PSALM 63
Psalm 63:1-11
Summer Of Psalms Message Series
August 6, 2017
Pastor Nathan J. Thompson
Perhaps you know the story of what happened back in 2008 to Lake Delton in the Wisconsin Dells. In the terrible rains (flooding) that came in late May (early June) a levee that contained and held in the water of this lake collapsed under the pressure. The result was that all the water in Lake Delton drained out.
This means the lake became completely empty. Homes on the lake no longer had any water to look out on. Tommy Bartlett’s water ski show was unable to operate. In fact people actually walked on the dry lake bottom with metal detectors trying to find valuables that may have settled at the bottom. It is unbelievable to think that a whole lake completely drained away.
In your walk through life there may also be some times (some life stages/periods) when you may feel drained—like you're running on empty; are completely dry. It may be a mid-life crisis; a time of loss; a time when you simply wonder if your life has any real meaning at all.
Every individual has those days; those desert times. In fact you may know first hand what this means. It’s a time when you’re feeling lost; when you’re wondering what to do next. It’s a time when certain attitudes (relics) from your past surface from the sandy bottom.
At times like this it is normal for you to thirst; to desire to be filled up again. It is normal for you to long deeply for some new feelings of love; of meaning; of direction; of hope. Going through desert times in life it is common to thirst for life-giving waters that satisfy and renew.
This must have been the feeling that David shared when he wrote Psalm 63. He cries out, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you. I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”
David must have been having one of those empty (dry) times when he writes these words. Something about David is that he went through several of these desert times throughout his life. In fact he often cried out in his thirst for God’s life-giving water.
Last Sunday's worship focus was on Psalm 51; it lifted up how David (as king) allowed his thirst for human desire to cause him to sleep with Bathsheba; then to have her husband Uriah put in the front lines where he was killed in order to try to cover his sins.
King David of course had literally hundreds of wives in his harem; all he needed to do was say the word and another young woman would become his wife. However even in his abundance he thirsted for someone who belonged to another. Even in his wealth he was totally empty.
When Bathsheba and David's child was born it was not healthy and died. Before this child died the Bible says that “David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent his nights laying in sackcloth on the ground.” (2 Samuel 12:16). Yet after 7-days the child died.
Truth is that even with all his wealth; all his power; all his ability to control things David could not do away with this hurt (pain) of losing a child; nor his many other times of failure/hurt. David cries out in Psalm 63 for God to bring living water to his parched and dry heart.
Multiple times in my life (ministry) I have visited with and ministered to people who have been blessed with much personal and financial success. The homes they are able to live in along with the travels; opportunities; things they can afford are amazing. These people are often ones this world envies as having the “good life.”
However some of the things these people have shared with me have been very revealing. Several have told me that they would gladly give up all their wealth if only their child could be free of a disability; of a drug addiction; of losing their way in life; if their own cancer would go away.
Others have shared with me that they would give it all up if they could have a happy marriage; a happy family. Several women have told me that all this wealth does not make up for their husbands not loving them unconditionally; for their husband’s infidelity to their job; infidelity to their personal ego; infidelity to other women.
Truth is that just like David having lots of money (power; stuff) does not usually do away with this emptiness (thirst) inside. In fact the more someone has the easier it is to try to cover over the feelings; all the junk that is on the bottom of their lake. Thus the image of happiness (of having it all together) is simply masking the real (very painful) hurts inside.
David however in his times of dryness (desert) had learned that God (and God alone) is the only answer to his parched life. The result is that David goes on to proclaim that he has seen God’s power and glory—he knows God’s forgiveness and grace.
David says, “Because your love (God) is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”
Are you able to see what happens when you drink from God; when he satisfies your thirst? It is then you are filled with worship and praise. It is then you are satisfied with the richest of spiritual food. In God (according to David) you know a love that is “better than life.”
Truth is that this nation (this world) is filled with thirsty; with often very dry people. Where (however) are most of these people trying to quench their thirst; trying to find true life? Lots of people of course are trying to find water (life) in money; success; in the things of this world.
This has created a society that lives to work; not one that works to live. The focus is often on that illusive dream that the more one has; the more travels and exciting things a person is able to do; this will somehow bring life (happiness). Tons of people however are totally dry; depleted; trying to simply keep up in this rat race called life.
Others today are thirsty for love; for intimacy; for commitment. However in this quest for love some are feeling lost (rejected). As a result they may be settling for relationships that are not built on respect; on unconditional love. Some are sidestepping a marriage commitment hoping that in not being tied down they will somehow find true love.
There are individuals who with this thirst for love (intimacy) are becoming addicted to superficial pleasures like pornography; indiscriminate hookups; sexting; internet chat rooms. Technology can be great but it can never replace the hard work of talking and listening to someone; developing a healthy relationship; finding true love and care.
If you are trapped in this surreal (fantasy) world you need help. These kinds of addictions can be as strong as a drug like heroin. They are tearing apart the intimacy and respect in many marriages; families; relationships. Always remember these other things will never satisfy your thirst for self-esteem and love.
Certain individuals today are thirsty for a better self-image (self-esteem); for a feeling of peace in their heart. However this thirst often plays tricks on their minds; gives them a false image of themselves (of their bodies); fills them with anxiety; depression; with a longing to somehow get rid of this pain by taking their own life.
This thirst is so prominent today—especially among young (older) teens; young adults. In many cases it is at epidemic proportions. Truth is that all the stuff of this world we adults are offering these kids is not satisfying their thirst. The answers do not lie in this crazy and mixed up world we’re passing on to them.
Leading multiple canoe trips in the Boundary Waters a constant theme (even with billions of gallons of fresh water all around) was how the kids (only after couple days) would often start talking about how thirsty they were. What they were really thirsty for of course was for a soda; for Coke; Mountain Dew; or some other sugary and carbonated drink.
In this world (life) today God has promised each person the infinite; the wonderful majesty of his grace (love). It is a water; a bread; a food, that can never run dry. However so many still thirst for the soda; the temporal; the quick fix. Only Jesus can offer you a life that never runs dry.
Pat Summerall the well-known sports announcer (died in 2013) overcame alcohol addiction and became a follower of Jesus in his late sixties. He said this about water baptism: “I went down in the water, and when I came up it was like a 40-pound weight had been lifted from me. I have a happier life, a healthy life, and a more positive feeling about life than ever before.”
About prayer meetings and Bible studies Summerall added these comments: “It’s like an alcoholic looking for a drink. If he wants it bad enough, he can find it—no matter what. I’m like that now when it comes to finding (worship) and Bible studies. No matter where I’m working, I know that I can find them.”
Are you earnestly seeking for God; is your whole being longing for his love? Either that or are you searching for other things to fill you up? Are you so busy trying to do all these other good things that you have very little time for worship; for community; for listening to God’s Word?
Please remember these words of King David—“Because your love (God) is better than life.” In other words God’s love is literally out of this world with fullness and meaning. May you turn to him in your dryness; may you drink from his never ending supply of life.