Winning in the Wilderness

Scripture

Psalm 63:1-11 Psalm 63:1

<A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.> O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. 9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Outline

1. Crave God (vss 1-2)

2. Celebrate God (vss. 3-4)

3. Commune with God (vss. 5-7)

4. Cling to God (vs 8)

Introduction

Many people today who find themselves in the wilderness. We don’t quite know how we got there but we find ourselves in a dry and barren place. As we have traversed this Christian life things have been difficult, things have been painful, life has been a struggle. David in this passage finds himself in a wilderness, he too wondered how he got there, but life suddenly was hard for him. His son wanted to kill him and replace him as king, men had cursed him, and life for the most part had fallen apart. This morning you might find yourself in such a place: your wilderness may not be a literal dessert, it may take another form. A wilderness can be a place of despair; it could be a place of desperation. The wilderness is worry about the unknown, it’s the fear of rejection, the wilderness is the heart crushing, grief, emptiness and pain of losing a love one. Your wilderness might be the thick darkness of loneliness; your wilderness might be the sting of betrayal, the emptiness of a son or daughter that seemingly has gone astray. What we want to do this morning is look for tangible help from this passage to guide us as we make our way through this wilderness. There are at least four principles that jump out at us from the passage that will help us as win while we are in the wilderness.

I. Crave God (vss 1-2)

Psalm 63:1 <A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.> O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

The first thing I notice in this passage is how David maintained a massive appetite for God. Notice that He starts out by saying “O God”- not in astonishment, not in exasperation, not in frustration that God allowed these things to happen, but in admiration David calls upon God. He says “O Elohim”- O Mighty One, O All Powerful One, O God of Gods, O Lord of Lords, O Preeminent One, O Sovereign Master, O God our Creator. You are my EL- my strong one, my strong tower, my defense, my strength, my help, my hope, my confidence, my rescuer, my deliverer. Instead of kicking God to the curb, David affirms his allegiance, dependence, and absolute need for God. In his hurt, and in his pain, in his confusion, in what look like abandonment, David declares publically to that he would still obey, follow and lean upon God.

In calling God his God David is emphasizing God strength and delivering ability. David is not looking for rescue from his friends, associations, contacts, or other resources; his hope is entirely upon God. What I like about it is that he is not ashamed to say this, he is not hanging his head down when he says this.

Another thing that I like about this phrase is that David seems to be enamored with God- God has captivated David’s heart, David is plucked. He is blown away with the privilege to call God his God, it blows his mind that God is in relationship with him. How many of us are blown away that God- the maker and sustainer of the universe cares about us, wants to be in relationship with us, and wants to help us. This kind of thinking will get you out of any wilderness you might find yourself in. Psalm 42:1-2 Psalm 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

David goes on to say that because you are my God, I literally crave you, Lord I long for you, I desire you, I yearn for you, I pine for you -I ache for you. I sincerely and diligently seek you God. I make being in harmony with you my first priority, I make pleasing you in all things my top priority, I make hearing your voice in my decision-making my number one goal. I want to please you in everything. Listen to the vivid examples David gives as examples of the depths of his hearts commitment to stay in harmony with God. He says I thirst- even as a man who has walked in 100 degree heat for hours without a drink of water, which is how David longs for God. What David is saying is at this point nothing matters, riches, the things, the positions, the reputation, none of it matters- I rather have you.

David had found something that we all need to find and that is contentment with God. We are so focused on looking good, when rather we should be searching for God. We should be searching for a deeper walk, searching for next level fellowship, searching for next level obedience, searching for transformational union with the will and purposes of God. God wants to be more than just a blessing to you, He wants to be more than just your supplier of “good things,” He wants to be the center of your life, not just a spoke in the wheel. When God becomes essential, when God becomes necessary, when God becomes vital, when God becomes indispensible, not just to your plans to get ahead but your life-then and only then will you discover his strength in the wilderness.

Notice David wants to see God’s power and glory, not his own, but to see God exalted, to see God lifted up, to see God magnified, to see the splendor of the true and living God. This is what David was living for, this is what David was hungering after; in other words it was not David’s agenda he sought, it was God’s. This is how important God was to David, the question on the table this morning is “how important God is to you? How hungry are we this morning? Do we even have an appetite for the things of God? Know this when you are in the wilderness the first and most essential thing we must have to get through it is a craving for God.

II. Celebrate God (vss 3-4)

. 3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

The second thing that I notice is that David not only craved fellowship with God, he celebrated God. Rather than throw himself a pity party David got his praise on. He had every right to be down, his favorite son wanted to kill him, he was on the run with a few faithful followers, some of his so-called friends were conspiring with Absalom to murder him, he had been forced out of his position, his wives raped publically by his son, his riches gone, his possessions gone, here he found himself in the wilderness- a dry place with no water, no food and very little from a fleshly standpoint to be happy about. David could have focused on all of the negative in these circumstances but instead David made a choice to rejoice. Look at what he says in the next two verses. He says because thy loving-kindness is better than life-even in his praise He exalts God. David is in essence saying more precious to me than life itself, is your favor. More precious to me than life itself is your kindness

Your grace

Your mercies

Your pity

David is saying -Life without God’s fellowship and favor is walking death. We are nothing more than an empty suit without God. David began to remember the blessings God showered in his life. David began to recall the times God kept him, those times God directed him, those times God protected him, and he could not keep silent. He decided to Praise- to speak well of, to celebrate the power, glory, riches, honor, character, faithfulness, loyalty, the mighty acts, the dependability and dedication to us of God.

With his lips- intentionally, verbally, audibly, David began to ascribe to God the credit for all that was good in his life both spiritual and physical. One thing that I notice about David is that he did not steal God’s glory, all the temporal blessings in his life David did not forget. When it look like God had forgotten him, when it look like God was indifferent about his circumstances, when it look like all was lost and there was no hope David began to worship God. He did not wait until he could sneak in the sanctuary, David learned to praise God where he was.

Ladies and gentleman that is what we need to do, in our wilderness – open our mouths and give God some praise, open our mouths and give God some glory, open our mouths and magnify Him, open our mouths and exalt Him, open our lips and celebrate Him, make known His mighty deeds in your life. Do this with sincerity, do this honestly, not as a trick to get God to do something for you now, but because you love Him, because you have faith in Him, because you are confident that God will never leave you or forsake, because you know He cannot lie, because you have proved Him and know that He is Good. You know for a fact that if He did not do another thing for you, He’s already been good, He has already been wonderful, He has already blessed. In your trust of His nature, praise Him, In your trust of His character-praise Him, In your trust of His track record-praise Him, In your trust of His History-praise Him. Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Lift up your hands to him in worship and surrender, ask God to take you up. Stretch out your hands toward God in an act of dedication, Stretch out your hands to him in an act of desired fellowship, and be open to receive whatever God wants to give you. Instead of trying to get back at your enemies, lift your soul up to God and let him fight your battles. In His timing he will put down your enemies.

III. Commune with God (vss 5-7)

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

The next thing that I notice about David in the wilderness is that He did not pout about what he did not have, he affirmed what he knew God was going to give him. He could have focused in on what he had lost, he could have focused in on what was taken from him, he could have focused in on what his enemies had stolen-but David self awareness went deeper than the things, his satisfaction was with God and in God. Notice that David says my soul-all that is within me, the deepest part of me, my mind, my emotions, my entire being shall be satisfied. He affirms that he will be given marrow and fatness. Marrow was the choices pieces of meat, marrow represented the best of the best; fatness is always ascribed with plenty. David despite having nothing at the time, affirms that God has already given him plenty because David is not looking at the stuff -his satisfaction is in God. How many of us are satisfied with God alone? David is outlining the refreshing flow of God in his life, a flow that transcends the temporary blessings but reached down to the depths of his soul and addressed his deepest needs. Psalm 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. 8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. 9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Notice that He declares that he will praise God audibly with joyful lips. In other words David is saying rather than crying in despair, David is going to rejoice in God with a loud voice, not under his breath, not in a cute way that does not offend anyone, but He is determined to let God know how much he appreciates Him. He is determined to shout for joy, he is determined to sing jubilantly before God. (The joy of the Lord is our strength) Psalm 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

Notice the Psalmist says when I remember God on my bed-when he climbs in bed at night, no matter where that bed might be, David’s last thoughts are on God. He contemplates the greatness of God, he contemplates the goodness of God, he contemplates the mercies of God, he contemplates the loving-kindness of God, he contemplates the many manifestations of God’s love and favor toward us. David turns these things over in his mind, and falls asleep musing about the goodness of our covenant God. I can imagine a little “thank you” might pop up, I can imagine a little “praise you Lord” slips softly from his lips as he communes with God in his heart. Psalm 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

David goes on to acknowledge that God has been his help, because You have intervened into my circumstances, because You have come down to defend me, because You have rescued me, because You have upheld me, because You have been a fence around about me, because You gave me bread when I was hungry, water when I was thirsty, You have been my help. You lifted me up and carried me when I was too weak to walk. Because You have been my help, I will abide with you, under your wings I will continue to find my protection from all that this world can throw at me. Under Your wings I find warmth to sustain me, under Your wings I find shelter from the storms, shelter from danger, and shelter from the elements. Under Your protective power I will find safety and fellowship.

Psalm 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

IV. Cling to God (vs 8)

8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

The Last thing that I notice is that David clung to God. The word translated “follow hard after” in the Hebrew means to cleave to, adhere to, stick to, be glued to. In this sense it means to attach thyself God. It means to pursue God with a diligent determination to be attached to Him constantly. What David feared was to be separated from God in any way, David is saying here that he has a made up mind, he does not want to drift, he does not want to stray, he does want to be fixed, adhered to God. David is determined not to lose sight of God.

In the language of the KJV David says my soul followeth hard after thee, in other words God I am chasing you, I am willing to follow you where you go and wherever you lead. David pursed God with determination and with purpose. David is saying that I love you with all of my heart, with all of my mind, and with all of my strength. Notice David is not clinging to the things of this world, but he is infatuated with God. God has his commitment, God has his heart, God has his complete attention. David is determined not to fizzle out, David is determined that his faith does not fail, David is determined not to throw in the towel because, David’s soul adheres to God.

When we say that David “cleave” to God what exactly are we talking about? To cling to God means to hold to him, to follow him in his ways and worship; to abide by his truths; to attend his ordinances; to keep close to his people, and to adhere firmly to his cause and interest. Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

David goes on to say that God is holding him, in other words God is upholding him- protecting him, keeping Him from falling, keeping him from slipping, keeping him from being overrun by his enemies. Psalm 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Psalm 37:24 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. It is interesting that David alludes to the right hand; The right hand is the hand of skill, the right hand is the hand of strength, the right hand is the hand of excellence, the right hand is the hand of power . Whose hand are you in this morning? Are you trusting in God emphatically, are you trusting Him completely. David had proved God and knew God could be trusted. John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Conclusion

The question on the table this morning is what are you chasing this morning? I asked the Lord what is the secret to this kind of joy, this level of peace, this kind of contentment in the face of the most painful of circumstances. The question is one of desire and pursuit.-David fully pursued God, David did not place his confidence in a mirage.

I just stopped by to tell you that the secret to winning in the wilderness is that you have to go hard after God on a daily basis. God wants to be pursued, He wants to be sought after, He wants you to look for Him.

Many Christians are in a desert place spiritually and they don’t even know it. • Just like David’s wilderness many of us live in a world of mirages. • We accept as fact things that are just a figment of our imaginations. • We see things that just aren’t there. • We believe things about ourselves that just aren’t true.

That money you are chasing-it’s a mirage

That fine car you are chasing-it’s a mirage

That position you are chasing-it’s a mirage

That power you are chasing - it’s a mirage

The prestige you are chasing- it’s a mirage

Those possessions you are chasing-it’s a mirage

That alcohol you are chasing- it’s a mirage

Those drugs you are chasing-it’s a mirage

That high you are chasing-it’s a mirage

Satisfying Sexual lust outside of marriage-it’s a mirage

That man you are chasing who will not marry you -it’s a mirage

That woman you are chasing, the one you are creeping with-it’s a mirage

That pleasure you are chasing- it’s a mirage

That peace you are chasing outside of Christ- it’s a mirage

That joy you are chasing outside of Christ’-it’s a mirage

That happiness you are chasing outside of Christ- it’s a mirage

That fulfillment you are chasing outside of Christ-it’s a mirage

It’s the Lord that Satisfies, It’s the Lord who

One thing the Church needs to learn is that God satisfies, cars don’t satisfy, houses don’t satisfy, money doesn’t satisfy, gadgets don’t satisfy- but God does satisfy.

What David discovered in the dessert is that a lot of things look promising, but they end up being mirages- things that look refreshing, things that look satisfying, things that look life sustaining but they are not even real. We live in a world full of “mirages;” Mirages of fame, mirages of fortune, mirages of power, mirages of relationships. The promise of this false hope just disappears before our eyes, it slip through our hands, and it leaves us with a mouth full of dry dirt and heart full of damaged emotions. What David discovered is that, with everything that was within him, with his soul- his entire being, with his flesh-his body his strength he needed to be in union and harmony with God.