A Song For Spiritual Giants (Psalm 63) Series

One of the more famous pastors of the last century was a guy by the name of A.W. Tozer. He was more famous for his books, than his sermons, probably. But one of his books was called "The Root of the Righteous." In the first chapter of this book, Tozer talks about spiritual giants. We've all known people who were spiritual giants, whose life seems to revolve around God, and who carry this fire with them for God, wherever they go. These are the giants who steer entire churches in the right direction. Who often have huge ministries, and accomplish great things for God. These are the people who, more often than not, you can feel the Holy Spirit radiating off of, when you get close to them.

In the first chapter of this book, Tozer talks about how what we see of those people's lives, is like a strong, healthy tree. With spiritual giants, we see the strength of the branches, and the fruit, but we don't understand, and we don't see, everything that happens below the surface, that led to that. We don't see the roots. The thing about spiritual giants, is that they don't talk about themselves. If they do, they do so at great risk to themselves, actually. No one wants to brag. No one wants to hear a bragger. If you were to publicly confess before all of us that you don't pray to God very often, or have much of a relationship with God, or spend much time in the Bible, we'd probably nod our heads sympathetically, and say, "We've all been there. I relate to that." We'd find your words reassuring. We'd take comfort in knowing someone else lives in a place of spiritual poverty. But if you were to tell us that you spend hours a day chewing on the Bible, and fellowshipping with God, and that your life revolves around God, some of you might find, to your great surprise, that you're bothered and annoyed by that person. Are they proud? Are they boasting about themselves? Do they think they're hot stuff? Do they think there's better than you? It's safer to talk about yourself when you're doing poorly, than when you're doing well. And with spiritual giants, who are doing great, it's easier to just not talk about yourself.

And so, at the end of the day, returning to Tozer's point, when it comes to spiritual giants, you only see the fruit, and not the roots.

The beautiful thing about this psalm-- or at least, one of the beautiful things about it-- is what David reveals about his own relationship with God. He's talking to God-- singing to God, really-- but in doing this, he pulls back the curtain on his own life, and we get to see his heart. Or, to use Tozer's imagery, we get to see below the surface, and see what makes David a spiritual giant.

A psalm of/for David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

(1) God (Elohim), my God (El), you [are];

I will earnestly seek/look for you.

Every day, each one of us makes two critical decisions about how we will live. Today, who, or what, will we choose to be our God/god? And today, who, or what, will we seek?

Today, will I choose to seek, and worship, and serve, the Creator God? Will I seek God, and his kingdom, and his righteousness? Or will I take a different path?

David understands this choice. And David has made his choice. He sings to God, that God, is his God. And David will seek after God.

Now, what does that mean, to seek God? To look for God?

If you earnestly God, He won't hide from you. He doesn't stay far away. But God comes close, to those who chase Him. All day long, even as David lives his life, David looks for God. He seeks God, in the middle of everything else he does.

It thirsts for you-- my "soul"/inner being;

It longs for you-- my flesh,

in a land of drought, and weariness (Dt. 25:18; 2 Samuel 17:29), without water.

This song is one that David wrote in a harsh, unforgiving environment. He's short on food, and water, and rest. I know for myself, when I'm in those situations, and feeling maxed out, that life has a way of becoming very simple, and very focused on myself. You do what you have to do, to get through the hard times. You practice self-care, because you can feel yourself falling apart.

David writes this song when life is hard. But the thing he wants most, isn't a cold glass of water, or a good meal, or a place to slow down, and rest, and recover. What he wants most, is God. He thirsts for God more than water. He longs for God, more than a good meal. God, and chasing God, is the thing that consumes him.