Take a Seat

"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:
"Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"
1 Chronicles 17:16 (NIV)

Like many people would do, when I first read over this verse I immediately found myself contemplating the humility of David; not realizing I actually missed the greater message. If you have ever read my blog before you will know that humility is an important topic in my writing, but here I found, by the grace of God, something greater. There is one small word that you may have skimmed over, SAT. That one three letter word I believe can actually revolutionize your times with God. When you study what is really being said here you can actually learn the magnitude of this simple action.

When the Jewish people would read this verb their mind would go first to verb to dwell. This word has so many different levels. To start, it simply means to fellowship with; just to be with. But digging deeper we find it to reveal actions like becoming familiar with, to make an acquaintance, to be in unity with, and even one definition is to actually inhabit. The word to dwell refers to a deep level of intimacy in this context.

This is so much deeper than just a casual prayer time, a fifteen minute devotion, or a quick worship time. This action of sitting gives the picture, especially in the Jewish culture, of sitting down for a meal with someone. Have you ever gone out with someone for dinner or a coffee and just sat silently or didn't pay attention to them, didn't listen or didn't take time to grow the relationship? I am quite positive you haven't. When someone goes out for a meal with someone, it is expected that conversation will occur, that a level of connection will be made every time. But even deeper than that, sitting with someone at your own table at home, completely comfortable. The whole idea is to deepen the intimacy level between the two people in great amounts. Inviting someone into your house says that there is a level of vulnerability, and comfort. Letting them pass through the doors into your private area also requires trust. God longs for us to dwell with him in this way, to take to heart the idea of "the meal" when it comes to God. Seriously, taking time for him, just basking in the light of his glory. (anywhere you are, even in your bedroom.)

It says that David WENT and SAT before the Lord. He took the action of going to God than trying to find God. Now get this in your spirit, David went to God. David showed up where God was. Most likely David went to his "prayer closet" and David just dwelt with God. DWELLING TAKES TIME AND EFFORT. To build intimacy, to inhabit, literally to build a "house" where God is, takes time. God isn't looking for your 15 minute dates here and there. Ask yourself, have you ever actually "sat" before God? Have you dwelt with God regularly or are you just punching in and out? Everyone knows that to build a good relationship you need communication, you need time spent, you need unity, you need to know the other person. All this is the same for God. Giving God dedicated set apart time just to get to sit with Him as your creator, friend, father, and lover. We sing songs declaring that there is no where else we would rather be, and dare I say, most of us are probably lying. I even see this in me, at times the last place I would think of being is sitting at God's feet just dwelling with him. But this is so crucial. This is something that you NEED to get deep into you, it needs to penetrate into your soul and take root. Let this revolutionize your relationship with Him. Understanding this I believe can take you to that deeper place in God, beyond the surface and into the intimate. Please, take time just to sit with God, time set apart for Him, only Him. Worship, mediate, praise, let Him love on you. Get intimate, and TAKE A SEAT.