To See the Face of God
"As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake."
Psalm 17:15 NASV
Perhaps Philip was thinking of this verse when he said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content" ( John 14:8 NET).
Both contexts deal with betrayal and treachery. One, an appeal for God to act and deal with his enemies. The second, betrayal and denial by the Lord's own disciples.
The first, an affirmation of trust; the second, a request of great desire.
Both David and Philip knew that no man could see God. But they desired and expected some divine manifestation of God that would indicate his personal presence and powerful action in their behalf.
Jesus in the flesh is the answer to Philip's request ( John 14:9-10). He should have seen it by now.
Jesus on the cross is the answer to David's morning awakening. There righteousness reigned supreme, the enemy was vanquished and God's face came near to man's heart.
Jesus' back-and-forth between heaven and earth, his ascending to heaven and coming again to take us to be with him, is no shuttle diplomacy, but the final solution to living in the Father's house.
In the act of eating the bread and drinking the cup, we see the face of God, proclaim the coming of Christ and rejoice in the satisfaction of seeing his likeness.
For what David expected and Philip requested are now ours to enjoy.