A couple of days ago I had a long training ride (for a half Ironman race i have coming up next month). It was my race prep ride and it was 3 hours and 5 minutes. One of the things I was doing was checking my nutrition and fluids. About 2 hours in I realized that I was going to be a bottle short of fluids. I had some chews, and began to sip at my fluids, but as I got near to the end of my ride I needed something to drink.
This was to be what is called a brick (bike and run), and when I got in from my bike I was so thirsty that I had to stop and take a longer break to bring my fluids back up.
Today’s Bible reading from Psa. 63 is one of my favorite, and most challenging, pieces of scripture. You have revealed Yourself to me many times through this scripture, as well as revealing the status of my heart.
Chrysostom (archbishop of Constantinople from 347-407) wrote “that it was decreed and ordained by the primitive [church] fathers, that no day should pass without the public singing of this Psalm.” I am not shocked that this would be an expected song to be sung daily, as it has the ability to focus our hearts to be in the right place.
As we begin this Psalm, we see that David is claiming God to be his God. He is not calling out to the God of his father (although it was), the God of his ancestors (it was as well), the God of the priests, or others. God had taken ownership of David, and David was acknowledging that.
Is He truly your God? Is He the Lord of your life? Does He rule and govern you in your decisions, both great and small?
And do you seek Him? Not, do you open your Bible to get your Bible reading in, or do you fit your prayers in at night, or do you attend church?
For David, he earnestly (or eagerly) sought after God. Look at the language he uses. “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 (Psa. 63:10.”
David is in the wilderness, and he is not just running away from Absalom, but He is running towards God. He has lost many of the comforts of home, yet he knows that his greatest need is intimacy with the Lord!
Then he reflects of the Lord His God. He remembers how the Lord has shown Himself to David. He gazes on the Lord and remembers. The Lord has always been there for Him. Although David had let the Lord down, the Lord had never abandoned David.
As David gazed upon the Lord, he saw that the Lord is strong and glorious. The Lord’s love is faithful, better than even life. Even in this challenging time, he knew that he needed to praise the Lord.
He knows that the Lord is his helper, therefore he meditates on him morning and night. And since the Lord has always been faithful to him, he will rejoice in the Lord, even in this dark moment for him.
Do we thirst for God? Do we long for Him? Is there a gaping hole in our lives when we have allowed ourselves to become distant from Him?
The Lord desires intimacy with us, but will allow us to distance ourselves from Him. These often become difficult times for us. O that we might remember how much we need Him, that we might avoid spiritual droughts.
And do we joyfully praise Him regardless of our circumstances, knowing that He is always faithful?
Along the Multicolored Road 
Leave a comment