Thirsting for God

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Psalm 63

Psalm 63:1

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.

(ESV)

Adequate hydration is a concern of people living in the desert.  People like to hike the mountains around Phoenix and frequently during the summer months the news reports on a rescue of a hiker from one of the mountains.  While these rescues can involve rescuing a hiker who has fallen, they all too often involve a hiker who did not carry enough water and became dehydrated.  The separation of humanity from God that occurred in Genesis 3 has resulted in the separation of people’s souls from their source of spiritual hydration, resulting in a thirst only God can quench. 

During  His encounter with the Woman at the sell in John 4:1-45, Jesus uses the visual illustration of one thirsting and needing water to quench physical thirst to Him as a source of water eternally quenching one’s spiritual thirst (John 4:13-14).  As Jesus’ discourse with the woman continues, she discovers Jesus is no ordinary man but divine, knowing everything about her, including her sins.  Yet, instead of condemning her as was customary for Jews towards Samaritans at the time of Christ, Jesus offers the woman complete forgiveness and the eternal quenching of the thirst of her soul. 

In Psalm 63, David,

1)      Expresses his belief in God as his God (Psalm 63:1) – Instead of focusing on his circumstances, David is focusing on God and lives a life surrendered to God as his God.  This represents the beginning point for anyone seeking to satisfy the thirst of one’s soul due to their separation from God due to sin in their lives.  Jesus equating Himself as living water to the woman at the well is teaching us that he is the only source of water to quench the thirst of the soul.  We draw this living water out of the well by expressing our belief in God by accepting Jesus as our savior. 

2)      Earnestly seeks God (Psalm 63:1) – Expression of a belief in God through acceptance of Jesus as savior is what opens the door to restoration of a severed relationship with God, but to find quenching for spiritual thirst, one must earnestly seek God through prayer, study, and meditation on the Bible.  David used his time of solitude when hiding from King Saul as a time to seek God and write Psalms like this one that provide encouragement, and not time to focus on his circumstances. 

3)      Finds encouragement in beholding the glory and power of God (Psalm 63:2) – David, most likely, experienced times of discouragement while hiding from Saul, especially during times when he found out Saul knew where he was hiding and could show up soon to destroy him and his men (Psalm 52).  However, instead of cowering in fear, David recalls times when he witnessed the glory and power of God in the sanctuary and focuses on this instead of his circumstances. 

4)      Empowerment by God’s love that is better than life (Psalm 63:3-4) – After receiving encouragement at recalling the power and glory of God in the sanctuary, David is empowered by knowing the love of God is better than life.  With this statement, David is expressing the belief that even if Saul finds him and kills him, it will only result in David being with God for eternity. 

During this time of great trial in the life of David, David finds satisfaction through meditation on the power and glory of God he has witnessed in the sanctuary.  However, unlike the woman at the well, David has not had a physical encounter with God through Jesus for Jesus had not yet come to earth, David is receiving satisfaction through faith.  We live in a post ascension world where we do not physically encounter Jesus and, like David, must receive encouragement and empowerment through an expression of faith in God as Lord of our lives and earnest seeking of God through prayer, study, and meditation on the Word of God. 

For those reading this who have not opened the door to restoration with the living water that quenches the thirst of the soul, I invite you to pray with me now for Jesus stands at the door and knocks (Revelation 3:20). 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

If you just prayed, the door to a restored relationship with God is now open.  Jesus now stands at the door we have opened but will not just barge in till invited.  We invite Jesus in through earnestly seeking to know more about Him through prayer, study, and meditation on the Bible.  Prayer is simply speaking to God just like we would talk with a close friend.  Anyone able to read this post do so because they studied in school to learn to read with the help of a teacher.  Likewise, we need help from teachers in studying the Bible and why I encourage those that just prayed to find a church teaching from the Bible.  Meditation is not sitting cross-legged on the floor seeking nirvana or inner peace but instead refers to one mulling over what they have learned from their study of the Bible and applying it to their daily lives. 

My prayer for all reading this post is that they will like David express belief in God as their God, earnestly seek God through prayer, study, and meditation, and find encouragement and empowerment to overcome the challenges life brings.  David and the Woman at the well provide biblical examples of people seeking God.  May God bless everyone reading this post.