Psalm 63 – Thirst
In Psalm 63 – thirst, the writer speaks of his thirst. What does he thirst for? What do you thirst for?
Psalm 63
Psalm 63 – thirst, begins with the writer searching for God. The superscription tells us that this psalm was written by David when he was in the desert. David thirsts for God, using an image the Hebrew people can relate to – thirst for water in the desert.
“You, God, are my God, 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.” (1)
He goes on to state that God’s love is better than life itself. It is a love story. The writer, David, loves God better than his own life. He is willing to sacrifice his life for God.
“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” (3)
Like a lover newly enamored by his love, David constantly sings praises of his beloved. His beloved is better than the richest foods. He thinks of God throughout the night and clings to God’s right hand.
“I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” (4-8)
God’s Lovingkindness
God’s lovingkindness awakes this ardor in David.
“The lovingkindness (hesed) of God was better, more meaningful to David, than life itself. This means that David both knew and experienced something of God’s lovingkindness that many believers today do not know and experience.” (Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 63)
For David, God was everything. As one commentator stated –
- People regard life as natural; David regarded God’s great love as natural.
- People enjoy life; David enjoyed God’s great love.
- People value life; David valued God’s great love.
- People will sacrifice to live; David would sacrifice for God’s great love.
- People want to give life to others; David wanted to give God’s great love.
- People despair without the sense of life; David despaired without the sense of God’s great love.
For David, “To dwell with God is better than life at its best; life at ease, in a palace, in health, in honour, in wealth, in pleasure; yea, a thousand lives are not equal to the eternal life which abides in Jehovah’s smile.” (Spurgeon)
Psalm 63 – Thirst
God is everything to David. What does David thirst for in Psalm 63 – thirst? Nothing less than God. Nothing satisfies the spirit like God.
In John 4, Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (10) “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (13-14)
Teresa of Avila compared prayer to water from a well. At first you have to labor to pull this water up from the well but if you continue in prayer, it becomes a fountain springing up inside you. Much like the water that Jesus spoke of. God’s love can become a fountain within us, sustaining us during challenges and dry times.
I may not live in a desert, but I know what it is to thirst. I also know what it is to thirst for God. When I’m physically thirsty, nothing satisfies like cool, clean water. Psalm 63 – thirst, reminds me, when I am spiritually thirsty, nothing satisfies like God.
What are you thirsting for?
(For another take on this Psalm, see Psalm 63: Thirsting for that Which Truly Satisfies – Patricia M Robertson)
Preparing for Lent
Lent is only two weeks away. What are you planning to do to assuage your thirst for God? Perhaps a Bible study? My book, The Psalms in Light of the Lord’s Prayer, makes a perfect Lenten Bible study. Reflect on one line of the Lord’s prayer each week, using the Psalms. Over time, the Psalms truly become a fountain of living water within us. Quench your thirst this Lent with the Psalms.
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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