Islington Baptist Church September 24, 2005
Sermon text: Psalms 63
Scripture readings: 2 Samuel 12:11-12;15:1-26, John 4:1-15;6:25-35
I need you God!
Aside from air, what is it that is essential to human life? Water and food!
Without food or water a person will soon die.
While food and water is essential to human life, did you know that without Jesus that one is spiritually dead and doomed to Hell?
During his time on earth, Jesus addressed this issue in a variety of ways. In John 4 Jesus, using the truth that water is essential to living, speaks of himself as being the source of life giving water, water that results in eternal life. In John 6 Jesus, utilizing the truth that bread/food is essential to staying alive, speaks of himself as being the bread of life and that whoever comes to him will never go hungry, neither will they ever thirst again.
The point: Everyone needs Jesus. If you don’t have Jesus you don’t have eternal life, you don’t have peace with God, you don’t have the forgiveness of your sins.
While everyone needs the Lord Jesus as their Savior, not everyone knows they need Jesus, let alone cares. This in fact describes the majority of people.
King David, whose Psalms we have been studying, knew that he needed the Lord God and that He alone could meet all of his needs.
To learn more turn with me to Psalms 63 (READ)
I. David’s prayer: I need you God!
The prayer and cry of David in verse 1 reminds me of a scene which probably all of us have seen enacted. A child injures their self or is hurt by another and what is their cry “I want my _______!”
At that particular moment you or I could offer them all the gold this world has, we could try to comfort them ourselves, we could sing a song for them or dance a funny jig and yet none of that will suffice. The only thing that will satisfy that young child is the one for whom they are crying out.
We know that the background to Psalms 63 is hard times for David. This time one of his sons has turned against him and is trying to take the kingdom and his life from him. Because of the threat David had to flee the city of Jerusalem in a hurry. Once again, as in years before, David is thrust out in the arid wilderness.
In the face of this crisis there is only 1 person that David wants; and that is God.
Are you able to identify with David’s words in verse 1? Have you ever cried out “I need you God!”
Have you ever prayed as David did “My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.”
If you haven’t prayed this in some shape or form it means that you don’t truly know God in a saving way for such longing and desperation for God and his ways and presence and blessing is tell tale mark of a true child of God.
David knew where and to whom to turn in times of trouble and not just in times of trouble but in times of peace and plenty too. Do you?
David knew that there is one alone to whom one can turn for true satisfaction and deliverance. David knew where to go to get all of his needs met: from the physical to the spiritual. Do you?
II. Why was David was so fixated on God? Why did David so deeply long for God? Why did he “pine for God” as a lover pines for their beloved?
1. God was his God and he was determined to be loyal to Him. v.1
-David had a personal relationship with God
-As one who had bound himself to God David was determined, much like Job was- who faced many a trial, to stay faithful to God no matter what
2. He had seen and experienced firsthand the power and glory of God v.2
Seen in nature: In Psalms 19:1 David says “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Seen in God’s workings in day to day life
Perhaps seen in his times at the Tabernacle:
While the Bible does not say as much, perhaps David, during his life had seen the glory cloud that speaks of God’s presence. (When the Israelites traveled through the wilderness and at various times when Moses went to the Tabernacle to minister, God came down in a cloud and presenced Himself in a special way in and around the Tabernacle.)
Either way, David held God in awe and had complete faith in God because He had the power.
3. He had experienced the unfailing love of God v.3
Unlike us, whose love is so conditional and fickle, God’s love is unconditional. God’s love is unfailing and unwavering.
During the course of David’s life he often failed God and was unfaithful to God- He slept with Bathsheba and murdered her husband. Despite this God still loved and still considered him to be His child.
4. God had helped in the past and still was v.7-8
Note the beautiful word pictures in v.7-8 (your right hand holds me up- reminds me of a parent who holds the hand of the young child because they so uncoordinated and the path not level)
-by the Spirit of God, David slew the giant named Goliath
-by the power and Spirit of God, as a boy, David had killed a lion and bear with his own hands
-by the help and power of God, David had ascended to the place of kingship in the land
-by the power of God, David defeated Israel’s enemies- though, on the physical level, they were more powerful and numerous
Here in this fresh time of trouble David had all this to fall back on.
5. He knew that God had (in the past), could, and would deliver him from the hand of his enemies v.9-11
In David’s case he lived to see the defeat of his enemies. In this particular case, as it relates to Psalm 63, David’s deliverance from his son- who had become his enemy- was a most painful one, for his son- who he still loved- ended up killed.
6. He knew that God alone can satisfy a person and meet all their needs v.5
Note the word picture that David uses in verse 5 “You satisfy me more than the richest feast” NLT version of the Bible.
While a great meal makes satisfies a person’s physical hunger God can meet all our needs. This was David’s great discovery as indicated in Psalms 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”
God made you and me; He knows our physical needs and because He loves us, He’s made arrangements for us to be taken care of. God is also fully aware of the spiritual needs that people have- firstly, to be reconciled to God, for we are all sinners and because of such, under His righteous judgment. As proof of his love and grace God sent Jesus to die on the cross and thereon take upon himself the punishment for sin that we deserve- that whoever turns to Jesus in faith and repentance might come to have eternal life and peace with God.
III. Those who truly have recognized their need for God demonstrate this by being active praiser’s of Him- regardless of their circumstances.
As we noted earlier in the service, the background to Psalms 63 is David on the run from his son Absalom.
Despite the circumstances David prioritized the worship of God. In addition to this it’s very important to note that David was not a conditional worshipper of God. He was on the run, in danger, lots of unknowns, distress, and yet….
Here at Islington Baptist Church we have a purpose statement that says “Islington Baptist Church exists to Worship God, Learn more about Him, Tell others about Jesus, and Serve each other and our community.”
Note how the first reason for our existence is worship and praise God. This comes first because God is worthy of it.
Here in Psalm 63 David gives us a little lesson on how to praise God
-Praise Him by going to Him and declaring your neediness of Him v.1-3
-Praise Him raising your hands in prayer or in song every once in while v.4
-Praise Him with songs of joy v.5
-Praise Him by staying faithful to Him
-Praise Him by meditating upon Him. v.5
CONCLUSION
A long time ago, Augustine, being one of the early church fathers said “Our souls are restless till they find their rest in God”. How true indeed.
We need God. We need the Lord Jesus. God is more than able to meet all our physical needs and more importantly- our spiritual ones.
An abundance of reasons exist that ought to lead one to seek after God- no less the promise of James 4:8 that says ‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”
Those who truly have recognized their need for God demonstrate this by being active praisers of Him- regardless of their circumstances.
