Inquire of the Lord

Joshua 9:14 ". . .but did not inquire of the Lord" (NIV) or "did not ask for the counsel of the Lord" (NASB).

I read the 9th chapter of Joshua this morning and found myself returning over and over again to verse 14. There is a certain weight of responsibility associated with this verse that implicitly demands we inquire of the Lord, that is, seek His counsel.

How can I seek daily communion with the Lord when I refuse to inquire of Him for all things? Time after time, I have declared my desire for the One Who knows all things. Yet, how many rash decisions I have made thinking they do not concern the God Who is wisdom! This is an independent spirit, not one that professes dependence on the only One worthy of dependence.

Psalm 27:4 is a declaration of David. It is one that I claimed early in my spiritual journey. I dare to say that rarely a week goes by that I do not recite this humble voice of David:

One thing I have desired of the LORD,
         That will I seek:
         That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
         All the days of my life,
         To behold the beauty of the LORD,
         And to inquire in His temple.

I confess this sudden realization of how far I fall short. I consistently stop at the threshold of God's sanctuary only to peek inside in hope for a glimpse of God's beauty. What would happen if I consistently stepped through the doorway? What if I did more than reverence God from the outside looking in? What if I truly inquired of the Lord by sitting in communion with Him at the banquet table? What if I never left that glorious communion with the Eternal One?

Words fail to capture the ineffable magnificence of the Author of life and eternity, for that matter. To think! He created each of us for fellowship with Him, before any other. This enhances the blow of my denial to walk into God and allow Him to consume me. I can barely fathom, let alone explain, His desire to engage in my company. Who am I to deny Him? As John says, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1, NIV). And where do children dine? At the table prepared by their Father. Psalm 23:5 declares just that and in the presence of enemies no less! At the Father's table we are washed clean of impurities, made whole, and are recipients of wise counsel. My heart cries, "teach me your way, O Lord. . ."

Let it not be said that I did not inquire of the Lord. The responsibility is great. Lord, help me to walk into You and there remain.