Alone with God

Introduction

Personal Illustration about my trip to the Grand Tetons.

David

Once more the worst has brought out David’s best.

Text: Psalm 63:1-4

Psalm 63:1–4 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. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 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.

It is in the place of want—the place of need—the place of anguish—the place of desperation that one can be in a posture to see God.

God should be my Desire.

The longing of these verses is not the groping of a stranger, feeling his way towards God, but the eagerness of a friend, , to be in touch with the one he holds dear.

The simplicity and boldness of O God, you are my God is the secret of all that follows, since this relationship is the heart of the covenant, from the patriarchs to the present day.

Here its reality shows itself in the love it has awakened in soul and flesh), which is deeply restless and unsatisfied without God.

For David, there is an earnestness, a drive, a thirst to seek God—refusing to be satisfied with anything less that being in the presence of God.

David finds himself in great need. He describes his struggle as being “in a dry and wary land where there is no water.

Question: Why do you think it takes great difficulties and great challenges in order for us to reach out to God?

I think in the “good” times, we see no need to hold onto God’s hand. In our comfort, we have no time for God. Lingering in his presence are for the super religious. It is not something we are accustom to.

And, when we say we want to be in God’s presence, it may be more that we want to with with God in our terms, not His.

However, in the desert—in the place of need and want—in the place of loneliness and despair, we long to be where God is at. We are terrified of the aloneness.

We need to get to the place in our life where God’s “steadfast love is better than life.” Where our “lips will praise” God. Where we hunger to “bless” God “as long as” we live. With hands outstretched, we exhibit the expression of surrender—of reaching out—of acknowledging his presence.

Question: What do you desire most of all? In the desert—in the spiritual wilderness—do you see the potential of desiring God more?

God should be my Delight.

Psalm 63:5–8 ESV

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 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.

Faith and persistence is abundantly rewarded.

As we desire to seek God with our whole heart, the thirst we had is now satisfied. A spiritual reflex flows from our mouth—words of praise are now declared.

As we linger in the presence of God, our thoughts are drawn directly of God. We now desire to contemplate and meditate on His presence.

We recognize His is our help—our protection—our security. What else can we do but to overflow with joy.

In the presence of God our attitude changes. No matter what we are experiencing in live, in the presence of God there is peace which produces joy and sustaining hope.

God will be my Defense.

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 enemies, ever present in his psalms, only now come into view.

The threat is real enough, and its dark shadow brings out the quality of his faith.

David know that the steadfast love of God is strong with justice.

God protects us and is our defense.

Conclusion

I believe God has given us an opportunity to once again, seek Him with our whole heart.

The presence of the Lord satisfies the desire of our heart. The presence of the Lord is our delight. The presence of the Lord is our defense—not just protecting us, but guarding His glory.