20141204 Thursday, December 4 2014
Psalm 013: When Will The LORD Let You See His Face?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"The LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend"

King David (see Israel In History and Prophecy: King David) asked the question "How long wilt Thou hide Thy Face from me" (Psalm 13:1 KJV) in a way that revealed that he would see the Face of the LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God).

According to the Holy Scriptures, the LORD does reveal His Face, on a personal level, to some people, for a purpose, in this time prior to His return - after which "1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." (Revelation 1:7 KJV; see also What Happened When The Messiah Arrived In Heaven? and What Happens After The Messiah Returns?).

Examples. The long-trusted apostle John (see 'If You Love The World, The Love Of God Is Not In You', The Bride Of Christ and The Great Harlots and Follow Not That Which Is Evil, But That Which Is Good) was given to see the Face of the LORD God, while Saul the Pharisee, at the time of his conversion into the apostle Paul, was merely blinded by the Light.

Saul saw only the Light ("there shined round about him a light from heaven") at first:

"9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord?

And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

9:7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 9:8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink." (Acts 9:3-9 KJV)

John saw the Face in the Light ("His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire"):

"1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." (Revelation 1:12-20 KJV)

The account of Moses also provides a step by step growth to the time when "the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend."

Moses' association with the LORD began with only a voice. At their first meeting, Moses wasn't permitted to see the LORD at all. His Presence was manifested by the light of a bush that functioned as a beacon (see The Sign Of The Flaming Bush).

"3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3:3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses.

And he said, Here am I.

3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." (Exodus 3:2-6 KJV)

Throughout the events of the Exodus (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Exodus) and Moses' service to the LORD (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Moses), their friendship grew until Moses was permitted to see the LORD, except for His Face.

"33:17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.

33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 33:23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen." (Exodus 33:17-23 KJV)

As the years went on, the friendship grew until Moses was also permitted, at times, to see and speak with the LORD "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend."

"33:7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

33:8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.

33:9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

33:10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.

33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." (Exodus 33:7-11 KJV)

David's Psalms were actually prophetic prayers of faith (see David's Prayer, The Morning Blessing and The Righteous Don't Fear The Reaper). David knew that his "how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?" was a rhetorical question that had already been answered by the faith and knowledge that the LORD had given to him (see The Way To Eternal Life).

"13:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 13:2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

13:3 Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 13:4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

13:5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 13:6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me." (Psalm 13:1-6 KJV)

Fact Finder: Were Moses and Elijah clearly identified in the Light of the prophetic Transfiguration vision?
See The Moses And Elijah Vision