Thirsty?

Psalm 63

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

 ¹O 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.
²So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
   beholding your power and glory.
³Because your steadfast love is better than life,
   my lips will praise you.
⁴So I will bless you as long as I live;
   in your name I will lift up my hands.

 ⁵My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
   and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
⁶when I remember you upon my bed,
   and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
⁷for you have been my help,
   and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
⁸My soul clings to you;
   your right hand upholds me.

 ⁹But those who seek to destroy my life
   shall go down into the depths of the earth;
¹⁰they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
   they shall be a portion for jackals.
¹¹But the king shall rejoice in God;
   all who swear by him shall exult,
   for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

I have to admit that this Psalm first makes me think of contemporary songs. That happens a lot in this book, but I couldn’t get through this one without singing several songs in my head. “O God, You are my God,” - that’s in a Rich Mullins song. “Your love is better than life,” - that’s in a Newsboys song. “The shadow of your wings,” - that’s in a Third Day song. You get the idea. I’m grateful for songwriters who borrow from scripture because it helps my memorization so much.

There’s a lot more to like in Psalm 63. Love is considered better than life itself. This is a lofty outlook echoed in Philippians 1:21 and Acts 20:24. Verse 4 is one of several that describe a worship posture of uplifted hands. One commentator likens this posture to one ready to receive good and perfect gifts from the Father of lights (James 1:17).

David was inspired to write these words while fleeing in the wilderness, probably either from Saul or Absalom. Verse 11 makes the Absalom scenario make more sense. The opening verse is a powerful plea for the presence of God. David exemplifies a trait that would serve all of us well: his desperation magnifies his need for God. Here’s a somewhat trite example. A nice, cold can of Coke is something many of us enjoy. For some, that enjoyment comes several times a day. However, the same can of Coke becomes so much more if we’re desperate. I remember spending 6 weeks in Europe on a study abroad trip in college. For some reason the countries we visited seemed either morally or legally prevented from manufacturing ice. All the drinks were tepid. I drink a lot during a meal, and the Cokes were crazy expensive and they came in these tiny Metric-system cans. By the time I traveled back home, I was desperate for an icy cold Coke. (Well, for me it was Mountain Dew, but you get the idea.) The same can in the fridge had new meaning and importance. I enjoyed it more. Savored it, even.

Here’s your homework for today: be desperate for God. Even if you’re not wandering in a metaphorical wilderness, long for Him. Enjoy Him like you’re encountering Him in a brand new way. Savor Him. Thirst for Him. Behold His power and glory, because His steadfast love is better than life.