stephen R Harrison

The introduction to Psalm 63 tells us David wrote it when he was hiding in the desert of Judah. This happened when he was running from Saul (1 Samuel 23:14-29) and Absalom (2 Samuel 15:13-37). In both cases, David was running from family that was trying to kill him. Uprooted from his home in the barren wilderness with no certainty of provision, safety, or return, David displayed confidence in the Lord and worshiped God. David’s worship of the Lord in normal times allowed him to worship the Lord in abnormal ones. His habit of seeking the Lord “kicked in” like good muscle memory while in the desert when he couldn’t worship in his common place or the sanctuary. Our regular worship will cause us to praise the Lord in irregular times. Instead of complaining to the Lord, David worshipped the Lord.

Even in the desert while being chased by his (and the Lord’s) enemy, David made worship a priority. When life gets crazy and stressful, people often skip worship to focus on the problem at hand. Not David. He continued his worship pattern and brought his situation into it. He “earnestly” sought the Lord (v. 1). He didn’t cut his worship time or halfway go though the motions because he was busy in the desert. His thirst for God was increased by his circumstance. Actually, it seems his physical circumstance illustrated his spiritual thirst and hunger (read verse 1 and 5). David had routinely worshipped God in the sanctuary (v. 2a). Now, because of an extreme circumstance, he couldn’t be “in church” l, but he knew “how to have church”. He knew God’s “power and glory” (v. 2b) extended beyond the sanctuary walls. We should regularly worship in the sanctuary with God’s people (Hebrews 10:25) and only miss for extreme circumstances. It’s that vital!

While in the desert with the enemy out to assassinate him, David sang loud (vv. 3, 5, 7) and lifted his hands (v. 4). Some “advisors” may have told him to be quiet and put his weapons back in his hand as the enemy could attack at any moment. David would have rather worshipped. Loving the Lord was better than living (v. 3). He didn’t know how much time he had left, but whatever it was David was going to praise the Lord in the moment instead of waiting till the moment got better (v. 4). He could even lay down at night in security and think about the Lord instead of the possible danger lurking in the darkness (vv. 6-7). The Lord had him with His right hand of power, provision, and protection (verse . David had a spiritual thirst (v. 1) and appetite for the “the richest of foods” (v. 5). Praise was his food and worship was his drink. He hungered and thirst for righteousness and was filled (Matthew 5:6). David wasn’t praying general theoretical prayers of protection and deliverance. David trusted the Lord to take care of an actual specific enemy while trying to stay alive in the most desolate of conditions (vv. 9-10). David could rejoice and give God glory (v. 11) when the heat (literally) was turned up in a season of uncertainty because of his worship-filled lifestyle in normal everyday life.

Questions:

1. Will your current pattern of worship sustain you and remain when trouble comes?

2. Do you skip worship in the sanctuary with God’s people only in extreme situations?

3. Will you allow the Lord to take you through a desert experience or two to test and increase your devotion to Him?

Prayer:

Lord, my desire it to praise you in the sanctuary and the desert. You are my food and drink – my sustenance. “Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You (v.3). Help me to praise You in good times so I’ll praise You in the bad. Help me praise You in the bad to show I truly trust You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.