Trust God and Be Satisfied

Thirsting Illustration

Something we all need in our lives is water. Whether you like to drink it or not your body needs it.

Your body is mostly water around 2/3rd s.

By the time you are 70 you’ll have required 1.5 million gallons of water.

When you are well hydrated your body does wonderful things.

It helps to decrease fat.

It normalizes blood pressure.

It regulates body temperature

It helps you to get nutrients and oxygen to your cells.

Without it very bad things happen.

It can lead to headaches, dizziness or lightheadedness.

If you are dehydrated for long periods of time you can experience kidney failure, seizures or even death.

If you lose 2% of your water supply your energy will decrease by 20%

If you lose 10% of your water supply you won’t be able to walk

If you lose 20% of your water supply you will die.

Needless to say, water is essential.

With that in mind, I want you to picture this. You are lost in the wilderness of the desert. You have no supplies. No food and no water. Days go by in fear and you start to wither. You are on the brink of death from dehydration. You’ve never thirsted like this before. You feel your body start to give up. You start to lose consciousness. You can feel your heart beginning to fail.

And just before it is all over you look up and see your father. He comes to rescue you and has enough water to quench your thirst forever.

Today we are going to look at Psalm 63 with the intention of being a people who Trust God, thirst after Him and find our satisfaction truly in Him alone. Now I must warn you this is a psalm near and dear to my heart and as the sap I am I brought some tissue so we can get through this without delay.

Would you please rise with me as we read through Psalm 63 together. Hear now the word of the Lord.

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. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

But those who seek my life to destroy it, Will go into the depths of the earth. They will be delivered over to the power of the sword; They will be a prey for foxes. But the king will rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him will glory, For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

May the Lord bless the reading of His word. You may be seated. This Psalm focuses on our trust in the Lord while being satisfied in Him.

As we dive into Psalms it is important that we not only get our minds in the right place but also our hearts. You see the Psalms are special as it relates to our hearts.

These are songs and poetry. As such they are not here to merely inform us of doctrine or truth but to move us. They are here to alter, guide and shape our emotions. Whether you are dealing with joy, love, anxiousness, fear, anger, grief, or any other emotions you can find in the psalms how to deal with and respond to our emotions.

This book shows us that our walk with God is not just doctrine and truth but intimacy and a heart that longs after God. In Psalm 63 we will see trust, lovingkindness, joy, satisfaction and much more about the God we serve. This Psalm shows us what a high level of personal and spiritual worship is.

As we begin it is helpful to know that this Psalm was written by King David while he was in the wilderness. This could have taken place when he was fleeing from Saul or it could have occurred while he was fleeing from Absalom. But what we do know is that David is in the wilderness hiding. He is in a place where most would be fearful, discouraged, or angry about our circumstances and yet he writes this Psalm about the beauty, grace, and faithfulness of our Lord. He longs to be back in Jerusalem worshipping the Lord. David writes this Psalm from the perspective of three tenses. Present, Past, and future. We start with the present.

Present

O God

David opens the Psalm with O God. This statement is more meaningful than it looks. In the time of David people would serve the god of their choice. They would pledge their life to one of many false gods. Not David. He announces to the world that the God of the Bible is his God. The God deemed Elohim or Yahweh is who David serves.

This opening could be taking the wrong way as well. As a O God why me. As a despairing plea for his circumstances. I don’t believe given the context here that is the type of O God we see. This seems to be a rejoicing acknowledgment of God. A statement of praise. That He is the one true God.

You are my God;

He continues with You are my God. A declaration of who presides over David’s life. That his life like ours is to be defined by that very statement. We are God’s people. And as such we should be making this very declaration ourselves. We can see this reflected in the words of Isaiah in Isaiah 25:1

Isaiah 25:1 (ESV)

O Lord, you are my God;

I will exalt you; I will praise your name,

for you have done wonderful things,

plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

Both of these start with an acknowledgement of the Lord. A lifting up of God’s name and praising Him. Because He is wonderful and has done wonderful things. Too often we skip this part in our prayers and lives. It all started with God and our response in prayer and seeking Him should be the same.

And we do this no matter the circumstances. Whether in plenty or in the desert. We see David in a poor position and He maintains the same attitude. How many of us would do the same? And not just acknowledging Him and stating our allegiance but to seek him first in everything.

I will seek You earnestly.

As we return to our text David says I will seek You earnestly. David is God’s anointed king. He is a man described as a man after God’s own heart. He shows this by seeking God earnestly.

The word we see here is šāḥar (Sha-Hhhair). It means to long for and watch for early. To seek first and with your whole being. To be a follower of Christ is to šāḥar. To be diligent in our desire for Him.

To seek earnestly is to seek Him first when you hit a crisis. When you begin to worry you call on Him before others. When you have plenty is He still foremost in your life and mind?

My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Why? Because your being longs for Him. Our souls that were given to us thirst for God. Like the example of being in the desert earlier we will be left to ruin without Him. He has the only water that can quench the thirst of our soul. Living water. Jesus tells us this in John 4.

Jesus comes to a well in Samaria. A place many Jews would not go. He sits down and waits for a particular woman. He asks her for a drink to which she is shocked that a Jew would ask a Samaritan. He responds with:

John 4:10 ESV

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

She continues to not believe Him as He has nothing to draw with at the well. She is thinking of earthly water. To which Jesus responds:

John 4:13–14 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

This is the water our soul is thirsting for. True water that gives us eternal life with Jesus. To be fully satisfied in Him and never thirst again. Think of what that will be like.

Not only does our soul thirst but even our flesh yearns and longs for you. Your entire being desires God. Because the land is weary and dry. It has no water of its own and could never satisfy us. Of all the things that this world has to offer it is desolate for our souls. We can only be quenched by the Lord.

Augustine of Hippo has a famous quote that captures this: He says

'Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.'

Our soul will alway feel restless in this dry and weary land until it is in communion with the Lord.

Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory

David shows us next where he has seen the Lord. In His sanctuary. Now what do we think David means by sanctuary? He isn’t talking about the holy of holies because he hasn’t been in there. He could mean the cosmos where he sees the glory of God in Psalm 19. David also spent quite a bit of time in God’s creation as a shepherd admiring the beauty of God’s creation so he could be reflecting on all of creation like in Psalm 8. David is most likely referring to the tabernacle. The place of worship during his time since the temple would not be built until his son Solomon was king. The sanctuary to David was so important it was a singular desire for him for his life.

In Psalm 27 David says the one thing he will seek is to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. To see God’s beauty and meditate in His temple. To be in the presence of the Lord.

To the OT saints the tabernacle and the temple represented being in God’s presence. But those things pail in comparison to what you and I have today. We are the temple of the living God. Maybe David has an understanding of this. Regardless now we know that Christ resides in you. You have 24 hour access to the sanctuary. His power and glory resides in you. How magnificent is that truth. The same power that rose Jesus from the grave resurrected you. and dwells in you.

Because Your lovingkindess is better than life, My lips will praise You.

David tells us an incredible truth about all of this.

God’s love is better than life. This is a reason David can rejoice in his position. He knows that the love of God far exceeds life itself. Do we live this out. Do we long like David to be with the Lord in the full presence of His perfect love rather than clinging to our this world? His patient, kind, selfless, enduring and eternal love. This love that leads us to abandon our desires and say Lord let your will be done in my life and use me to share this gift with everyone I can. That leads us to praise His name with every word that comes from our lips.

So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

In response David announces that he will spend all of his life blessing the name of the Lord. That the life he has which he has acknowledged as lesser than God’s love will be used to lift up the name of the one who loves him. That David understands being a living sacrifice for the purpose of glorifying God.

And the posture David does this from is that of a child. David says he will lift up his hands in His name. This picture of prayer that is ready to receive every good gift that the Lord has to offer. This posture is one of trust in God alone. How often do we lift up our hands to fully trust our God in prayer and praising Him?

Now I mentioned that this is a posture of a child. Any parent or any person who has children they are close with in their family will know what I mean. The position a young child takes when they want to be taken into your arms or receive what good thing you have for them. Most of the time it happens when they are hurt or when they want a cookie. But the moments my daughter reaches her arms up to me reminds me of the relationship I have with my Father in heaven. I long to hold her and show her how much I love her. God desires that very thing with us if we would only lift our arms up and say Abba take me into your arms.

My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

David reiterates his point by telling us that his soul is fully satisfied with the Lord. Like marrow and fatness. This is like looking at a rich banquet with every food that you could ever imagine with flavors that make you melt away with exhilarating pleasure. Satisfaction that could never be put into words. That is the level of satisfaction God provides to our souls. which leads to abundant joy filled praises on our lips.

In this section of the present David shows us how to seek God’s presence. How to trust, praise and earnestly seek Jesus right now. Whether in blessing or trial God’s love is better than life.

Past

How does David know this? He looks to the past.

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,

When David lays on his bed he remembers all that the Lord has done. As he finds rest the thoughts of God come to his mind. This is because God is our rest. Our beds are a place we feel comfortable and safe. A place where we unload our burden. The place where we close our eyes to the world around us. What a wonderful place to remind us of Jesus.

David meditates on God’s word and deeds because our God is a faithful God who cleanses us and protects us. He is what our minds should be reflecting on as we lay our heads down at night. Because He was David’s helper and He will be yours as well. We live in a day and age where we lay our heads down or rest on the couch only to spend that time with our phones or TV shows. However we can spend that time in the Word, memorizing Scripture, in prayer or just meditating on everything with our God. We have that choice to be like David.

For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.

As David remembers, he reflects on how God has been his helper. David remembers all that God has done for him and through him. David was merely a shepherd boy who was promoted to a king. God delivered him from incredible odds as David defeated the giant Goliath. David was preserved from the onslaught of Saul’s persecution of him. And God has forgiven him of his transgression through Bathsheba and Uriah. God is a rescuer and a guide.

Following this David uses a different imagery. He mentions being in the shadow of God’s wings. No God doesn’t have wings so what is this pointing to? The imagery here is of a mother hen protecting her children. These chicks would be wrapped under their mothers wings safe and chirping away. That is what God did for David and does for us. In order to do that though we have to trust God will see us through. That He will be protecting us even if we cannot see it. David had so many times to doubt God and do it his way but he would trust God completely. That is why he can sing for joy.

My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

And David’s soul clings to God. This idea takes us back to Deuteronomy. On multiple occasions Moses instructs the Israelites to hold fast to God.

Deuteronomy 10:20 ESV

You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.

Deuteronomy 13:4 ESV

You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.

The lesson is simple in understanding but can be difficult to follow through with. No matter what happens cling to God. Not on the world, not on your desires or understanding. Cling to him and His mighty right hand will uphold you. Because our God is with us and for us.

We can see this more clearly in Isaiah

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

What a promise.

This right hand listed has significance in many ways. Throughout Scripture when you see the right hand it is either pointing to someones literal right hand/ dominant hand or a metaphor to prominence or strength. Since God is Spirit and has no body this is pointing to His strength and power. The right hand of the Father is where Jesus as a place of honor interceding for us. This is also where those who believe will be placed when Jesus returns. On His right side. In Psalm 16 it says this

Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

It is the source of our anticipated eternal pleasures.

The right hand or side is important and that is where God upholds you. From your past to your present that is where you belong to God.

But what about the future? What do we look forward to as we trust God and find satisfaction in Him?

Future

But those who seek my life to destroy it, Will go into the depths of the earth. They will be delivered over to the power of the sword; They will be a prey for foxes.

As we endure this time there will be those who seek to destroy our lives because we follow Christ. To a perishing world the gospel is foolishness. It is an affront to their lives. They cannot attack our God directly so we are attacked and persecuted for His righteousness sake. David feels this as he has been persecuted on multiple occasions. But he knows something. That those to who persecute God’s people will perish in the way.

Psalm 1 tells us about these people.

Psalm 1:4–6 (ESV)

The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

They will not be able to stand with us. They will be cast out into darkness. Our endurance here is not in vain. We may not pray for revenge on others out of selfishness but God will execute his justice on those who reject Him. On those who desire to kill and destroy.

In Psalm 63 David says not only will they go to the grave but they will be given to the power of the sword. Following this result of the sword they will be thrown out for the jackals and dogs. This means they will be left to be spread across the land and not buried. This would be a major dishonor to not be buried and left like this.

All throughout the Psalms David calls for this type of punishment for the wicked. What does this do for us? Do we desire for this to happen? Yes and no. We desire that everyone repents and follows God. But we trust that God righteousness will prevail and we desire His will to be done. That evil will be punished. The result should be that during our moments of trial we can look to the future with a certain hope of all things being made right. Because they will.

How does David end this aspect of the future though. He ends it this way.

But the king will rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him will glory, For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

The king here being David will rejoice in God no matter what comes. He will find joy in the Lord no matter the circumstances. Even during exile he still sees the joy of the Lord. Not just David but all who swear by the King of kings will share in the triumph of God’s glory. That includes us. We are a part of those who will share in this. When time comes to an end and the white throne judgment takes place we can rejoice with our God.

The closing gives us something to see that joy in. That all of those who lie against the truth will be stopped. There is a clear contrast between those who swear by Him truly and those who speak lies. Not just blatant lies the world system tries to feed to us along with Satan. They speak falsehoods about our God and what is going on in the world. But even those who profess with their mouth but their hearts are far from the Lord. They lie. They will be stopped and all will be made right at the end of time.

Totality

This Psalm is a beautiful display of love and intimacy most will never experience with God. There is an incredibly romantic tone to this Psalm. We may not see this because we forget these are poems and songs. Let us take a moment to hear a manner in which this Psalm from David could have sounded.

Insert Oh God, You are My God by Fernando Ortega

When we hear it like that it is a clear display of true longing for God. A longing we all should have. Long for God.

It shows David longing for God in a way few of us normally consider. What have we been missing that would lead us to this?

David is longing for God in a form of loving Him that is much different than merely obeying commands or working in His kingdom. He isn’t just going through the motions to appease God for fire insurance. He loves Him with a passion and devotion that no romance novel could even touch.

This Psalm shows a longing for God I have been growing to imitate in my own faith. With all of the chaos of life and brokenness around me and in me, I continue to long for the endless well of God’s love, beauty, and protection as my Father. To experience the truest and deepest relationship there ever will be in my life. So that when the presence of my Savior penetrates my heart it causes me to get on my knees and weep out of joy that He has called me His son.

Conclusion

So what do we do with all of this reflection on the present, the past and the future?

We trust God. Whatever may happen to us in our lives we give our life over to God. With arms reaching to the heavens. With full confidence in our eternal home and that victory has already been secured through the blood of the Lamb.

We have a right understanding that our soul needs Him like we need water. That we can only be truly satisfied in Him. So we don’t try to fill the God shaped hole within our soul and heart with something from this world. Nothing else will quench your thirst completely.

This week I encourage you to spend your evenings on your bed meditating on God and His word. Memorize Psalm 63 to remind yourself of a truly satisfied life with Christ. To long for your God and love Him with your entire being.

Pray

Benediction

We as the church are called the bride of Christ and in Ephesians husbands are told to love their wives as Christ loves the church His bride and gave Himself up for her.

He gave up everything to purchase you from sin and death. He did so to save you and you are His prize. Cling to your loving God and seek Him earnestly.

If you do not have a relationship with Christ, seek that today. Tomorrow is not promised to us.

His life, death and resurrection paid the penalty for your sin. He is your only way to be right with God.

You too can have the heart of David for God that will overflow your cup forever.

May the Lord bless you all as you go. You are dismissed.