“Earnestly I Seek” - Psalm 63 (Day 1)

Good morning, and welcome back to our Summer Sabbath devotionals. With a new week comes a new Psalm to sit with, meditate on, and soak up its goodness. "God's love is better than life." It's easy to believe this when things are going our way, and circumstances are  in our favor. The family is healthy, the bills are paid, and food is on the table. But imagine making this statement when your life is actually on the line in the middle of a desert, far from home, while enemies hunt you down. David doesn't have to imagine this scary scenario because this was his reality in Psalm 63. Yet, David didn't allow his trying circumstances to stop him from worshiping God, proclaiming His goodness, and pursuing His heart more intensely. This week's podcast explores David's defiant assertion that God's love is better than life.

Before we begin, I want to provide space for you to pause and consider how you'd complete that statement: God's love is better than ___________. Then spend a few moments praying, thanking God for the different ways He loves you. 

During our time exploring the book of Psalms this summer, we've become well acquainted with David's trials - some beyond his control and others self-afflicted. We glimpse just how chaotic his life was in Psalm 63. There is debate among Biblical scholars about when David wrote this passage and what prompted him to escape into the Judean wilderness. Some believe it was before he took the throne of Israel when hunted by King Saul. Others lean toward this poem coming later during the rebellion of Absalom, where David's son sparked an uprising and wanted him dead. In some regards, the wilderness was David's second home, yet, it is in that spot where his loudest declarations of worship of God's faithfulness rippled out. 

With this in mind, I invite you to read Psalm 63. As you do, pay attention and make note of any words, phrases, or themes that stand out to you.

Psalm 63 says this:

1 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.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

9 Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.

10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

That’s a lot to unpack and an impossible task to do in a single devotional - but that’s the beauty of sitting with Psalm 63 for an entire week. It enables us to take our time, slow down, and chew on all its wisdom. So, read Psalm 63 once again, but this time, center your attention on the opening verse.

Psalm 63 says this:

1 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.

Take a moment to reflect on what you just read:

• What words express the desires of David’s heart? What did he long to experience?

At some point in our faith journey, we will inevitably find ourselves meandering through spiritual dry places akin to the deserts of Judah. God feels distant. We struggle to catch a glimpse of Him working. Burdened by the demands of life and the circumstances we face, we grow discouraged and disheartened. We have to pay attention to where our thoughts wander and the lies we believe when in the thick of the wilderness. At the heart of every conflict resides the question: Can God be trusted? When we fail to understand that God utilizes our struggles to develop perseverance and shape our character, we waste so much mental and emotional energy, wondering why we face hardships repeatedly.

We often forsake the very thing (FAITH) that can sustain us through our struggles, difficulties, and adversity. What we fill ourselves with amid adversity is critical to how we recover. We need to create space for recovery. By tending to our hearts, we learn how to respond with courage declaring, like David, our need for God. Amid those dry places, David recognized his spiritual thirst. By strengthening our faith, we activate a sustaining source that we can rely on no matter what comes our way. Instead, we need to surrender our power for His provision, our will for His ways, and our lives for His purposes. 

Take a moment and consider…How do you tend to respond when you find yourself in the spiritual wilderness?

Read today’s passage slowly one more time.

Psalm 63:1 says this:

1 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.

There are countless articles, videos, and TED talks championing the importance of developing healthy morning habits. They talk about how a morning routine sets the tone for the hours to come and that starting the morning off on the wrong foot can cause us to stumble throughout the rest of our day. Yet, as well-intentioned this insight might be, the focus always remains on ourselves and our productivity. Scripture also speaks of rising early, but instead of urging us to seize the day, it encourages us to sense God’s presence above all else. When David says, "earnestly I seek you," it  expresses an eagerness, enthusiasm, and longing to connect with God. Yet, other translations replace the word earnestly with early, as in "early I seek you." God was on David's mind when his feet hit the floor. David spent sacred time with God during the early morning's silence and stillness. His spiritual thirst wouldn't allow him to wait any longer to engage in quiet prayer, reflection, and study. 

Despite all the demands, pressure, and requests He faced, Jesus modeled this spiritual discipline for us. He often woke up early and retreated to a quiet place to pray and connect with His Father. Jesus understood what captures our heart in the morning, directs our eyes, guides our steps, and occupies our thoughts throughout the day. It won't change our circumstances but will influence our response to them. When we make those times a necessity, we begin to see each day as a gift and the blessing and purpose that come with it. Even on our most challenging days, our time with our Father reminds us that He is good - and that is enough to get us through and endure while remaining focused and faithful.

So, as we begin to wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you through Psalm 63. First, take a moment to process this question…Where do your thoughts tend to wander in the morning when left unchecked? What occupies your mind?

Another question to consider is this…What would it look like to begin your morning with God and His goodness as your first thought? 

PRAYER

Father God,

May I display faith when I find myself in the wilderness.

Quench my spiritual thirst with the refreshment of Your Word.

Fill my dry soul with an overflowing of  Your presence.

You are the One who replenishes and restores. Amen.