A Longing For God Series

Psalm 63

A longing for God

Introduction: Someone once said that music has a tremendous impact in our lives. Whether we want to accept it or not music can influence the way we think and live our life. The Psalms were a collection of hymns, It ‘s the Jewish hymnbook. In it we find sound theology in practical daily living. In other words the Psalms teach us how to live Godly when times get tough.

As we examine this collection of hymns, we discover that it is largest book in the Bible, having 150 chapters or individual hymns. It is interesting that at least half them were written by King David- a man in the OT known for his intimacy with God- A man after God’s heart. A man who was always plagued with difficult and heart aches. Yet he continued to have a passion for God, even through his failures and difficulties. This morning we will examine Psalm 63. In which King David demonstrates for us this timeless principle:

INTIMACY WITH GOD DEVELOPS CONFIDENCE IN DAILY LIVING

Prayer

Opening Ill- (taken from Our Daily Bread 2/28/73)

While spending a week at her grandfathers, Sarah felt inner peace and comfort. She recognized that something was different here. During that week, She observed her grandfather pray with passion and he seemed to always be reading from his Bible. Sarah at the ripe age of 5 sensed the relationship that her Grandfather had with God. It was as If God was his best friend. It was his passion to know and to commune with God. When the week was up and her mom came to pick her up, she decided she did not want to go home. When asked why she didn’t want to go home, 5 year old Sarah stated “.... Because God is here, and I would like to stay where God is.”

Read Psalm 63

Repeat BI - INTIMACY WITH GOD DEVELOPS CONFIDENCE IN DAILY LIVING

As we read through this psalm, I trust you notice how personal it was. David had a strong personal relationship with God.. This Psalm was written at a low point in David’s life. Turn with me to II Samuel 15:13-14,28 (read)

David had to flee from the hand of Absalom, his son who sought to kill him. He gave up his kingdom and ran for the safely of the wilderness. It was here in the Wilderness on the eastern side of Judah by the dead sea that David penned the words that we find in Psalm 63. David begins His Psalm by reflecting on who God is.

I. Reflections of our almighty God.(v 1-8 )

This morning , we can notice 3 things about God:

A. He is a PERSONAL God (1,2)

1. “O God, Thou art my God”- What an interesting Phrase of recognition-

The first reference to God is the Heb word Elohim. It is plural (addressing the Trinity) . It connotes the idea of the AWENESS of God. A God that is to be worshipped and praised. TAKE TIME AND ADMIRE THE BEAUTY AND AWENESS OF GOD.

The second reference to God is the Hebrew word Eli . It has the idea of MIGHTY and STRENGTH. How do you view God- Is he your source of Strength? WHEN WE ARE WEAK (in trials/difficulties), WE NEED TO REST IN HIS STRENGTH ( Provides comfort and Confidence to get us thru).

WHATEVER WE CAN DESIRE OR STAND IN NEED OF, IT IS WRAPPED UP IN THIS PHRASE “THOU ART MY GOD “

CH SPURGEON

Words easy to say , but not so easy to have the faith to say it.

IS GOD PERSONAL AND REAL IN YOUR LIFE?

2 .As a result of a personal God, OUR WHOLE BEING LONGS FOR GOD.

Notice the rest of verse 1

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.

I believe God created us with a natural longing for him. Many in our world today admit that there is a innate void in their life. They seek to find it within the pleasures of the world. People are searching in the wrong direction for satisfaction. They need to only seek out a relationship with a personal and loving God.

My soul Thirsteth for Thee (V1) Now look at verse 5 - My soul shall be satisfied.

David’s soul was satisified when he realized that he serves a personal God who cares for him .

Other psalms bear out this innate desire for intimacy with God.

Psalm 42:1,2 - As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God for the living God: when shall I come and appear before GOD.