Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Even after being scattered among other nations for idolatry, Israel was assured that in tribulation turning to Him, obeying His voice, and seeking Him with all the heart and soul would bring them to find Him, for He is merciful and will not forsake them nor destroy them nor forget the covenant with their fathers. Finding Him means giving the whole person to His side and control with nothing held back, loving Him supremely with longing for communion, earnest prayer, and waiting only upon Him with less confidence in self and greater confidence in what He longs to do. It means coming to Him for counsel and continuing in prayer and study of His Word to understand and obey His requirements, responding earnestly to His warnings rather than neglecting them with indifference. Those who so humble their hearts and seek Him sincerely are brought near into His favor, receive His presence in the soul with His power and rich grace and blessing, and enter a connection with Him that others recognize. The same assurance belongs now to young and old, to those caught in difficulties upon difficulties, and to church members and leaders with sacred responsibilities, that if they seek Him humbly with heart, mind, and soul they will find Him, be pardoned and received, and live it out in keeping His commandments and Sabbath and in just, compassionate service without losing precious opportunity.
Promise to Scattered Israel
Even after Israel should be scattered among other nations for idolatry, seeking the Lord God with all the heart and with all the soul would bring them to find Him. In the tribulation that would follow that scattering, turning to Him and obeying His voice would carry the assurance that He is merciful and will not forsake them, nor destroy them, nor forget the covenant made with their fathers. Even when His people are far from their own land, return to Him in penitence and faith makes His promise of gathering and restoration sure. That promise was given through Moses before Israel entered Canaan, and it remained unchanged through the centuries.
It was fulfilled when the exiles repented, turned to God wholeheartedly, and renewed their covenant with Him. They were then permitted to return to Judea and restore what had been destroyed. Jerusalem was destroyed by fire and the people overcome and carried into heathen lands because they had failed to be missionaries and had built walls of division between themselves and the people around them. The Lord scattered them so that the knowledge of His truth might be carried to the world, with the assurance that if in that scattering they were loyal and true and submissive He would bring them again into their own land.
The verse belongs to Moses' account of the Lord's dealings with Israel and the promises given alongside His law, teaching that those who seek the Lord their God with all their heart and soul will find Him. The whole fourth chapter is to be studied for the sacredness of God's law. Its word was verified when the people disobeyed and only two of the adults who left Egypt entered Canaan while the rest died in the wilderness, and God will today vindicate His word if leaders depart from His commandments. The chapter requires keeping His statutes and commandments, so that it may go well with them and with their children after them and that they may prolong their days upon the earth which the Lord their God gives them forever.
Meaning of Wholehearted Seeking
Finding God comes by seeking Him with all the heart and with all the soul, which means loving God supremely first. That supreme love is longing of soul for communion with Him, pleading most earnestly with Him and waiting only upon Him. It grows with increased faith and far less confidence in what can be done by self and far greater confidence in what the Lord is longing to do individually for those who prepare the way for Him, and this wholehearted love for God then leads to loving one's neighbor as oneself, with love for neighbor coming second.
Seeking Him requires the whole person to be on His side and under His control, with no part of the mind, thoughts, or affections held back. It is giving soul, body, mind, and strength to Jesus, who requires them all. It means giving Him full purpose of heart and mind, coming to Him for counsel, and continuing in prayer and in study of His Word to understand and obey His requirements. Seeking God wholeheartedly is responding earnestly to His counsel and warnings rather than neglecting them or treating them with indifference.
Seeking sincerely is relying upon Him every moment and drawing strength from Him, and He gives what is sincerely asked of Him. God is near to those who seek Him with the whole heart, bringing the seeker into His favor and opening the way to know Him. Those who seek the Lord with whole heart and soul find Him and receive His precious presence in the soul. Seeking Him wholeheartedly brings the imparting of His power, and seeking Him earnestly brings His rich grace and blessing.
When people humble their hearts and seek God wholeheartedly, He will be found by them. There is no safety for supposedly wise men and women in positions of trust unless they humble themselves before God and seek Him with heart and mind and soul. Wholehearted seeking brings a person into connection with God that others will recognize in knowledge, ability, and influence. Such seeking goes with humility rather than grasping for position or recognition, and is urged as seeking Him with all the heart, mind, and soul.
Present Call to Seek
The verse stands in Moses' instruction to study and heed God's words so as to be a holy people belonging to Him, and that belonging goes with keeping His commandments, walking in His ways, and full surrender and obedience to His directions. It belongs to the chapter to be read carefully and not neglected, and to be studied carefully by those who would be God's covenant-keeping people. That study includes obedience to the law proclaimed at Sinai, including keeping God's Sabbath holy.
The directions given are sacred truth to be acted out in principle in all religious service toward God and toward one another, meaning to love as brethren, to do no injustice, and to show liberality, tenderness, compassion, and true courtesy. The specifications never lose their force because they are expressions of the mind of the infinite God, and every word is to be cherished. This truth is to be preached and represented by correct principles in everything, since departing from His word in actions misrepresents the character of God. What God required of His ancient people that they might be holy is to be read with profit now, because the day of God's great final review is near when the people of this world must stand before the Judge of all the earth to answer for their deeds. The present is the time of investigation, when every character will have been investigated and every case decided for eternity before that day comes.
God assures His people throughout their history that if they obey what He says He will deliver them out of their calamities when they call upon Him. What God says is truth and righteousness to be obeyed, including which day to keep, so no one should say it does not matter what day is kept, and all are accountable to God for that obedience. The promise that those who seek the Lord with all their heart will find Him applies to young people, whom God loves and wants to find happiness in Him, and He will bless them when they come to Him sincerely and humbly. God understands one caught in difficulties upon difficulties, and if he seeks God with all his heart God will be found by him. If he does his best and serves Him humbly, God will pardon and receive him.
Individual members of the church who seek God with all their heart will find Him, and this finding is connected with feeding on the rich nourishment found in both Old and New Testament Scriptures. The call to seek with the whole heart, mind, and soul is an urgent appeal not to lose precious opportunities to seek the Lord. That wholehearted seeking goes with using every ability in earnest, wise work for God in the spirit of Christ, without being held back by human forbiddings. The verse stands among the chapters that leaders in sacred work are urged to read for instruction about God's dealings with His people. Its call is for those carrying sacred responsibilities to seek Him and serve Him wholeheartedly.
The verse means returning to God after learning that His commandments have been changed and that one has been going in the way of the transgressor, seeking the Lord with the whole heart. This return is taught from the Word and its precious light in home life to family and to neighbors and friends, with the Holy Spirit working with the teacher and impressing hearts. Those who do this work have Christ as a Helper by their side, who marks every work done for the glory and honor of His name. He lets His blessing and comfort rest upon them and gives them fruit for their labors.