Knowing God

INTRO

Psalm 63 is a psalm of David that was written when he was in the wilderness in Judah. If you remember the history of David from 1 and 2 Samuel, you know David was in the wilderness of Judah often. While most scholars agree this psalm was written when David was fleeing, they disagree on which of two occurrences of David fleeing this was written. Some have argued this psalm was written when David fled from Saul (1 Samuel 23). Others have argued it was written when David fled Absalom (2 Samuel 15).¹

TEACHING

Psalm 63:1-2: David found himself in “a land that is dry” and “without water” (v. 1). But David’s response was different from the way most people would have responded. David knew God personally. He started this psalm by declaring, “You are my God.” David learned how to meet with God all the way back when he was a shepherd. Before he fought Goliath, David told Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God” (1 Samuel 17:34–36).

David started with a declaration of his relationship with God, then stated his intention to seek God. The New King James Version translates part of verse 1 as “early I will seek you.”² David disciplined himself to be like God. First Corinthians 9:24–27 says, “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we, an imperishable crown. So, I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

When David disciplined himself to meet with God, he became devoted to God. David’s soul yearned and longed for God. His devotion became desire, “My body faints for you” (v. 2).

Psalm 63:3–5: God’s presence transformed David. David learned God’s love in His presence and was transformed. David’s love for God turned into worship of God. David’s worship turned into satisfaction of God. The more of God’s goodness David understood, the more satisfied He was just simply in His presence. When David wrote this, he was on the run in the desert away from all the comforts of the palace, yet he was still satisfied with God’s goodness in God’s presence.

Psalm 63:6–8: David meditated on God’s goodness and His promises. This was intentional behavior. Before David went to bed, he set his mind on God’s promises and goodness. David found shelter in his relationship with God as he clung to God. David’s faith was not in his own hands. David’s faith was in God’s promises to sustain him. In the midst of a difficult season, David believed God would sustain him and had not forsaken him.

Psalm 63:9–11: David had confidence in God’s deliverance. David did not take this vengeance for himself. He trusted God to do it for him in the same way he did not take vengeance on Saul himself.

CLOSING

God used David to lead His people and do amazing things, but that was through David’s discipline of seeking God and reminding himself of God’s promises. As we discipline ourselves, our desires are changed. As our desires change, we are transformed and worship God. As we worship God, we find satisfaction in Him.