Thirsting For God

THIRSTING FOR GOD

TEXT: Psalm 63:1-8 (KJV)

(A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.)

"O God, thou [art] my God; 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;

To see thy power and thy glory, so [as] I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Because thy lovingkindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

My soul shall be satisfied as [with] marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall

praise [thee] with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, [and]

meditate on thee in the [night] watches. Because thou hast been my help,

therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me."

INTRODUCTION: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (KJV), Scriptures are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.

"We are troubled on every side,

yet not distressed;

we are perplexed,

but not in despair;

persecuted,

but not forsaken;

cast down,

but not destroyed;"

This is the language of King David while he was wandering in the wilderness when he was driven from the throne by his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15:10-14ff.).

-King David was fleeing through the wilderness.

-He was longing for the Sanctuary in Jerusalem.

(Would that we Christians who are said in the Bible

to be kings and priests (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6) would

have such a love for the church house--the place of

concentrated and pointed worship of the Lord God Almighty!)

-The Sanctuary was his life.

Seems now-a-days the place in mens' hearts that the Sanctuary

(Church House) holds is secondary or tertiary to those that,

in reality, need the Church and the Founder of the Church the most.

David was hid in God (Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 2:2-3).

-hid, Strong's Greek #613, conceal; #614, kept secret-

Vine, W. E.--"the mysteries of the unsearchable riches of Christ

revealed in the Gospels."

It would take more to knock King David out than:

*Absalom his son...2 Samuel 15:13-14

*Amasa his nephew...2 Samuel 17:15

*Ahithophiel the Traitor...2 Samuel 15:12; 16:21

One may ask. "Why?" The answer is that the Lord of Hosts, "...the I AM,

THAT I AM...," The Everlasting God was the Defender of King David.

Perhaps the Lord's promise of Isaiah 41:10 was activated on

David's behalf ( Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I

am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold

thee with the right hand of my righteousness).

In the wilderness of this world's unsatisfying pleasures and profits, its counterfeit/pseudo friends, its back-stabbing relatives, and selfish, money-hungry counselors; it is imperative for one to discover his real need.That real need is for Jesus the Christ--the spiritual Water of Life ( John

4:13-14), Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water spring-ing up into everlasting life.

(Insight) "Drinketh" figuratively says, to receive into the soul what serves to refresh, strengthen, nourish it unto life eternal.Living water: In ancient times, they called spring water living water because it seemed 'alive' as it bubbled up from the ground. At first glance, it might seem

that Jesus tells this woman about a nearby active spring. But Jesus makes a play on words with the phrase 'living water,' because He means the spiritual water that quenches our spiritual thirst and gives life.___Guzik

ILLUSTRATION:

"Water! Water!"

After one of the great battles in the Civil War we were coming down the Tennessee River with a

company of wounded men. It was in the spring of the year, and the water was not clear. You know

that the cry of a wounded man is, "Water! water!" especially in a hot country. I remember taking a glass of the muddy water to one of these men. Although he was very thirsty, he only drank a little. He handed the glass back, and as he did so, he said—"Oh, for a draught of water from my father's well!" Are there any thirsty ones here? Come and drink of the fountain opened in Christ!

Your longing will be satisfied, and you will never thirst again.—Anecdotes, Incidents and Illustrations by D. L. Moody

THEME: God is at work meeting the needs of His people.

I. David Fellowships With God Who Is:

A. the desire of his being (Psalm 63:1-4)

B. the delight of his soul (Psalm 63:5-8)

C. the defense of his life (Psalm 63:9-11)