Title: Psalm 63 (2010.8.5)
Contents
Title: I desperately seek the Lord!
Text: (Psalm 63:1-11)
Hymn: 405. In Your Kind Arms
Date: August 5, 2010 (Thursday) 5 am
Venue: Jeonju Yebut Church Small Worship Room
The background of Psalm 63 is as follows. When King David's third son Absalom rebelled against his father, David fled Jerusalem and fled to the wilderness of Judah. At that time, David compared his miserable situation as he ran away from his son to a land without water, a dry and barren land, and earnestly asked for God's help.
David did not become discouraged or foolishly blame God even in the midst of dry and poor suffering. Just as the parched land eagerly awaits the rain because it does not rain, we earnestly sought and longed for God's grace. Then, God became a shadow, protected us from all suffering, and gave us blessings to defeat our enemies and return to Jerusalem. Those who believe in God will go to the end and win.
1. I looked to the Lord in the midst of suffering (verses 1-2).
“God, you are my God.” Who is God? He is the God who created the heavens and the earth, the Almighty God, the omnipotent God, the God who has no power. We believe that God is our God. That is why we must seek God in the midst of suffering. You must meet God.
My body and mind were more painful than in the wilderness. However, he got up from dawn with a thirsty heart and prayed, “God, give me the rain of grace.” He sought God and relied on God.
2. Praise the Lord (verses 3-5)
??I glorify the Lord with my lips.' Why did God give us lips? Of course, He gave them to eat, but He gave them to praise God. Therefore, we should praise God with our lips and give thanks before God.
David also said, “I will raise my hands to praise the name of the Lord.” When we praise God, we should not just praise Him, but raise our hands high and praise Him. Raising hands was a traditional Jewish prayer posture. The Jews prayed with their palms facing up toward the sky, which was a sign of trust in God and a passion for prayer. So King David also raised his hands and prayed in the midst of suffering. I hope you all raise your hands and pray like David.
3. I only think of the Lord (verse 6).
Everyone is tired and exhausted at night. David must have been very tired and exhausted at night because he had wandered through the rough and dry wilderness during the day. Still, he did not lament over his pitiful situation or sink into trouble. Rather, I thought about God's grace and had faith. Although he was in a difficult situation of running away, he firmly believed that God would be with him.
David did not despair or lose heart. Even at such a deep time in the night, David meditated on the word of God and listened to God's voice.
Thinking about God and meditating on God is like waiting for God. So, if we wait and meditate on God, the word of God becomes God, is with us, and gives us strength and power.
I hope that you will become saints who are helped by looking to God, praising God, and meditating even in the midst of suffering.