Seeking God's Character Promises and Commands in Scripture
Scripture commands believers to seek God across multiple dimensions: His character, His promises, and His commandments form an interconnected framework for the life of faith. The imperative appears repeatedly in both Testaments—"Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually" (Psalm 105:4; 1 Chronicles 16:11) [6, 7]—and extends to seeking "His Name," "His word," "His precepts," "His righteousness," and "His kingdom" [1]. Isaiah 55:6 frames this as both command and opportunity: "Seek the LORD while He may be found" [1], a text Jamieson-Fausset-Brown interprets as establishing both condition and limit, urging believers to "cast themselves wholly on His mercy" while God remains near and propitious [9].
The Objects of Seeking
The biblical call to seek God is not abstract. Believers are commanded to seek His commandments (1 Chronicles 28:8; Malachi 2:7), His precepts (Psalm 119:45, 94), and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) [1]. This seeking must be diligent—God requires it "in seeking him" and "in obeying him" (1 Chronicles 22:19; Hebrews 11:6; Deuteronomy 6:17) [3]. The renewed heart is "prepared to seek God," "fixed on God," and "filled with the law of God" (Psalm 40:8; 119:11) [5]. Proverbs links covenant loyalty and kindness to God's character, urging believers to "bind them" outwardly and "write them" on the heart [10, 11], echoing the covenantal promise that "righteousness and unfailing love" bring "life and honor to those who obeyed God's law" [8].
Character as Standard
God's character itself functions as the standard for holiness. Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:15–16 establish "the character of God" as the measure, while Romans 8:29 and 1 John 2:6 point to "the character of Christ" as the pattern [2]. This is not merely aspirational; holiness is "necessary to God's worship" (Psalm 24:3–4) and required to see God (Hebrews 12:14) [2]. One commentary notes that "God's character is the motive for righteous behavior" [12], and another observes that "God's word displays his character and his power" [13].
The pursuit is comprehensive. Believers seek not only God's attributes but also "justification by Christ" (Galatians 2:16–17), "the city which God has prepared" (Hebrews 11:10, 16; 13:14), and "honour which comes from him" (John 5:44) [1]. This seeking occurs "by prayer" and "in his house" [1], grounded in the confidence that access to God follows reconciliation and is obtained through faith (Colossians 1:21–22; Ephesians 3:12) [4].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heart, Character of the Renewed — Prepared to seek God -- 2Ch 19:3; Ezr 7:10; Ps 10:17. Fixed on God -- Ps 57:7; 112:7. Joyful in God -- 1Sa 2:1; Zec 10:7. Perfect with God -- 1Ki 8:61; Ps 101:2. Upright -- Ps 97:11; 125:4. Clean -- Ps 73:1. Pure -- Ps 24:4; Mt 5:8. Tender -- 1Sa 24:5; 2Ki 22:19. Single and sincere -- Ac 2:46; Heb 10:22. Honest and good -- Lu 8:15. Broken, contrite -- Ps 34:18; 51:17. Obedient -- Ps 119:112; Ro 6:17. Filled with the law of God -- Ps 40:8; 119:11. Awed by the word of God -- Ps 119:161. Filled with the fear of God -- Jer 32:40. Meditat”
- Psalms “Psalms 105:4 (NASB) — Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.”
- 1 Chronicles “1 Chronicles 16:11 (NASB) — Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 21:21: 21:21 Righteousness and unfailing love are character traits associated with Israel’s covenant with God (see Exod 34:5-7; Deut 7:9-11). The covenant promised life and honor to those who obeyed God’s law (Deut 28:1-14).”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 55:6: The condition and limit in the obtaining of the spiritual benefits (Isa 55:1-3): (1) Seek the Lord. (2) Seek Him while He is to be found (Isa 65:1; Psa 32:6; Mat 25:1-13; Joh 7:34; Joh 8:21; Co2 6:2; Heb 2:3; Heb 3:13, Heb 3:15). call--casting yourselves wholly on His mercy (Rom 10:13). Stronger than "seek"; so "near" is more positive than "while He may be found" (Rom 10:8-9). near--propitious (Psa 34:18; Psa 145:18).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 3:3: mercy and truth--God's faithfulness to His promises is often expressed by these terms (Psa 25:10; Psa 57:3). As attributes of men, they express integrity in a wide sense (Pro 16:6; Pro 20:28). bind . . . write . . . heart--outwardly adorn and inwardly govern motives.”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 3:3: 3:3 Loyalty and kindness reflect the intimate and wholehearted commitment of God’s covenant relationship with his people (see Deut 6:8-9). • Write them: For a parallel command, see Prov 7:3.”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 23:7: 23:7 God’s character is the motive for righteous behavior (see 22:22-24, 27).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 33:4: 33:4-7 God’s word displays his character and his power.”