What are we seeking after?

Photo taken of the symmetry (chaistic structure) of the McCune Mansion in Salt Lake on September 30, 2010

Seek ye me, and ye shall live
,,,,,,,,But seek not Bethel,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,nor enter into Gilgal,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and pass not to Beersheba:
,,,,,,,,,,,,,for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity,
,,,,,,,and Bethel shall come to nought.
Seek the Lord, and ye shall live;

…………………………………

The above scripture is found in Amos 5: 4-6.(not surprising…it also happens to be a chiasm... also that is why I posted the photo) The beginning and end of the verses (bookends) is a plea to seek the Lord, and if we do so.. we shall live. The middle verses tell us what NOT to seek, enter in or pass by… and specifically names 3 cities: Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba. I did some research on these cities and found what they all had in common. All three were important to the Lord and sacred. So why then would the Lord tell us not to seek, enter or pass by these cities? While these location where sacred places with righteous inhabitants, unfortunately over time, all three turned to the ways of the world and the people became idolatrous. Here are just a couple of bullet points about each city.

Bethel: (means: the House of God)
Abraham built an altar here and is still considered one of the most sacred spots in Israel.
Jacob had his dream here and called it the gate of Heaven and the House of God.
However, shortly after the time of Solomon who built the temple, Jeroboam, who was a mighty man of valor, turns to idolatry and worships false gods and this city became a place of calf worship.

Gilgal: (means: the circle of stones)
A sacred city in the time of Saul also a place visited by Elijah and Elisha.
12 stones from the Jordan River were set up here as a monument to the parting of the Jordan River and by the Power of God, the Israelites entered into the Promised Land.
Later, the children of Israel lose truth and the knowledge of God and this place became the scene of idolatrous worship.

Beersheba: (means: the well of the oath)
The home of Abraham.
God revealed Himself to Isaac and Jacob here.
Contained much rich pasture land.
However just like the other two mentioned cities, this city also turned to idolatry.
………………………………

We are to SEEK the LORD… so that we will LIVE.

To Seek the Lord means:
to go in search of the Lord.
to look for the Lord.
to inquire of the Lord.
to ask for the Lord.
to endeavor to find or gain by any means the Lord.

And Ye shall LIVE:
To abide, to dwell, to have settled residence in.
To continue, to be permanent and not perish.
To be inwardly quickened, nourished by divine influence.