A Soul in God's Grip

Psalm 63 “A Soul in God’s Grip” BIG IDEA: We’re held firmly in God’s grip when we desire God and cling to him above all else. 1) INTRO • Technically summer now though it doesn’t feel like it – grad • What are your plans? • Vacation or holiday? Family visits? Friends? Job? • The question’s essentially “what do you desire this summer?” • Lake, beach, work, camp, hike, garden, nap, read, rest • What do we desire? This summer? Long-term goals? Life? • Big questions, what we’re facing today • What do we desire? What do we long for? What…or who captures our hearts? • Love God more? Cherish God? JC capture us? • BIG IDEA PRAY 2) vv1-4 - INTRO • This Psalm is a lament – written by King David • Laments contain: 1) a complaint, 2) expression of confidence in the Lord’s ability to help, and 3) anticipation of public praise • Background helps • David – wilderness, fleeing Saul or Absalom • v11 “king” • Trouble/on the run/fleeing…confidence in God • BIG IDEA • READ vv1-4 • “O God” same as YHWH…the covenantally faithful God • He earnestly seeks after God • “early”…“dawn”…diligent search/eagerness • Thirsting for God & fainting with desire for God • The dry and barren conditions of the wilderness of Judah • Not like BC…Cathedral Grove • God’s supernatural work to have this attitude/heart/desire…seek • When God changes us, our whole being desires him…our “soul[s] thirst for [him]” • “soul” - not like a mind/brain, arm, heart, ear • David Hansen – “the word ‘soul’ denotes the irreducible spiritual self” • Our whole being – all that we are – in earnest, eager longing for God • Desperately desiring God…our whole being dry/parched • Time you were starving or desperately needing water • Matt 5:6 – hunger thirst righteous…, satisfied • May we…satisfied only in him • In v2 b/c he misses God…corporate worship • God’s goodness and power and glory in corporate worship • Private worship is important, but corporate worship is essential as it’s God’s working in us in community • Heb 10:25 – not neglect meeting together • Enjoying God together with each other, encouraging, challenging, accountable, loving, reminding each other • David’s missing this time…wants Isaiah 6 experience again • He’s wanting to be back worshiping…in the sanctuary • Do we share the same sentiment as David here? Is this our attitude? • Summer season • Feel empty, dry, hungry, thirst? • Holy moment every week • God’s mercy– China, North Korea, Middle East • Brothers and sisters, sweet fellowship w/ God…want more • David has experienced this…God’s steadfast love • “Hesed” – this is God’s covenant-keeping love…we failed • “Hesed” love/his steadfast love fuels our praise and worship • Be floored that God loves and saves sinners like us • JC took all our sin on himself • God’s steadfast love for us – his never-giving-up-unbreaking-always-and-forever love should taste better to us than life itself • Everyone loves something immensely…saw this reality this past week • Paul Nicklen – spirit bear & leopard seal…pic more important than life • God’s faithful love to us – unfaithful people – should be more precious to us than life itself • May it be! • BIG IDEA 3) vv5-8 • Our desire for God and delight of him not just corporate gathering • At all hours of the day or night • David remembers/reflects God’s goodness in watches of the night • The Hebrews divided the night into three watches – 1) sunset to 10:00pm, 2) 10:00pm to 2:00am, and 3) 2:00am to sunrise • David’s wakefulness – he’s remembering God w/ joy • Favorite foods? • Pic of fat and rich food – choose whatever it is you like – is like the spiritual and emotional satisfaction and joy of rich banquet food • Remembering the Lord’s past works bring comfort even during the night when the shadows of adversity haunt us • When our past sins haunt us • When our own thoughts of worthlessness creep in • When the enemy tries to condemn us • Even then, we can find joy in Jesus • We have victory in Jesus! • v7 - he has been our help! • v7 – we’re the in shadow of his wings! • The pic here’s one of safety…we’re in a place of safety • Like a mother bird protecting her chicks under her wings • David’s confidence lies in the Lord – whose help and support he seeks • Therefore, he draws close to God • Just as we will when we’re changed by Jesus • When we’re converted, we’ll have an increasing thirst for God…but also an increasing desire to cling to him above all else • We see that David clings to God and that God’s right hand upholds him • Both are essential/necessary • This word for “cling” is the same word used in Gen 2:24 for “hold fast” • It’s a picture of committed permanence/being stuck to • 2 Kings 18:5-6 – King Hezekiah clung to the Lord and was considered one of Judah’s greatest kings b/c of it • And, this is where we want to be! • We want to cling to our God of steadfast love for us in Jesus • We want to hold fast to him • We want to be held firmly in God’s grip • When we’ve been changed and transformed by Jesus we’ll be aware that he’s all we need…and, really, he’ll be all we want • We won’t be captured by anything else or anyone else • We won’t be satisfied by anyone or anything else • We’ll cling to God b/c he’s the only one who satisfies, provides safety, the only one who upholds us, the only who deserves all our praise • I fear we’re far too content…far too comfortable…too much competing for the desires of our hearts • Great jobs, homes, cars, boats, campers, bank accounts, retirement funds, friends, family • Should we be clinging tightly to any of these? • Do we want to be upheld by any of these things? • These good gifts from God are meant to be just that…good gifts from God • May nothing grip us but God…and God alone • A heart that desires God and clings to him above all else will be held firmly in his grip • May we know the HS’s working in us in this way • And, if it’s not happening yet, may we beg God that it would 4) vv9-11 • We see here where the immediate troubles in David’s life come from • We looked at them earlier to build the context of our passage • That David’s on the run • We see the promise that those who’re hostile to God and those who seek to destroy God’s faithful ones will ultimately be destroyed by God • We see pictures of death here for the wicked ones • “depths of the earth” – the grave • “portion for jackals” – scavenging wolf that symbolizes destruction • This is a reminder that those who oppose God/God’s enemies will receive what they deserve from God • But, not those who belong to God • Not those who are his children • Not those who desire God/thirst for God/long for God • When we thirst after God and cling to him/hold fast to him we will rejoice in God • God’s vengeance and just give reason for further rejoicing • God’s victory over sin and evil gives cause for further worship • We see this happen with David here • And, shouldn’t we respond this way too!? • Again, this week, I was longing for the day when all sin and evil will disappear • Feeling the effects of sin & enemy trying to dog us/hunt us…roaring lion • Knowing God’s victory and deliverance over sin and evil should give us great joy and confidence in God • He is good 5) CONCL • And, we’re guaranteed a future w/ our good God • Our good God who poured out his steadfast love on us – his “hesed” love – in the work of JC on the cross • His “hesed” love – his steadfast love – is better than this life • His steadfast love saves and forgives and redeems no matter who we are or what we’ve done • Has his love changed us? • Has his love made us long for him/desire him more than anything? • Maybe God’s working in your heart right urging you to keep something in check b/c it’s surpassed God in what’s important in your life • Maybe he’s calling you to surrender something to him/to give something up • Maybe he’s calling you to fully surrender to him today for the first time…maybe something’s always held you back • Don’t ignore God’s working in your heart • Ask him to show you how he wants you to respond so that you’ll desire him and cling to him more than anything • BIG IDEA