Psalm 63: Thirsty or Distracted?

The weekend Psalm for:
December 12-13.2009
Read Psalm 63 from the English Standard Version
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The Big Idea

Bob Goudzwaard recognized our problem way back in the early 1980s--and he's not the first one. We have a tendency to turn things in our lives into idols. Back then, Goudzwaard pointed out that the emerging idols were nationalism, prosperity, and security (There's much more to his argument, of course). Today, we might well add technology, connectivity, and personal autonomy. 

This Psalm begins with a reminder that must not be taken lightly: Oh God, you are my God. That confession ought to remind us to put away the idols and false Gods that keep us from relying on the one true God. Only God is real water for our thirsty souls (remember, Jesus is the Living Water). He satisfies us the way we wished that food could--how many people have you heard say after a large meal: "It will be days before I have to eat again." Yeah, right. 

Meditation

What are the Gods in your life? Do you count on friends, family, spouse, lover, food, technology, facebook, intelligence, beauty, common sense, p0rnography, friends in high places, high friends in low places, social networks, church membership, alcohol, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, or...or...or...the list goes ever on and on. Do you count on any of those things to soothe you and make everything okay? Anything--even a good thing--that gets between you and God is at risk of becoming an idol. 

Do you want God more than any of those things? Does your soul cry out to him? Can you read the words of this Psalm, and see far beyond the figures of speech, and recognize that longing in your own soul? 

This weekend, ask yourself this: Can you say "Oh, God, you are my God!"? Is your thirsty soul in the only place where it can find refreshment? Are you looking to Jesus Christ as your one, true, heart's desire? He is the wellspring of life itself--why would we look anywhere else?

 
Praying With This Psalm
You can pray scripture prayers for yourself or for others.

• Father God, let _________ say from the depths of their heart, Oh, God, you are my God.
  
  
• May ______ thirst for you, and may they never settle for the worthless idols that surround us and press in upon us.
  
  
• Almighty God, may ______ find them self satisfied with you. May they feast on you, and find contentment greater than their most memorable meal.
  
  
• Lord God, grant ______ your protection and your guidance. May they turn away from the things that so impress our society, and may they turn to you. Uphold ______ with your right hand.
  
  

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• John 6:48-59. Jesus Christ is real food and real drink...
  Lord, may _____ experience you as real food and real drink. The bread of heaven, the living water. May they feast on you through your Word, and find their satisfaction in you. 
  

• 2 Peter 1:3-4. His power, His glory...
  Lord Jesus, may your power call ______ into your glory and your excellence. May _____ know that you are sufficient for all we need for life and godliness.
   
• Revelation 19:7. The only time we exult in the whole New Testament...
  Lord Jesus, may _____ truly know you, and may they look forward to that Great Day when we will exult, rejoice, and give you glory--the day of the "Marriage of the Lamb" when all is fulfilled.
  
  

(Some Rights Reserved, CC-BY-NC, 2009). L. J. Sam Helgerson, PhD