdom and honor the king. Those whose hearts were inclined otherwise would be turned away.
This passage speaks of calling on the Lord in truth. It is a picture of those who seek him honestly because they understand who He is and believe He will answer. These are followers of his who have real faith in him. Their intentions are pure, and the Lord knows that, which is why He draws near to them. We can call this the difference between wanting God and wanting of God. If we want God, the concern is not for what we can receive from him. What we really are asking for is what He wants for us. We are seeking his will regardless of what that looks like. We relinquish our desires for his. Even in our prayers of desperate need, He and his kingdom remain the focus over ourselves.
God wants followers who will approach him without pretense. The fact that anyone would try to approach God under any guise is ridiculous because we know that He knows all. Yet, many have and many more will try to join him for some kind of gain. They will cry out to him but will remain their own motive. They will seek him but for what they want, not for what He wants. The truth is that we cannot grow close to God through deception. It is only through honesty about that which He already knows that we can even hope for him to be near to us. Father, help us to remain honest in our worship and following of You, that You would draw and remain near.