A desert is no place to get caught without plenty of water. The hot dry air, with the sun beating down and no shade in sight, can quickly dry up any moisture in one’s body. To be without any water can be dangerous or even fatal. Someone coming in from a hot, dry place will quickly drink up water to quench his parched body. David knew what it was like to be out in the wilderness, as he had fled there many times. Our psalm today, Psalm 63, is one that he wrote while in the wilderness.
Many Bible scholars believe that David wrote this psalm during the time of the rebellion of his son Absalom. We read about this in II Samuel 15 - 18 where David’s third son, Absalom, attempted to take the throne away from his father, and reign instead. David was forced to flee Jerusalem, and was in the wilderness for awhile as his army fought to regain the throne. As we have seen, he was no stranger to trouble throughout his life, yet he fully trusted in God. During these stressful and dangerous times that David faced off and on throughout many years since his youth, he thirsted for God and His presence in his life (vs. 1). David had spent much time in the wilderness as a young man when he was fleeing King Saul, and now with Absalom, and he knew how thirsty one can get. Here he compares his need and desire for God as being as strong as one seeks water in the desert.
David was eager to be in communion with the Lord God. He came to God first thing in the morning every day (vs. 1). David woke up hungry for Him. He would fill his soul, and then spend time in thanksgiving and praise (vs. 5). When we are really hungry, isn’t it a pleasure to walk into a room and see a table filled with delicious food that we can partake of? Just standing there and breathing in the aroma is a pleasure, yet how much better to take a plate and fill it up! That’s how David felt about spending time with God. He wanted to be as satisfied with God’s presence as one is satisfied at an abundant banquet.
It wasn’t just early in the morning that David spent time with the Lord. He would end each day with God, as well (vs. 6). In ancient times the night was divided into three watches. Before the days when most people would have clocks, in some villages or cities there might be someone who would call out the hour as they traversed the streets. If you were awake for all three watches it was a sleepless night for you. With the troubles came upon David at this time, with his son’s attempted insurrection and coup, he might understandably have had difficulty sleeping. A key for insomnia and when problems arise giving us trouble sleeping, is to focus our thoughts on God. When David couldn’t sleep he spent the time in reflection and worship of the Lord.
With the very real threat of danger to his life, David still felt that God’s love was more valuable than life itself (vs. 3), and he was going to be in praise to Him. He was going to lift his hands in prayer to God no matter what happened to him (vs. 4). Lifting hands in prayer pictures both the ascent of the prayers to God, and a readiness to receive God’s good gifts. Prayers going up and blessings coming down. It is a posture of trust in God alone.
During our troubles, God reaches His hand out to help us in our time of need (vs. 7 - 8). No matter where we are, our desire should be for God because He alone can satisfy fully when we are lonely or spiritually thirsty. Do we seek after God earnestly, and pursue Him throughout our day? Go to God often with confidence. David learned this throughout his life, starting in his days as a humble shepherd, through his days fleeing those who sought to kill him, fighting the enemies of God, and reigning as king. God called David a man after His own heart (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). David knew, and we should learn, too, that only God can satisfy the hunger and longing of our soul.
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