1 Chronicles 16:11 Explained

"Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually." — 1 Chronicles 16:11 (KJV)

From the psalm David appointed for the day the ark finally came home — a day of arrival, not of need.

Read it in context: The Book of 1 Chronicles. Also gathered under verses about strength.

1 Chronicles 16:11 in context

What does 1 Chronicles 16:11 mean?

Two objects, and the second is the harder one. Seeking strength is seeking something God gives; seeking his face is seeking him. The order rules out treating the first as sufficient. 'Continually' is what makes the verse awkward — it is spoken on a day when the thing sought had visibly arrived, which is precisely when seeking stops.

What is the context of 1 Chronicles 16:11?

The ark has been brought to Jerusalem after a first attempt ended in disaster. David hands this song to Asaph to be sung before it. The command to keep seeking is issued at the moment of greatest success in the story.

How do I pray 1 Chronicles 16:11?

Pray it on a good day, since that is the day it was written for and the day it is least likely to occur to you. Ask for the second thing rather than the first — name what you actually want from God, and then ask for God. The gap between those two answers is what the verse is about.

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