Psalm 63: Beholding God in the Wilderness

This was originally shared by Bibianna at the Women of Grace event titled, "Bearing Burdens", which was held on 19 November 2022. Read more about the event here. 

Introduction

Imagine with me: Blue skies, with little shade. On hot days, you can feel the heat radiating from the ground and beating down on you. Sweat rolls down. When it pours, the rain traps you and there’s little shade to hide from the rain. Look around, and you don’t really see that many people.

I’ve never been to the desert, but this was my desert experience working in Tuas, the western part of Singapore. I was a research engineer who had to go to different sites in my previous job, and it exposed me to the natural elements. Fun times.

I’ve left that life behind (for now) and am glad to be with you today. As we planned for this, we wanted it to be an encouraging and refreshing time. I’m not sure where you are right now or what kind of a year you’ve had. Based on some of your prayer requests, I think there’s a helpful picture that we can borrow from the Bible – one of the wilderness. We see that in the psalm that we are going to read together, Psalm 63. It speaks of a wilderness in the literal sense, but also points to a spiritual need. God's Word is not foreign to the idea of wilderness. Think about how often God's people find themselves lost, struggling, helpless, etc. Everything from the Zarephath widow (1 Ki 17:7-16) to the woman with an issue of blood (Lk 8:43-48) to the grieving Mary at the tomb (John 20:11).

As we read Psalm 63, I hope that we’d be encouraged and see this big idea: When we’re in the wilderness, let us behold our God and hope in Christ.

We’ll take a look at the psalm under three sections and it’ll be helpful to keep your Bibles open. In this first section, we’ll camp out in verse 1 to see man’s need, our need.

Man’s need

David begins the psalm by speaking honestly about his emotions. But he is not just ranting or speaking about it just for the sake of speaking. David speaks specifically about his desire for God. He writes, “earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you”. It’s a vivid picture that we have here, with his whole being involved in this pursuit of God. He is not half-hearted about it too.

The picture of a dry and weary land adds to the emotions and our understanding. Living in Singapore, we know something of being thirsty in a hot place. But here, he takes the image and ramps it up — this land is dry and weary and has no water. The heat is oppressive. Being here is tiring and there is no solution in sight. He is in the wilderness, both literally and even emotionally. This is why David earnestly seeks God — because there is no way out!

Before we move on, let us remember that this was written in the wilderness. The psalter is a worship book, but the songs of worship span different circumstances and conditions. Worshiping and turning to God can take place in different circumstances — in both good times and bad. Spurgeon, commenting on this Psalm, said, “David did not leave off singing because he was in the wilderness, neither did he in slovenly idleness go on repeating Psalms intended for other occasions; but he carefully made his worship suitable to his circumstances, and presented to his God a wilderness hymn when he was in the wilderness. There was no desert in his heart, though there was a desert around him.”Does this describe our circumstances this morning? How is the land that we are living in a dry and weary one that is lacking in water? Many, if not all of us are probably wrestling with something this morning. We all know something of this wilderness experience, and the thirst and longing that David writes of here. Some of us may have heard this famous quote by Augustine, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”

Since sin entered the world in Genesis 3, our hearts have been perpetually rebellious and restless and we have sought to live apart from and away from God’s rule. Broadly, I think we can see the wilderness experience as us trying to live away from God. David here doesn’t seem to be living in outright rejection and disobedience of God. But today, friends, we need to ask ourselves if we are weary because we have chosen to reject God. Are you running away from Him?

Now, our disobedience and wilderness experience can come in way more subtler forms. We wonder if God’s ways are good and right, and if He knows best. We are always tempted to compare our lives with others and struggle with contentment. Have you been striving and aiming for the next milestone, but find yourself dissatisfied? We look to the next job, the next holiday, the next life stage. But when we arrive, we find that our hearts are still restless. We also live in a world that tells us that keeping young gives us hope. Beauty products, skincare treatment, fashion trends all distract us from the frailties of our bodies. 

For the single women in our midst, our world constantly tells us that we are not complete until we’ve found our One True Love – often in the form of a swoon worthy K-drama Male Lead. Or, it tells us that sexual fulfilment is what completes us so just get out there, date and try things when you’re young. Obeying God can seem like a huge sacrifice, one that requires us to miss out on things. This could be the struggle in your heart every time you see friends get attached, then engaged, then attend a wedding … alone. 

For those who are married, it could be trusting in God for children in His time, but the wait could be long and difficult. Those in our midst with children worry about what’s best for your children. But has wanting what’s best for your children become something that tires and wears you out?

Some of us in this room are also working mums. Our world seems to tell you that you need to have it all – you have to be good at work (to compete with the men) and also to be a good mum. Is your heart pulled by all these demands and wearied by all these attempts at building your identity and security? 

Some of us are older and perhaps, your children are grown, but the struggle is still real. Is the longing and thirst one that arises from a world that seems to be moving too fast, and leaves you lonely? Or maybe you have looked forward to retirement and are keeping yourself busy, but to what end? Are we constantly busy because we are trying to hide the ache in our hearts, the God-shaped hole that we have?

Whatever it is, the war in our hearts that we know too well, and life in our broken world constantly remind us that this world is very much a wilderness, and we are not yet home. We know that in Christ, our hearts are being made new. But those of us who have professed faith in Christ are still learning what it means to live under His rule and to find our rest in Christ alone.

Where do we really turn to in our thirst? We find ourselves tempted to turn to our own solutions. We are more like the people that God speaks of in Jeremiah 2:13, when He calls them out for committing two evils –”they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water”. We are thirsty and fainting, but tend to look for our own sources of water to quench our thirst. I’m the first to admit that this is my default. I’m a planner and as much as possible, I’d like to cover all bases. I blame it on my previous job in research, which required me to make and execute plans, and sometimes my plans have plans. But, I know, that that’s really just me. In my sinful state, I like to have control, or I feel like I need to make things work. It’s pride, it’s self-reliance, it’s also doubt that God knows or cares. On my phone, I’ve placed a note that says “Run to God, not to Google” to remind myself not to forsake God, and not to turn to my lame efforts to quench my thirst.

What about you today? Verse 1 confronts us with our need, and throughout the session, I hope we’ll have time to process and be honest before God later.

David doesn’t just tell us our problem. He goes on to show how we are to address it.

Behold our God

How does David respond in the midst of his suffering? He turns to God. That may not be surprising for us, but notice also the content of his cry to God. In Psalm 63:2, David says that he has looked upon God in the sanctuary and beheld His power and glory. In the wilderness and away from the people, David recalls his past experience of being in the sanctuary and looking upon God’s power and glory. He doesn’t jump straight to deliverance, or immediately focus on God who is our Deliverer and Help. Isn’t this interesting? Is this how we’d expect it to go? In his need and desperation, David focuses on God’s glory and remembers the God that he worshipped. Then, he sees that being in the presence of God and seeing His power and glory is soul-satisfying. Perhaps it’s also a reminder and lesson for us, that a misplaced understanding of God’s glory is the root of our problem.

I hope that we can spend some time to behold God’s power and glory this morning. Beholding is also a word that we may not use very commonly these days. We could be more acquainted with skimming and quick glances today. Beholding conveys a slow appreciation and a lingering look, one that also seeks to appreciate and enjoy the object/person being viewed. Beholding may not be easy in our fast-paced busy lives. How often this week did we take time to behold anything, much less God?

In this section, we’ll use the rest of the psalm to help us behold God as we pick out His nature and characteristics. As you’re following along, you can also keep a list of the God who is being written of here.

Firstly, we see that our God shows steadfast love that is better than life and worthy of all praise (Ps 63:3). In older versions of the Bible, steadfast love has been translated as “lovingkindness”. This is a beautiful phrase that expresses the tenderness of God and the goodness of His heart towards us – like Ruth receiving kindness from Boaz. Thus, David speaks of God’s covenantal love, promised and shown to generations of Abraham’s offspring. We read about it first in Genesis and by the time of David, he is acquainted with it. David says that this love is better than life and that his lips will praise Him, he will bless God his whole life and lift up his hands in God's name.

In Psalm 63:5-8, David reflects on his personal response to this God who is powerful and glorious. We can also use his response to learn something of God's nature. We’re going to work backwards here, beginning with Psalm 63:7 which clearly shows that God is David's help (a second characteristic). The phrase “Shadow of your wings” refers to a place of safety, and is also seen in Psalm 36:7, 57:1. It’s a picture of tender, personal protection. This is a God who intervenes and helps. He doesn’t stand afar to watch. Where does David sing for joy? As He is under God’s wings!

This past experience of God’s help forms the substance of his meditation in Psalm 63:6. He remembers God as he lies down and meditates on Him in the watches of the night. Remember that he is writing not in the comfort of his palace surrounded by friends and family. He is alone, exposed, vulnerable in the wilderness. In the darkness, left alone with his thoughts and perhaps, his fears, where does he turn to? To God who is his help. May this also be an encouragement to some of us! In the darkness of the night, when our fears can seem larger than life, may this verse encourage us to remember God and meditate on Him. As we do so, may He teach us more of His character.

As a result, David can say that his soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food and his mouth will praise Him with joyful lips (Ps 63:5). Isn’t this a wonderful picture, and a contrast to when we first started? Imagine being trapped in the wilderness, hungry and thirsty, and now, to be filled with fat and rich food. The circumstances still remain the same but what has changed? David cried out to God and also meditated and reflected on God’s nature and His past help. This filled his soul and lips with praise. Beholding God is satisfying!

Next, in Psalm 63:8 we also see that God is one that upholds David, even as his soul clings to Him. David’s past experience of God led him to continue to trust Him by faith, and with a sense of desperation. But notice how it’s not just about how tight David holds on. We see how God is also holding Him. I love this verse, because it’s incredibly practical and describes our relationship — He holds us fast as we cling to Him, solely. This is a practical way to live out what we have heard in Galatians about what it means to live by faith in Christ alone and have been joined to Christ! Galatians 2:20 is what Christians declare — “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” And we often sing this hymn that goes, “when I fear my faith will fail, He will hold me fast”. Are you weary and “trying your best” today? Take heart! As we continue to cling on to Christ by faith, remember this wonderful reality of being joined to Christ!

After 8 verses, we finally get a glimpse of what could have prompted this psalm in the first place (c.f. Ps 63:9-11). David finally writes about his circumstances. We see his confidence that God will be one that acts. There are two groups -- those that destroy his life and then there's the king and all who are following God. Those who are after David will be destroyed utterly. God is not mentioned outrightly but there is no doubt that God is the one behind this. In contrast, the king will rejoice in God. Those who swear by God shall exult and will not be put to shame! Finally the mouths of liars will be stopped.

In David’s immediate context, there were literally people that sought to destroy him and probably dethrone him as king. We may be tempted to think that our enemies means whoever our immediate rivals/opposition is like Rachel-Leah in Scripture. In one sense, we can entrust ourselves to God for that conflict not to abandon us. But in another sense that is too myopic. The ESV Study Bible explains how we can think and apply this. There are people hostile to God’s purposes, especially hostile to the house of David, and therefore, David’s heir Jesus. It goes on to say, “The confidence is that these people will fail in their goal of destroying God’s faithful”. What are our true enemies who delight in our suffering, really want us to lose our joy in Christ? Ultimately, the world, the flesh and the devil – our spiritual death is what we oppose.

Who is the God that is written about here, that is able to quench a thirsty, fainting, desperate soul?

He shows steadfast love that is better than life, and is worthy of all praise.

He is our help.

He upholds us and defeats our enemies.

Hope in Christ

How do we confidently pray this? Perhaps you are thinking that this was David’s experience — how can it be mine? As we journey through the wilderness of our life experience, how can we find rest for our soul?

Today, we know a fuller fulfillment of the words of this psalm in Jesus Christ. In Christ, we see the true fulfilment of God’s steadfast love, His lovingkindness. Titus writes about it in Titus 3:4-7—“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

God sent His own Son. Jesus is God’s Word made flesh to dwell among us. He came as the way, the truth and the life, to bring us back to the Father. As we look forward to the Christmas season, we are reminded that God’s love is not an abstract standard, Neither it is, as we have heard in Galatians, a law-based one, where we have to earn our way back to Him. We look upon Him, and behold His power and glory, displayed on the cross that reconciles sinners like us back to Him. God’s steadfast love is promised and fulfilled in Christ. God’s commitment to HIs people, His steadfast love and lovingkindness prompted to Paul to ask these in Romans 8:32-35:

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”

Jesus Christ too, comes as the king who rejoices in God. All who swear by Him shall exult. He has dealt decisively with His enemies — sin and death. As we’ve seen and alluded to it already earlier, who are our enemies whom God defeats? Our greatest enemy is certainly Satan, sin and death that arises as a result of sin! We echo Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:54b-56,

““Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Through this King, all the peoples who are under Him share in His victory. This is a corporate blessing. Though now we know only in part, one day, we will know it fully and completely, when He comes back again. Our wilderness experience today doesn’t define us entirely. We look forward to the Promised Land where we can dwell with God and behold Him without the hindrance of sin and find our true rest.

We sang this wonderful hymn just a while ago,

I hear the words of love,
I gaze upon the blood,
I see the mighty sacrifice,
and I have peace with God.

’Tis everlasting peace,
sure as Jehovah’s name;
’tis stable as His steadfast throne,
for evermore the same.

How apt it is. God’s word for us in Psalm 63 are words of love and calls us to remember that His love is steadfast and sure. While preparing this, I thought long and hard about how to also apply this Psalm in my life. I struggled especially with verse 3 – “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” The Spirit prompted me to admit that often, I believe that life is better. It showed in my envy and discontentment. I met a couple of old school friends recently, and while I was genuinely happy for them and their achievements, I found myself wanting their lives. They seemed to be living the single woman’s dream – confident, accomplished at work, financially stable, smart. I want that life! When I walked into this clothing store last Sunday after church, a fleeting thought came into my mind: I want to be young/pretty. I want that life! When I browse social media and friends on holiday, dating, engaged, getting married, having kids, having a cute dog – things that I may not have right now – I do say, I want that life.

Application for me, I think, begins with admitting my need and then earnestly turning to God in repentance. It looks like praying, “I believe, help my unbelief”, one of my favourite prayers! And now that I’ve admitted this to all of you, it means having you, my church family, challenge, encourage and remind me when I take my eyes away from beholding God.

What is heavy on your heart this morning? Do you know this God? Perhaps you’ve realised that you don’t, and have spent your life rejecting this God and trying to run away from His rule and salvation. If you’d like to chat about what trusting in Jesus by faith means, you’re in a great place to do so. Ask the friend that brought you or approach anyone here and we’d all love to chat about this. Don’t leave this place without asking your questions!

For those of us that have placed our faith in the finished work of Christ, we are probably wrestling and struggling with something or things this morning. Psalm 63 has shown us what it means to honestly admit our need but that’s not it. It also calls us to behold this God and run to Jesus with our burdens. We can be confident that His love is steadfast, sure and satisfying.

We close with the words of the hymn:

The clouds may go and come,
and storms may sweep my sky;
this blood-sealed friendship changes not,
the cross is ever nigh.

I change--He changes not;
the Christ can never die;
His love, not mine, the resting-place;
His truth, not mine, the tie.

My love is oftimes low,
my joy still ebbs and flows,
but peace with Him remains the same;
no change Jehovah knows.

What has Psalm 63 shown you about your need and your heart? How has it pointed you to God and Christ? What will it mean to apply this today?