Songs of Summer 7 – The Satisfaction of the Seeking Soul

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows hard after You; Your right hand upholds me. But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him shall glory; but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped. (Psalm 63)

Where do you turn when life falls apart? David shows us the satisfaction found only in seeking God.

A King in the Wilderness

Where do you turn when times are difficult, when you're going through a troubling situation? Open with me to Psalm 63 and consider where David, the author, turned during one of the most difficult situations of his life.

He had been running it through his mind over and over: What could I have done differently? The question produced only endless contemplations of missed opportunities and an ever-growing list of would-haves and could-haves. Though everyone is ultimately responsible for their own actions, he couldn't help thinking that if he had just done things a little differently, his son would not be doing what he was doing now. If I had only spent more time with him. If I had only been a better example of humility, of confession and repentance. If I had been a better leader, a better husband, a better father, it wouldn't be going like this. Have you been there? Aside from losing a near loved one, this may be the most difficult situation anyone has to face.

David was back in a wilderness he knew well. As a child he had shepherded his father's sheep there. As a young man, after being anointed king, he hid there from King Saul, who pursued him and tried to kill him. As king he fought battles there against the Philistines and Moabites. Now once again he was being pursued in that wilderness — but this time the pursuer was not the mad King Saul, nor the Philistines. This time the pursuer was his own son, coming with an army to track him down and kill him.

The Setting in 2 Samuel

The heading of Psalm 63 reads, "A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah." The internal evidence of these eleven verses indicates this was very likely near the end of David's life, when he was being pursued by his son Absalom, who had determined to take the leadership of the nation and run his father out of the kingdom. It corresponds with the account in 2 Samuel.

Have you been in a place where someone comes against your leadership — perhaps at your job? Or worse, have you been in the place where your own child, a son or a daughter, has rebelled against you? Some of you have been in that place of being deeply troubled. This is where David was when he wrote Psalm 63.

From the Palace to the Pit

David grew up in the wilderness of Judea, the hills surrounding Jerusalem, in a town called Bethlehem about eight to ten miles away. As a shepherd boy, the only things coming against him were the beasts of the field — and at one point a lion, which he defended the flock against. At twelve or thirteen he was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king, even though Saul already sat on the throne. For years things seemed fine, but when the people began applauding David more than Saul, David found himself on the run for nearly a decade, pursued day and night by Saul and the army of Israel. Ultimately God was faithful, and David ascended to the throne.

Later in his reign, his son Absalom rose to prominence much as David once had under Saul. The story is told in 2 Samuel 15–18. For a time Absalom was estranged from his father — and the problems were, frankly, because of David's own foolishness and sinfulness. As we saw in 2 Samuel 11–12, David committed adultery, then had the woman's husband murdered, then covered it up. When it became known throughout the kingdom, it completely depleted every ounce of moral capital David had.

A short time later, David's oldest son committed something atrocious — he raped his half-sister. But David had no moral authority, so he did nothing. Another of David's sons, the full brother of the violated girl, was outraged as he should have been, took matters into his own hands, and killed his brother. Again, what could David do? He had no moral capital. There was discord in the kingdom, and Absalom was eventually run out. David later reached out, reconciled, and brought Absalom back — and everything seemed like it would move forward.

The Stolen Hearts

But in 2 Samuel 15, Absalom began having gatherings, talking about the serious problems and injustices in the nation's leadership. It's easy to find a group of people who agree with you when you talk politics. So 2 Samuel 15:6 says, "Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel." Just verses later, David's messenger came to him and said, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom." The rebellion, the coup, had begun.

In 2 Samuel 15:23, David leaves his palace in Jerusalem, goes down east into the Kidron Valley, and stands at the brook. On one side is his palace and his kingdom; on the other is the wilderness he knew so well. The high priest Zadok comes down with the Levites carrying the Ark of the Covenant — the physical representation of the presence of God. But David says, "Take it back."

Why did David leave? He could have stayed and stood his ground. No doubt advisors were telling him to deal with this rebellious kid. But the answer is in 2 Samuel 15:25–26:

The king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city... If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, then He will bring me back and show me it and His dwelling place. But if He says, 'I have no delight in you,' then here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him."

David left because he knew he had sinned greatly. In his mind he thought, Maybe God is done with me. This is the result of my adultery, my murder, my lying, my failure to order my house. And if God is gracious, He can bring me back; but if not, let Him do as seems good.

A Man After God's Own Heart

People often wonder how the Bible can call David a man after God's own heart when he committed adultery and murder. But that very passage is why he was a man after God's own heart. He said, "I'm going to leave it in the hands of the Lord. I deserve nothing but judgment. I'll leave it in His hands."

David could have called his allies — the king in Syria, his mighty men, his generals. He could have said, "The army is with me; this Absalom is a chump who's never seen battle." But he doesn't. He goes into the wilderness, and Psalm 63 is his contemplative prayer to the Lord. And this is how he starts: "O God, You are my God."

When God called Israel out of Egypt, He said in Exodus 6, "I will take you as My people, and I will be your God." David knew God as his God because he was in that covenant relationship. At least five times in the Psalms — possibly seven — David says, "O God, You are my God."

God Is Your God Only If You Seek Him

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.

God is your God only if you seek Him. In a time of deep, gut-wrenching, soul-wrenching trouble, the master or god of your life is revealed by who or what you turn to. That's challenging, because we turn to many different things — a counselor, a friend, a brother or sister in the church (all well and good), but also alcohol, drugs, sexual promiscuity, or whatever we use to deal with the soul-stirring thing going on.

"Early will I seek You" doesn't mean only the people in the first service who get up early are the spiritual ones. "Early" can also mean the first one I turn to. Why? "Because my soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You." His entire being — soul and flesh, everything in him — was turning to God in this dry and weary place.

We have a wonderful promise in Jeremiah 29:13: "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Satisfying living water is found by the one who seeks the Lord with all that he is. David was in that dry and thirsty land — physically, emotionally, spiritually — and his first point of reference was, "God, You are my God, and I'm going to turn to You."

The Lord Will Satisfy the Seeking Soul

The Lord will satisfy the seeking soul. David knew this, which is why so many times in his life he had looked for the Lord. Look at verse 2: "So I have looked for You" — past tense — "in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory."

When you're physically hungry or thirsty, you know where to turn: the kitchen. That's not a trick question. The real question is, where do you turn when at the soul level you're parched, famished, starving? David says, "I have looked for You in the sanctuary." For David there was the tabernacle, with the priests, the holy place, and the Ark of God, where he could go and tangibly witness God's power and glory.

Sometimes we think, I wish I had a place like that. But remember — at this point in David's life he couldn't go there. He told Zadok to take the ark back. He's fleeing Jerusalem, away from all those steadfast foundations. Yet he knew God could still be found. It's nice to have a sanctuary, but it is not essential. There is no physical temple you and I must go to. David knew that he could still have God's presence, power, glory, and worship without the tabernacle and without the ark.

They That Taste of God's Goodness Should Glorify Him

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

Notice the subtle shift. In verse 2 David says, "I have looked for You" — perfect tense, a completed action. But in verses 3–5 he says, "I shall praise You... I will bless You" — imperfect tense, an action still in process. He does not know whether he'll ever see that tabernacle again, yet there in the wilderness he is still worshiping as if he were in it, because God does not dwell in tents or temples made with hands.

Even under pressing circumstances, David says, "Your lovingkindness is better than life." As king, David had surely tasted some wonderful things — foods, experiences, all kinds of pleasures. Yet he says God's lovingkindness is better than all of it.

Eugene Peterson's Message translates "marrow and fatness" as eating his fill of "prime rib and gravy." If you've ever eaten a good meal, you've had joyful lips — mmm, that's good. David anticipates that satisfaction from the Lord and verbally praises Him in the midst of terrible circumstances.

They that taste of God's goodness should glorify Him mightily. Whatever circumstance you're going through, even if things are falling apart, we should glorify Him mightily, because His lovingkindness is better than life. The real question is: have you tasted His lovingkindness? And if not, why not? What's holding you back from tasting that the Lord is good?

The Lord Is Worthy of Our Continual Devotion

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

David has gone from the palace to the pit. His bed might now be just dirt in the wilderness, with his mighty men keeping watch to protect him. Yet even as everything closes in on him, he says, "I remember You upon my bed, I meditate on You in those night watches." His mind is filled with meditations of God's lovingkindness and goodness.

The Lord is worthy of our continual devotion. We don't only rejoice when everything's good. When all is well and someone says, "Praise the Lord," we gladly say "Amen." But when everything has hit the fan and someone says "Praise the Lord," our first reaction is often muttered. Yet here David, in the worst of circumstances, says, "I meditate on You... Your lovingkindness is better than life." Whether in the temple or the wilderness, the palace or the pit, He is deserving of our continual devotion.

The Lord Will Support the Seeking Soul

Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows hard after You; Your right hand upholds me.

As David lay there meditating, he remembered: You've been my help. When the lion came against the sheep in this same wilderness, You helped me. When Saul pursued me for years, You protected me. When the whole army of Israel was after me, You protected me. When I fought the Philistines and Moabites, You were my help.

"In the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice." Don't read this as though God has literal wings — it's an anthropomorphic picture. Think of a mother hen with her chicks, or a mother goose with her goslings. If you try to get close, the little ones run behind mama and hide under the shadow of her wings; she becomes their shelter. That's the picture: "You've taken care of me in the past; I'm going to find my shelter in You."

David has seen God's power and glory in the sanctuary, but he has experienced God's lovingkindness, protection, and shelter all throughout his life. So he says, "My soul follows hard after You" — close behind You — "and Your right hand upholds me." The Lord will support the seeking soul. As you pursue Him, He upholds you.

God Will Ultimately Vindicate His Followers

In verses 9–11 David turns from himself to his enemies — unfortunately, at this moment, his own son. Notice the antithetic parallelism. In verse 8 he says, "My soul follows hard after You, and Your right hand upholds me." But in verse 9, "those who seek my life, to destroy it." David pursues the Lord and is upheld; these pursue David to destroy him.

What happens to them? "They shall go into the lower parts of the earth" — the idea of destruction. "They shall fall by the sword." Jesus said in Matthew 26:52, "All who draw the sword will die by the sword." "They shall be a portion for jackals" — their carcasses left exposed and unburied, a shame. In Middle Eastern culture you bury someone the same day; to be left unburied at sundown is a disgrace. That's why Deuteronomy says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree." To be left exposed means no one loves you enough to bury you.

But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him shall glory; but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

David anticipates returning to rejoice — not in his own power, strength, ingenuity, or army, but in God.

God will ultimately vindicate His followers. David could have turned to his allies, his army, or any earthly method to crush the rebellion by his own hands. But at that crossroads by the brook, he had a choice: go back to the palace and do it his way, or cross over into the wilderness and trust it into God's hands.

Even though David was a sinful man like every one of us — if Ashley Madison had existed 3,000 years ago, his name would have been on the list — he became a man after God's own heart because he said, "God, I'm going to commit myself into Your hands. Do with me as You will. Maybe this is Your judgment, but it's in Your hands." That has to be our trust too. When the enemy comes against us: God, it's in Your hands, and You fight the battle.

Closing Prayer

Father God, thank You for Your word to us. I pray that we would commit this to our hearts, that we would even memorize this section of Scripture, to think on it and meditate upon it, to be reminded that You are our help, You are our support, You are the one who provides and protects us, and that we would look to You for all that we need and experience Your vindication. We pray this in Jesus' name, and all those in agreement said, Amen.