Searching and Sifting

“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).  “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left” (Matthew 24:37-40). 

Our God has been searching and sifting all hearts

Since man was empowered to make a decision.

We’re either like trees or like chaff that departs;

Our answer to God manifests that division. 

King David had come to the end of his reign,

And Solomon stood to inherit his throne.

The charge of king David was certainly plain

To know, and to serve, and to seek God alone. 

We do a disservice to children we raise

If we’re just assuming that they know the Lord.

We need to impress on them in these last days

Their hearts are exposed before God and explored.

Noah found grace in our God’s holy eyes,

As God was yet searching and sifting all men.

Though God called them evil, they thought they were wise,

And so shall it be at His coming again.

He’ll come as a thief, do not be mistaken,

To those not suspecting a break-in or theft.

With two in the field, the one shall be taken:

How sad shall it be for the other one left!

O Lord, You have searched us and thus understood

That, but for Your grace, we are surely depraved.

It’s only because You are loving and good

That You have provided a way to be saved!

Create in us, Lord, a right spirit and mind,

Now searching and sifting our hearts with perfection.

Revive us and cleanse us of all that’s inclined

To turn from Your will in a different direction.