Delighting in God’s Soul- Satisfying Presence

Introduction

(Show Picture slide) Imagine being in a vast, barren wilderness. The sun blazes down relentlessly, and the air is dry and suffocating.

The landscape is desolate, with no sign of water or shade in sight. You feel the weight of isolation and the pressing need for sustenance. And As you look all around you there is no view of relief in sight

This was the setting for David when he penned the words of Psalm 63.

David was not just wandering aimlessly; he was fleeing for his life. His own Son was out to murder him and take his throne.

Stripped of the comforts of his palace, separated from the sanctuary of worship, and surrounded by the harsh elements, David found himself in the middle of the Judean Wilderness.

Here you can see a picture I took as we went through this wilderness last year.

David was in a place of intense physical and emotional thirst.

In this dire situation, we would just expect David to cry out for relief from his physical discomfort,

We would we expect David to pray for safety, or for the return of his kingdom. Yet, his cry is profoundly different.

Listen to how He opens up His Psalm of Prayer

"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's greatest longing, even in the midst of extreme adversity, was for God's presence in His life.

This powerful psalm reveals a profound truth: our deepest delight and satisfaction are found not in the relief of our circumstances, but in the soul-satisfying presence of our God.

Let me say it again- Our Big idea today is this…. Our deepest delight and satisfaction are found not in the relief of our circumstances, but in the soul-satisfying presence of our God.

David’s intense yearning and delight in God amidst his trials teach us an essential lesson.

No matter the wilderness we face in our lives, we can find our ultimate fulfillment and joy in God's presence.

Today, as we delve into Psalm 63, we will explore how we, like David, can delight in God's presence.

We will see how His presence is a source of deep satisfaction, unparalleled love, and unwavering trust.

brothers and sisters In a world that often leaves us spiritually parched and longing for escape, We must find our delight in the refreshing and soul-satisfying presence of God, where we will find our true relief from the wilderness.

Trans> Let's turn our attention to the first two verses of Psalm 63. Here, we find David in a desperate situation, yet his words reveal a heart consumed with longing for God.

Point #1 in your notes is … To Delight in Gods Presence means you begin by…

1. Longing for God’s Presence

Listen to the intensity of his desire:

Psalm 63:1 (ESV)

1 O 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.

Can you feel the desperation in these words?

David isn't just casually interested in God. He's parched for Him.

This isn't a mild preference; it's a matter of spiritual life and death.

David is crying Out saying “God I need you !! and if I dont have you I will Die.”

I want us to break this verse down for a couple of minutes this morning so that we can see the intensity of Davids Longing for God s Presence in his life

Notice how David addresses God:

"O God, you are MY God."

There's a personal relationship here.

David isn't reaching out to some distant deity, he’s not crying out to the God of the Jews, but to the God he knows intimately.

He says” you are my God, you are the one I believe in In ,You are the one I put my trust in. You are the One I need in order to find peace and rest in my life, You are the one I worship, You are my God!

Now look at the verbs David uses when Speaking of His God:

"earnestly My mind seeks you,"

"my soul thirsts for you,"

"my flesh faints for you."

Do you see Davids total commitment to His God? David is seeking God with every fiber of his being - mind, body, and soul.

Finally, consider the metaphor David uses in this verse to describe His longing for Gods Presence

"as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

David, was physically in the middle of the wilderness, he knew exactly what it felt like to be hot and tired and thirsty only wanting relief from the pain.

David was saying that his need for God is as desperate as a man dying of thirst in the desert.

Now, let's be honest. How many of us can say we long for God with this kind of intensity?

In our comfortable American lives, do we really thirst for God like a man in the desert who thirsts only for water?

So I guess the question we have before us is this…

how do we cultivate this kind of longing in our own lives?

Well, David gives us a clue in verse 2: Look with me at what He says.

Psalm 63:2 (ESV)

2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

David while in the wilderness, recalls past experiences of God's presence, power, and glory in His life.

He says “I have looked upon you - I have seen your faithfulness in the past

He's reminding himself of who God is and what He's capable of.doing, And How God has always been faithful.

And its these memories that fuels his present longing for Gods Presence in His life.

Christian, We can do the same. When we are in the wilderness when life is overwhelming, We can reflect on times when we've experienced God's presence in our lives. looking Back at how God has been faithful, even when Life was really tough.

We can recall moments when we've seen His power at work in our lives or the lives of others.

Just take our church for an example- 4 years ago, after our last pastor left, about 25 of us sat in a circle and had to have a hard discussion on whether our church could survive or not.

and look at what God has done now, in this church! He ’s been faithful! And this fuels us to keep going forward - trusting that God will continue to work in and through this church.

Church family the first step in delighting in God’s Presence is to

Make a conscious effort to seek God earnestly with your whole life. Don't just fit Him into the margins of your life.

To long for Gods Presence means to Recognize that your deepest needs can only be met in God.

To long for Gods Presence means to Regularly remember what he has done for you in the past and to look for evidence of what he is doing in your life today

To long for Gods Presence means to Look for evidence of God's work in your daily life, even in challenging times.

Trans:

Now that we've explored David's intense longing for God, let's look at how he Dwells in God's presence. Point two in your notes is…

Dwelling in God's Presence

In verses 3-5, David's thirst turns to satisfaction, his seeking turns to finding.

listen to what he says.

Psalm 63:3–5 (ESV)

3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

Illustration.

Men Imagine with me coming home after an overwhelming day at the office. your exhausted, stressed, and even feeling defeated because of all that has happened at work .

As you walk through the door, you are greeted by the aroma of your favorite meal. I can smell it now- Slow cooked roast beef, Homemade rolls, and ( exaggerate) fresh Peach cobbler. Your wife, knowing how hard your day was, has prepared it simply because she loves you that much.

As you sit down to eat, it's more than just food. It's an expression of love, care, and understanding.

This meal made out of love for you doesn't just satisfy your hunger, but it is satisfies your soul. Your wife loved you so much that she prepared this special meal just for you..

Friends, This is the kind of satisfaction David is describing, but on a spiritual level.

God's love, he says, is better than life itself. It's not just good, its not just refreshing – it's the best thing there is. There is nothing more satisfying than Gods steadfast love in your life! There is nothing more fulfilling then Gods Presence in your life!

Notice the responses this kind of Love produces in David as He dwells in the Presence of God:

DONT READ VERSE

Psalm 63:3–5 (ESV)

3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

in verse 3 It drives david to Praise : he says “My lips can't help but praise God.”

In verse 4 it drives david to a Lifelong commitment: He vows to bless God as long as he lives.

it also drives him to Physical expression: He lifts his hands in praise of God's name.

In verse 6 It drives david to a Deep satisfaction in His God: He says “My soul is satisfied like someone enjoying a rich feast.

Finally Gods steadfast love Drives Davis to

Joyful worship: His mouth praises God with joyful lips.

Church family, This is what truly experiencing God's presence in your life looks like.

It's not just a warm feeling or a passing emotion. It's a deep, soul-level satisfaction that transforms our entire being and impacts how we live.

It’s what Drives us to live a life of Worship of our God!

So, let me ask you: Have you experienced God's presence like this in your life?

Has His love satisfied your soul in a way that nothing else can?

If not, what's holding you back? What is it in your life that is keeping you from fully experiencing God’s Steadfast love today?

Trans: Now let’s turn our attention to verses 6 through 8, where David shows us the importance of meditating on God’s presence.

3. Meditating on God’s Presence

He writes.

Psalm 63:6–8 (ESV)

6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

David introduces us to a practice that’s vital for deepening our relationship with God: meditation.

Meditation, in this context, isn't about emptying our minds but filling them with God's thoughts.

It's about immersing ourselves in His character, His promises, and His works.

,It's about allowing His truth to seep into our hearts and transform our perspective.

The benefits of meditating on God's presence are profound.

First, it deepens our relationship with Him.

As we focus on His goodness and faithfulness, it naturally leads our love for Him to grow stronger.

Secondly when we meditate on God it provides us with a source of strength and encouragement.

In the midst of life's storms, as we dwell on his perfect character and attributes, we find refuge in His unwavering presence.

Thirdly our meditation equips us to live a life that reflects His glory.

As our minds are renewed by His Word, our actions will naturally align with His will.

We spend so much time meditating on things that do not matter. We let so many things fill our thoughts that we lose sight of Who God is in our lives

Friends, in a world filled with noise and distractions, we desperately need to cultivate the discipline of meditating on God in our lives.

This means that To truly delight in Gods’ Presence we need to set aside quiet moments each day to dwell on the Lord's majesty, His loving Kindness, His faithfulness, and His Character.

and church family,I believe that As we spend more time meditating on Gods presence in our lives, we will experience a transformation in our hearts and minds, and our lives will become a radiant testimony of His grace to this world..

Finally in the last 3 verses of our Psalm David shifts his focus to trusting in Gods Presence even in the face of Adversity.

TRUSTING IN GOD’S PRESENCE

Psalm 63:9–11 (ESV)

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

David’s trust in God’s presence is unwavering, even though He is in the middle of the wilderness, Being pursued by an enemy that wants to destroy Him.

David’s confidence is in God's presence in His life.

Look at what David says in verse 9

Psalm 63:9 (ESV)

9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;

David acknowledges the reality of his enemies , He understands the fact that there are people right now who are trying to kill him.

but he doesn't dwell in fear. Instead, he trusts that God will deal with them.

This is a profound expression of faith – David completely trusted in God to handle his battles.

He knew that there was nothing they could do to him that was outside of God’s sovereign plan. He knew that he was completely safe in the presence of God!

Think about it this way>>

Its almost time for the Iowa State Fair. Have you all been to our fair?

THERE are people all over the place , I mean, it gets packed with people at times.

Now Imagine a child walking with their parent through this crowd

The child may see threats around them, Theres people they dont know. They are in a place that they have never been, There are loud noises and chaos all around them.

but they feel safe and confident Why<<< because their parent is right by their side and they trust their parent to protect them.

They know that as long as mom or dad is by their side there is nothing for them to fear!!!

The child only begins to fear when they have been lost and are all alone.

This is what david is speaking of in this text… His trust in God’s presence allows him to feel secure even when surrounded by danger.

Because he fully trust that God will always do what is best for his life. He trust that God will protect him even when He doesn't know How,

In verse 10, David continues:

Psalm 63:10 (ESV)

10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.

As David thinks about His enemy He realizes they are coming up against His God and He proclaims that they have no chance!!! They are going to die by the sword and become the food of Wild animals..

This imagery highlights God’s ultimate justice.

David trusts that God will not let evil prevail.

This trust isn’t based on current circumstances but on the assurance of God’s sovereignty and justice.

I love how David speaks about this In Psalm 37

Psalm 37:5–6 (ESV)

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

And then in Proverbs 3:5-6 we are reminded to,

Church family, These passages reinforce the idea that trusting in God's presence and justice brings peace and guidance into our lives.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Church family, These passages reinforce the idea that trusting in God's presence and justice brings peace and guidance into our lives.

When our trust is in the Lord, and we believe with all our hearts that Our security is in the Sovereign hands of God and that this God is ever present in our lives than we have nothing to Fear

In Verse 11 David brings us to a triumphant conclusion of this Psalm

Psalm 63:11 (ESV)

11 But the king (thats David) shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

David’s trust in God culminates in rejoicing. Despite his trials, Despite the Lies of his enemies he finds joy in God’s presence.

In Hebrews 13:5-6

Hebrews 13:5–6 (ESV)

5 … for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

David's example teaches us to place our confidence in God's unwavering presence.

and As we do, we can face life’s challenges with peace and joy, knowing that God is with us and He is our helper

and because of this truth, we can live our lives without fear in the presence of God.

BRING IT HOME

Friends this is why the Bible describes David as a man after Gods One Heart.

he spent his life dwelling in the soul satisfying Presence of His God.

Because he dwelt with God He knew God imtimatly, He knew Gods Heart, He knew Gods Justice, He knew Gods Faithfulness, He knew Gods Steadfastlove and kindness and forgiveness.

David Found his deepest delight in God’s presence, even in the wilderness.

Today, we are invited to experience this same soul-satisfying presence of God in our own lives..

Just as David earnestly sought God, we too can seek Him with all our hearts. and As we do, we will find that His steadfast love is indeed better than life.

So, how do we delight in God’s presence today? Live your life like David!!!!

Seek God Daily:

Make it a priority to spend time in God’s presence through prayer, worship, and reading His Word. Let your soul thirst for Him as David’s did.

Dwell in God’s Presence in your life:

Dont hold back your worship of your God

Worship God not just on Sundays, but every day. Lift your hands in praise, sing for joy, and let your life be a continuous offering of worship to your God..

Meditate on His Faithfulness:

Reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness throughout your day.

Let His past deeds fuel your trust in His current and future provision.

and finally

Trust Him Fully:

Place your confidence in God’s justice and protection. No matter what challenges you face, no matter how Hard life gets, know that God is with you, upholding you with His righteous hand.

Let us, like David, make God’s presence our greatest delight.

As we do, we will find that our souls are truly satisfied, our hearts are filled with joy, and our lives are transformed.

Friends , commit to delighting in God’s soul-satisfying presence. and Embrace the deep and abiding joy that comes from delighting in Him.

Pray