Face of God
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 8 viewsA term used to refer to the character of God, especially his favour towards his people. For God to turn his face to his people is to offer them his grace and help; for God to turn his face against his people is to withhold his favour and blessing. To seek the face of God is to seek his favour.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
The face of God as a sign of blessing
The face of God as a sign of blessing
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ’
See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Parts of God’s face
Parts of God’s face
His ears
His ears
; ; ; ;
His eyes
His eyes
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
See also ; ; ;
His hair
His hair
“As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
His lips
His lips
; ;
His mouth
His mouth
; ;
His nostrils
His nostrils
;
The visibility of God’s face
The visibility of God’s face
His face cannot be seen
His face cannot be seen
“The face of God” may mean here God’s real and true self, the inference being that no-one can look on God as he is in his total purity and majesty.
Apparent exceptions where God is seen face to face
Apparent exceptions where God is seen face to face
After Jacob’s wrestling with a figure whose exact identity is not explicit in the preceding verses. Jacob did experience a real encounter with God but God was in a real and approachable form, not in his transcendent and visible glory.
See also ; ; ; ;
The angels in heaven look upon the face of God
The angels in heaven look upon the face of God
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
God must reveal himself if people are to see his face
God must reveal himself if people are to see his face
The Greek word for “revelation” literally means “removing a veil from one’s face”.
The righteous will see God’s face in the life to come
The righteous will see God’s face in the life to come
;
When God hides his face blessing is withheld
When God hides his face blessing is withheld
Complaints at God hiding his face
Complaints at God hiding his face
Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?
See also ;
Cries for help
Cries for help
Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
See also ; ;
Statements concerning God’s anger and judgment
Statements concerning God’s anger and judgment
In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord your Redeemer.
See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Other phrases synonymous with God hiding his face
Other phrases synonymous with God hiding his face
; ;
God sets his face against sinners
God sets his face against sinners
; ; ; ; ; ;
God’s face as a symbol of his favour
God’s face as a symbol of his favour
Seeking the face of God in prayer
Seeking the face of God in prayer
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
See also ; ; ; ; ;
Seeking the favour of God
Seeking the favour of God
But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?
See also ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Appearing before God in worship
Appearing before God in worship
The phrase seems to recall the fact that in ancient religions worshippers came before carved faces of their idols. In Israel such physical representations of God were forbidden but the phrase was still used underlining the belief that Israel’s God was present in his sanctuary.
See also ; ; ; ; ;
The shining of God’s face upon his people indicates his blessing
The shining of God’s face upon his people indicates his blessing
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ’
See also ; ; ; ; ; ;
God’s face accompanies Israel as a symbol of his presence
God’s face accompanies Israel as a symbol of his presence
Literally “my face will go ...” Here this phrase may allude not only to God’s presence but also to the manifestations of his presence (e.g., the cloud in verse 9).
See also ;