Quenching a parched soul ∙
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. – Psalms 63:1
Psalms 63:1-8
1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life; My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,
7 For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings, I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
When you think of a desert or wilderness, you imagine a dry, hot, and arid landscape. Average temperatures range from 110°F to 120°F. Furnace Creek in Death Valley holds the record for the highest air temperature ever recorded on Earth: 134°F (56.7°C) on July 10, 1913. Mitribah in Kuwait recorded a temperature of 129.2°F (54°C) on July 21, 2016, and Ahvaz in Iran reached 129°F (53.7°C) on June 29, 2017. These extreme conditions serve as a vivid backdrop for the spiritual journey described in the Psalms.
Deserts are not defined by their temperatures but by their scarcity of water. Surprisingly, the Antarctic is classified as a cold desert, getting only 2 inches of rain a year, which is less than the Sahara. In some areas of the Atacama Desert in Chile, there has never been a recorded instance of rainfall.
The Judean Desert, a desolate wasteland, is not just a physical place but a profound metaphor for the barren spiritual wilderness. It is a place devoid of water and life, rugged and desolate, a hostile environment. The extreme thirst it induces is a powerful analogy for the profound yearning for the Father, a thirst that can only be quenched by His presence.
During this time of loss and separation, David did not dwell on his personal failures and regrets or complain about the discomforts and dangers of the wilderness. Instead, he steadfastly clung to his faith and love for the Father. Rather than feeling discouraged, he was filled with anticipation about his relationship with the Father, longing for close intimacy and having unwavering confidence that God would guide him through this difficult time.
REFLECT & PRAY
Without a doubt, we often reach our limits and come to the end of ourselves. We hit a wall and fall apart. We struggle with external challenges, internal frustrations, and anger.
Father, encourage us to be like David. He could recall Your delightful warmth and lovingkindness. His heart had been cultivated through a lifetime of devotion, and it showed in times of need. Simply put, David deeply loved You, his Father God.
INSIGHT
The Hebrew verb shachar is translated as “seek, earnestly seek,” conveying the idea of diligently looking or searching for something. This verb is derived from the Hebrew noun shachar, which interestingly means “dawn” in English.
When used in the context of seeking God, it implies an eagerness to seek time with Him early in the morning, as indicated in Psalms 130:6: “Early I will seek You” (NKJV). This suggests a deep longing and eagerness to prioritize seeking God’s presence and guidance at the beginning of each day.
Today, we might say, “It is at the top of my priority list,” or “I will do it first thing tomorrow,” or “I’ll get right on it.”
For David, seeking the Father and spending time in fellowship with Him was his top priority.
Spending time with the Father early in the day often sets the tone and prepares us for whatever He has in store for us. During our early morning time with the Father, He frequently prepares us for the divine appointments or challenges we may face that day. Only God knows everything that will happen before it occurs, and He has an itinerary for each child of the King every day of their lives.
Pause for a moment and visualize the Father as a spiritual concierge. Instead of asking Him how to achieve our plans for the day, we ask Him what He wants us to do.
Many individuals commonly label time spent with the Father as their “quiet time” or “personal worship time,” during which they seek solitude and engage in spiritual reflection, prayer, or meditation.
David’s attitude and spiritual appetite were extraordinary. How did this develop? It was nurtured during the formative years of his life through regular, repeated, frequent worship.
How did David worship the Father? If you outline many of his Psalms, a pattern emerges. David praises the Father for Who He is, for what He does, and most importantly, for what the Father has done and is doing in David’s life right now.
Examining his Psalms reveals a clear pattern. He praised the Father for Who He is in all His majesty and holiness.
Psalms 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.
Psalms 19:1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his handiwork.
Psalms 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
David extolled the Father for what He does.
Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
Psalms 138:2 I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.
Most importantly, David celebrated what He does for him in his daily experiences.
Psalms 32:5 I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Psalms 34:4 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
David’s worship begins with gratitude, awe, respect, and admiration. It reflects an intimate and vibrant relationship with the Father, and David thanks the Father for His involvement in his life. Only then does he intercede with Him.
As Wiersbe notes, “It is regular worship and dependence that prepares us for the crisis experiences of life.”
“What life does to us depends on what life finds in us” (Wiersbe). David’s heart was filled with a deep love for the Father and a desire to please only Him. David had seen the Father’s power and glory previously. What He had done before, He would do again. David had great faith that he would be able to see the Father’s power and glory in the wilderness as well!
David had no religious artifacts with him in the wilderness. He looked beyond material objects and saw spiritual realities. With only his longing heart, uplifted hands, and worshipful spirit, David chose to sing praises to the Lord rather than succumb to sorrow, worry, or complaints.
“The longing of these verses is not the groping of a stranger, feeling his way towards God, but the eagerness of a friend, almost of a lover, to be in touch with the one he holds dear. The simplicity and boldness of Thou art my God is the secret of all that follows . . .” (Kidner).
David shows us the way. He thirsted and longed for the Father. The Father quenched his thirst.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯9-09-2
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 