Most of us have had a time in our walk with God where—at the least—it seemed as though we were wandering in a wilderness. We might have been at times overwhelmed with our surroundings: unfamiliar, lonely, abandoned, fearful of the unknown. God’s promises were in our hearts and on our lips, but His presence might at times have seemed distant. We were surrounded by “wolves, lions and beasts” that, for a time, had us shaking in our boots. We sang to ourselves “safe am I, safe am I, in the hollow of His hands;” and we sang it over and over again, as if trying to convince ourselves that we really were safe. And, at last, we were delivered from the scary sights and sounds of that wilderness experience, but not until we had learned some precious, priceless lessons in truth and trust for which we would not trade anything—but into which we would never again want to enter.
David, anointed to be king over Judah, before occupying that throne, spent more time in the wilderness than he would have ever asked for, and by the Spirit of God he recorded some of his fear, faith, fearlessness and faithfulness in and through those troublesome times. Psalm 63 is a record of one such time in the experience of a shepherd who was a man after God’s own heart. Listen in as we hear the panting and feel the pulse of this young giant slayer who faced fiercer foes than lions and bears—running for his life from the sword of Saul:
- David’s Affirmation, v.1
- His personal relationship with God was expressed in his cry, “O God, thou art my God.” David trusted in and verbalized his total abandonment to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee,” he said on another occasion when he was faced with danger. (Ps.56:3)
- His personal priority: “early will I seek thee.” No child of God is prepared to meet the challenges of any day—much less a “day in the wilderness”—without seeking God early in the day: seeking His guidance, presence, power, and protection.
- His present reality: this place was a thirsty and dry land, and David confessed that his soul and his flesh longed for God. In the best of times, in the worst of times, it behooves us to long—in our soul and in our flesh—after God who alone can quench our thirst and feed our soul.
- His prayerful resignation: he was in a land where “no water is.” It was a wilderness, and there is no wilderness without “wild.” And there is no hunger nor is there any thirst without going through those times of isolation, deprivation, and desolation. Moses spent 40 years in a desert place. Elijah did his time in the wilderness, as did John the Baptist, Paul, and John the apostle, and our Lord Jesus, amongst others. All were the stronger for it, but none would have asked for a repeat experience of it.
- He aspired to see God’s power: “To see Thy power” was the heart cry of this king-to-be who panted after God like a deer. Oh, that men and women of God today, living in the wilderness of this world, would long to see His power. It is ours through the working of His Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)
- He aspired to see God’s glory: “To see Thy power and Thy glory.” David had seen it in the “sanctuary.” He had tasted of the revival and renewal this power had brought causing him to proclaim that God’s lovingkindness was better than life.
- David’s Aspiration, v. 2
- He aspired to see God’s power: “To see Thy power” was the heart cry of this king-to-be who panted after God like a deer. Oh, that men and women of God today, living in the wilderness of this world, would long to see His power. It is ours through the working of His Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)
- He aspired to see God’s glory: “To see Thy power and Thy glory.” David had seen it in the “sanctuary.” He had tasted of the revival and renewal this power had brought causing him to proclaim that God’s lovingkindness was better than life.
- David’s Adoration, vss. 3-7
- David praised God with his lips, v. 3: “My lips shall praise Thee.”
- David praised God with his hands, v. 4: “Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.”
- David praised God with his mouth, v. 5: “My mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.”
- David praised God with his soul, v. 5: “My soul shall be satisfied.” Only God’s lovingkindness can satisfy the soul of man.
- Because of God’s goodness, as rehearsed by David, He said that he would “remember God upon his bed,” and he would meditate on God in the night watches, and he would rejoice “in the shadow of Thy wings.” (vss. 6, 7) The chorus that comes to my mind just now is: “Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails; heaven and earth may pass away, but Jesus never fails.” Amen. David would agree! Finally,
- David’s Acclamation, vss. 8-11
- David said that his soul would follow hard after God, for His right hand had held him up. (v.8) He knew that his enemies would eventually end up in the “lower parts of the earth,” and that they would fall by the sword and at last be food for foxes. (v.10) But once again, in faith believing, David acclaimed that he would rejoice in God and that “every one that sweareth by Him shall glory.” (v. 11)
What a powerful testimony of one who had faced danger, death, and the devil in the wilderness, but who through faith and by grace and meditation on God’s promises came through the experience with a song of victory and praise—glorying in God for His Word, His Ways, His Will, and His Work. He prepared this fearless and faithful shepherd boy for the throne of what would become, by God’s promises and purposes, an everlasting throne.
Do not despair, my beloved friend. God visited Hagar, forlorn and forsaken, in the wilderness—a handmaid without a home. Do you think—child of the King—that He has forgotten where you are? He will never leave you nor forsake you. Thirsty and hungry, lonely and “lost” in that dry place that you now find yourself—God has you there for a time and purpose, in the place of His choosing. The 4th watch of the night will pass, and the brightness of His face will shine again. And, yes, you will look back one day and say, as others before have said, “Thank you God for the lessons learned there. Let the world know that ‘O God, Thou art my God!’”
“Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” (Ps.63:7)
YOU and GOD 