THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - October 8, 2014 - Day 63 - Psalm 63

Have you ever been really thirsty? I mean really thirsty, so thirsty you could pass out at any time? When David wrote Psalm 63 he was in the wilderness of the desert. Thirsty, hungry, and probably feeling he was at the end of his strength. But there is more to the story than his physical condition. David was in that wilderness season when it seemed he was alone and even God seemed distant. All of us face those wilderness days in our lives when it seems we shall faint away at any time. Though it may be physical troubles that surround us, it is spiritual trouble at the source. The things of the world can give us a false allusion that all is well. We can amuse ourselves with many things. But there is only one answer to joy and in only one thing can we find true pleasure in life. Without God we are wandering in a dry desert. Like David, we long for God.

Psalm 63:1
A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN HE WAS IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDAH. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

As Christians many of us have been in that joyful sanctuary of God. But then we wander off and get lost in the wilderness of the world and its ways. Our hearts desire what David speaks of. We long to be in the midst of God’s power and glory.

Psalm 63:2
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

God’s love is the only love that satisfies. We must praise Him in all seasons.

Psalm 63:3
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

We pray and ask God to bless us. But do we bless God? How do we bless God? Read on.

Psalm 63:4
So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

We bless God by lifting up our hands. There are two ways to lift up our hands to God. First in praise and prayer. We should not take one step in this life without first having lifted up our hands to God in humble supplication and joyous praise. Then we lift up our hands the second way through service. We are God’s hands; He uses us to do His work on earth. Each of us has been given a spiritual gift to serve God with. We must be busy doing the work He calls us to.

Yes there will be seasons of dryness in our lives. It seems we are restless and unsatisfied in life. David instructs us how to press on in these times.

Psalm 63:5-6
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

Troubles have you unable to sleep? Stop tossing and turning. Remember God and meditate on Him.  Remember the ways He has moved in your life before. Remember what Christ has done for you at Calvary. Remember that you have an eternity to spend basking in the light of His glory. Praise Him and let your soul find satisfaction in Him. Sing for joy.

Psalm 63:7
for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

In the story of Ruth we find that Naomi had had enough of Moab and decided to return home to Judah. When Naomi informed her two widowed daughter-in-laws that she was leaving their homeland, Orpah chose to stay in Moab. But Ruth did the unexpected. It says in Ruth 1:14
“Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.” The word used there for clung in the Hebrew is the same word found here in this Psalm in verse 8.

Psalm 63:8
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

The word for cling means in Hebrew to follow hard after. The King James rightly renders verse 8 as “My soul followeth hard after thee.” That is what we must do. We must not just wander aimlessly behind Jesus as we walk out our faith. No, we must follow hard after Him. Stalk Jesus. Do not ever let Him out of your sight. Go where He goes even when it seems too hard. He will lead you through.

Not only will Jesus take us through this life we can stop worrying about our enemies. He will take care of those who reject Him.

Psalm 63:9-10
But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.

David was thirsty. So He stayed the course and followed His God. He rejoiced in His God for David knew Him.

Psalm 63:11
But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Christians, to make it through the dry, desert of life you must do 3 things. You must long for God. You must live for God. You must look for God. He is there. James 4:8 says it best, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Follow hard after Him. Do that and you will never thirst again.