Reference

Psalm 63

*Below is Pastor Andrew’s teaching outline from Sunday’s sermon, not a word for word manuscript. This is meant as aid in seeing the thought and direction of the sermon.

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Background:

Ps 62 spoke of waiting on God, it reminded us that there is no lasting foundation in earthly things.

ps 62:11-12 “Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.”

Setting:

Most likely Fleeing from Absalom

2 Samuel 15-16

David is fleeing into the wilderness

The wilderness is a very common theme throughout scripture, a place of testing and strengthening, a place where God seems absent and yet is fully there.

Yet here this setting David helps us to see the very reality of Who God is and the Truth of the Christian life in the midst of brokenness. In the midst of all that seems lost, where do we turn? How do we respond:

First, we must begin at the beginning “God, you are my God”:

-The heart of this text begins with a personal connection with God

-He is not simply A God, Or God, but My God.

-The whole of the Psalm flows from a personal Knowledge of God

-So, before we begin this is the truth we must bear: is God your God?

-Christ Crucified, risen & coming again

-His praise and Prayer are for a true and living God, not some ethereal other. David’s heart is for the one whom He knows and who knows Him

› TR: From here David can cry out: My Soul Thirsts:

I. My Soul Thirsts for God (1-4)

Psalm 63:1–4 ESV

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So, I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So, I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

A. Earnestly

Some Translation “Early”- though the original text is connected to the idea of an earnestness not a time thus the translation.

Matthew 7:7 ESV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

-How do we Pursue God?

-As life happens.

-As defined by schedule.

-With a Purposeful longing?

David here sets forth the longing of His heart is to be with God, and so he seeks him diligently, without stopping.

His heart is set on knowing God and being Known. He is not passive in His approach. (Though he waits in 62 the waiting is not passive. 63 shows us that waiting on God involves a heart that pursues God)

If we are actively pursuing God, then when do we seek him?

-When do we turn to God?

-When things are Bad

-When things are good

Our heartfelt pursuit for God should be evident daily but even more so David reflects the need to seek God in the wilderness:

B. In the Wilderness of Life

-Where is God when He seems absent?

-Reiterate setting?

-The question of Job?

Job 2:9–10 ESV

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

David is at the end of himself and yet the text shows us clearly the end of himself leads to a heartfelt pursuit of God, not of self. Because He knows who is God is, He knows he can pursue Him, He knows His God is with Him, He knows that God is God.

C. Because of Who You are

-David reflects on the truth he has experienced: Seeing God in his sanctuary?

-In the midst of hardship, he searches for God and in so doing reflects on the experiences with God he has had in the past.

-Do you remind yourself of the faithfulness of God during the wilderness?

Psalm 63:3 ESV

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

The covenant Love of God is better than this Life.

Paul reflects on this truth:

Phil 1:18-23 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

As we urgently pursue God, we reflect on the goodness o who He is and what he has done and through this we are led to praise

D. I will Praise Him

-Let us praise Him

Is this the natural overflow of your heart in the midst of trials?

-HOW DOES THE WILDERNESS TURN TO PRAISE?

› -We sing praise in seeking Him because we know who our God is and what our God can do: He will satisfy my soul

II. My Soul Will be Satisfied in God (5-7)

Psalm 63:5–7 ESV

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

A. God will satisfy

As he moves through the psalm David now looks forward in the wilderness and seeing the truth of the reality that His soul will be satisfied in God alone.

His journey will not be in vain, His search will have fulfillment:

Matthew 5:6 ESV

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

God alone is our Hope, and he is the end of our journey. Jesus reminds us that we who search after Him are blessed, they will not be left disappointed.

The imagery in this text is so beautiful the contrast of being parched and drained by the wilderness and then finding satisfaction and a banquet feast that fully satisfies imaginable.

-Survivor (food challenges)

B. As I remember Him

-Again, the Satisfaction of the Soul is seen in being reminded of who God is, there is a mediation on the truth of Him.

-There is a longing

-From the earnestness of the morning to the peaceful calm of the night the soul and mind seek satisfaction in God for comfort. There is a longing and peace for those who seek after God

-But it is not groundless it is based on who he is and what He has done. Both in our own lives and in the World.

-What has God done in your life?

-Salvation

-Careers

-Family

-Church

-Life

-How has he answered your prayers?

-Think on these things

C. I will Praise Him

-And in this way, we once aging turn to God in praise

-We have praised him for who He is as we seek him

-Now we praise him knowing that he will satisfy our souls

› And from this knowledge we know that we can cling to God

III. My Soul Clings to God (8-11)

Psalm 63:8–11 ESV

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

A. He Upholds Me

-From all these wonderful truths we see David Cling to God alone:

-He has sought God, knowing he will be satisfied in him and from this he knows he can cling to Him

-In the midst of all that transpires he doesn’t lose hope he gains it

-How has God strengthened you through the wilderness

(David’s Victory is yet to come and yet his heart is turned to God not worry)

When we pursue God, we begin to see that the world isn’t about us it is about Him, and if he is in control and not ourselves then there is hope when things seem hopeless.

-How much of your life do you truly control?

-When things are beyond our control God is still God

1 Peter 4:16–19 ESV

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

B. He Will Vindicate Me

-Now David’s own sinful actions and his handling of other people’s sins began a chain of events that led him into the deserts, led Him away from Jerusalem and yet here he still clings to God, knowing that God is good and righteous.

-God will vindicate David:

This reminds us again of Ps 62:12

Psalm 62:12 ESV

and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

God is our rock and our vindication:

1 Peter 3:8–12 ESV

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

C. I Will Praise Him

And in it all we continue to praise the Lord:

-Our Soul Praise God for who he is.

-David will praise God again as he clings to Him

Conclusion:

Now as we reflect on this Psalm there is much that can be cleaned:

-Do we seek after God with and eager longing?

-Do we remember Who our God is in midst of pain?

-Do we feel the satisfaction of His love that is better than life?

-Do we Cling to Him when the world rises against us

-Do we praise Him in every aspect of the journey?

-God is our God