Creator, Father, King #127

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

DAVID WAS ON THE run.

His enemies were hotly pursuing him, so he ventured into an arid wilderness to lose them. In Psalm 63, David describes his plight. He was far away from the luxuries of palace life. Water was scarce. The delectable foods of the royal banquet table were a distant memory. Nights were filled with fitful sleep.

Most of all, though, David longed to set foot again in God’s sanctuary (verse 2)—the Tabernacle, where God’s presence resided most powerfully over the Ark of the Covenant’s mercy seat. David had “gazed upon [God’s] power and glory” (verse 2) before, and now he longed to do so again.

In today’s verse, he expressed his deep spiritual desire to leave the wilderness and worship God among the faithful congregation.

“I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely” (verses 6-8).

What’s It Mean?

To David, true, unencumbered worship of God was like water to a desert wanderer.

Satisfying.

Refreshing.

Rejuvenating.

Energizing.

Life-giving.

What is your individual worship of God like? Does your soul thirst for God? Do you earnestly search for him? Do you long for him like a desert wanderer seeking an oasis in a parched and weary land, finding rest for your soul through prayer, Scripture reading, and meditation on his Word? Or are your devotional times hum-drum affairs that you fit in whenever it’s convenient?

What is your corporate worship of God like? Do you gather with other believers regularly out of a deep-seated hunger to praise the Lord, grow in your faith, and encourage the body of Christ? Or do you go out of a perceived obligation?

Remember, hunger and thirst come from need. God doesn’t “need” our worship, but he desires it. However, we desperately need him. We need him for salvation through Christ, and we need him for our daily spiritual growth.

The more you understand your need for God, the more you will hunger and thirst for worship.

Now What?

Get in the habit of daily devotions, not for habit’s sake but for honoring the Lord with your time and maturing spiritually.

Did You Know?

David was likely either fleeing Saul or his own son, Absalom, when he wrote Psalm 63.