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. (Psalm 63:1)
In Psalm 63, David writes about his wilderness experience. Some scholars believe it was the time when he was on the run from King Saul who was trying to kill him. Other scholars believe it was the time when he was fleeing from his son Absalom who was trying to kill him. Either way, his life was on the line and it was a wilderness experience for David. Yet, his focus was on his God, who was with him every step of the way.
David’s wilderness experience was beyond his control. But it was not beyond God’s control, and by keeping this truth in view, David was able to rise above the waves of challenge that were washing over him. In a dry and desolate land, David knows where to look for ‘water” as he longs to worship his God in the sanctuary in Jerusalem. His desperate circumstances did not affect or alter his confidence in God one bit. Why? Because he knew his God was a covenant keeping God, who promised blessing to His people and because he kept his focus on his God, not his circumstances. Notice that David says, “Your love is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). Is this the confession of our lives?
When the apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), he was giving us another Word for our wilderness experiences we face in life. For Paul, Jesus was everything. Paul lived a continual wilderness experience from the moment of his conversion till the moment he was martyred for his faith. Yet, he kept his focus on Christ, not his circumstances, and that is the key for you and me today. So, whatever wilderness experience you might be facing today or in the near future, keep in view both what David said, “Your love is better than life” and Paul, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” When you do, you too will rise above every wave of challenge that washes over you because greater is the power that is at work within you than any power that comes up against you.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 