"Oh God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you."
Psalm 63:1
Psalm 63:1
Earnestly. The Hebrew transliteration is shachar (shaw-hkar) which means to seek, seek early or earnestly, look early or diligently for. Diligent means constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything. Putting the meanings of these two words together we conclude that King David giving constant effort and is persistent is seeking the Lord. After walking with David from the hillside where he shepherd sheep to the throne where he ruled, I sense that he was not a man who earnestly sought God only in times of trouble.
David is once again in a bad way. He has been overthrown as King and by his own son. You could hear the conflict of emotions in this father/king's voice as he gave commands of attack but asked that his son not be harmed. He is held-up in another cave crying out to God.
Haven't we all been there? From one cave to another. From one canyon to another. From one chasm to another. There is no way to avoid the caves, canyons, and chasms of this world but what we do in between makes the time we spend in them more easy to bear. What we need to do is to make earnestly and diligently seeking the Lord a priority in our lives. I noticed the word early in the definition of earnestly. Early in the morning is when the manna comes, only enough for the day. Early in the morning is where His mercies are newest. In the morning is when rejoicing comes. The morning brings a word of His unfailing love.
I love Psalm 63 in The Message. Whether you are in cave, canyon, chasm, or at the top of the mountain, praise the Lord while reading this Psalm aloud.
Haven't we all been there? From one cave to another. From one canyon to another. From one chasm to another. There is no way to avoid the caves, canyons, and chasms of this world but what we do in between makes the time we spend in them more easy to bear. What we need to do is to make earnestly and diligently seeking the Lord a priority in our lives. I noticed the word early in the definition of earnestly. Early in the morning is when the manna comes, only enough for the day. Early in the morning is where His mercies are newest. In the morning is when rejoicing comes. The morning brings a word of His unfailing love.
I love Psalm 63 in The Message. Whether you are in cave, canyon, chasm, or at the top of the mountain, praise the Lord while reading this Psalm aloud.
God—you're my God! I can't get enough of you! I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God,
traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you.
I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy; I smack my lips. It's time to shout praises! If I'm sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection. Because you've always stood up for me, I'm free to run and play. I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post.
Those who are out to get me are marked for doom, marked for death, bound for hell.
They'll die violent deaths; jackals will tear them limb from limb. But the king is glad in God; his true friends spread the joy, While small-minded gossips are gagged for good.
12 Comments:
Wendy, Wonderful post this morning... Psalm 63 is one of my favorites! I love these verses; Beth Moore calls this chapter living a day in victory from morning until night. Oh, to be able to live all day long with success over the enemy!
Letting our LORD take control over our day from morning till evening.
Obeying our LORD from morning to evening. All day long, seeking God. Having Him on my mind throughout my day and listening for those sweet whispers.
Verse 1, O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you. Beth says that 'earnestly' means 'rising in immediate pursuit!' Opening our eyes in the morning, and immediately pursuing God! How awesome is that? To immediately, begin each morning pursuing God because we love Him and we want to walk with Him each day.
"I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night."
This is a chapter to keep in our hearts everyday; to live a victory from morning till night.
Loving each one of you sisters,
Lori - AZ
What a beautiful post Wendy. It reads like a Psalm itself. I want to join with the voices that chorus, "Lord, I can't get enough of You."
Today my thoughts rested on 2 Samuel 19:29-30, ""'You've said enough,' David replied. 'I've decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you.' 'Give him all of it,' Mephibosheth said. 'I am content just to have you safely back again, my lord the king!'"
Land surrendered for love.
Makes me wonder.
What would cause me to relinquish possession of 'land' for something greater?
Mephibosheth chose wisely. Relationship over resources. Restoration trumped resentment.
Our 'land' could represent numerous belongings that are keeping us from belonging.
Bitterness. Unforgiveness. Pride. Anger. Materialism. Position. Prestige.
Outwardly many appear to have it all. Their 'land' looks lush. Big home. Cottage by the sea. Vacations. Wealth. Appearance. Degrees. Health. Yet, the lawn that looks so lovely to the eye is covering mud, dirt and clay. Beneath the surface, behind the closed door of the heart, lonliness abides. Like Mephibosheth, they too would surrender it all for something they desire more. 'Land' again would be eagerly exchanged for love.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot
In this life there are many "I cannot keeps". Besides the obvious, when my life here has ended, I am also going to leave behind feelings, reactions, comparisons, worry, tears, hurt, disappointment and fear. All of these too will perish. Desires and dreams will be abandoned. Strivings will cease. There is something bigger. Someone bigger so worthy of the surrender of all else. He is more than willing to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day.
I leave you with two questions today that I am also pondering:
What 'land' do you/I need to release, and, what is worthy of such a surrender?
Love & hugs to you all,
Joy
I love Psalm 63 as well. I just watched a video by Beth Moore called "A Woman's Prayer Life" and she talks about this Psalm. In my morning quiet time I have been praying through this Psalm and am going to continue to do so for the next month. Thank you Wendy for posting The Message version. The different translations always help me see things in a new way and this one was so powerful!
I have a HUGE praise today and I want to thank all of you for praying for my husband John. I am going to be working in my son's Sunday school class once a month starting any time now and John told me this morning that he wants to start coming to church with us those Sundays I work in the class to help me. PTL! God is working and up to something big!!! Thank you all so much for your continued prayers. I am full of hope and anticipation of what God is doing in his heart and our family.
Praising the Lord and wishing you all a wonderful day,
Brandee
Oh Brandee, I could not be more joyful at the moment!!!!!!!!!!!
I just got back from my walk and I lifted the husbands up fervently in prayer asking God to open their hearts to prepare them for His gift of salvation! God is working in each one of them as we pray daily. He hears us! Thank you sister for sharing...I will continue praying.
Lori - AZ
Brandee, rejoicing with you.
"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3
Hugs,
Joy
That version of the Psalm was absolutely great! Wendy's points on early in the morning and all the good that awaits us made me think again of getting our hearts to wake up first...to wake up and seek and love God even before our feet hit that floor.
Mephibosheth befuddles me. Just yesterday he was gonna get grandpa's land back from David; now today he wants a good relationship with David instead...did he do some soul searching in between there? Interesting, very interesting.
I see in David a man that chooses love and forgiveness over just about everything. He IS a man after God's own heart.
Rainy in MN
Morgen
Brandee that is wonderful...God is working, and your hubby is just the first one...He is working behind the scenes in rest of their hearts. Wouldn't it be wonderful if ALL of these husbands were saved this year or rededicated their lives! We will keep praying. Don't underestimate the power of a praying wife(ves).
Jan TN
Brandee, that is great about your husband, prayer definitely works.
My husband actually ask me to pray for him the other day because he becomes so angry, I about dropped to the floor. But I stopped right that minute and prayed for him. It shows me that even though he doesn't show it, it really bothers him the way he behaves. A good sign.
Jan we are just believing that our husbands will be saved this year. I am reading "Believing God" by Beth Moore and I am really getting a lot from her that is helpful.
I will still be praying for the husbands too.
You girls have a beautiful day,
Debra Tx
Morning Ladies,
Brandee, I am just rejoicing with you as you can see the Lord work in your husband’s heart. It is always good to see what God is doing. Can you imagine what it going on that we don’t see? Dancing with you sister!
I love Psalm 63 the fact that I serve a God that feds me on the mountain tops and in the canyon’s. The picture of manna in the morning is such a wonderful illustration of a daily dose of filling up with His word.
I am sitting at a church right now that does an elderly ministry. A vital part of this is providing them a donation bread from local businesses. The seniors look forward and actually depend up this to get them through the week. As they leave with their bags full and smiles, it is a wonderful parallel of how we need to daily feast on His word.
Have a blessed day,
Diane
Oh Joy, you spoke my own thoughts beautifully. I also considered this a verse of "restoration". Mephibosheth lived in agony while separated from his king - when all is stripped away, you realize what really matters.
Until Mephibosheth could make restoration, he could not find peace. Reading this verse was like the quiet voice of Jesus responding, "I am content just to have you safely back again too, my child."
Brandee, praying your husband will find his way back... he's going in the right direction :)
Sounds like blessings abound this morning for many of you! Praise the Lord!
I am still in awe of David's ability to love unconditionally, forgive so completely, make decisions wisely and trust the Lord fully, allowing God to be in control, to guide, pass judgement and seek vengence. What our lives could be like if we were women after God's own heart as David's constant (in good times and bad) relationship with God! He knows who to seek first and continually.
I was also in jaw dropping awe and was inspired to see how unconditionally David "chose to love" his son Absalom (perhaps this kind of love is agape...God's love instead of a feeling kind of love, a love inspite of.)...and forgive those who had turned against him to follow Absalom and even appointed Amasa, Joab's cousin, as his commander of the army in Joab's place.
Joab's response to David's mourning of his son is so typically human isn't it? "2 Samuel 19:1-14 "Then Joab went to the king's room and said to him, "We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commaders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than before."
As we know David handled things quite differently. Perhaps David had forsight and wisdom to know that now that his son...the self-proclaimed King who had won the admiration, of the people that followed him, under false pretenses was now dead. What good would more bloodshed do of his own people at his hand? Seeking vengence would not bring his son back. Besides venegence belongs to God.
For the misguided people it must of been like, "Oh no, now what do we do we no longer have a king to follow...Then they finally remember who was King and how they were rescued from their enemies under King David's rule and that he still lives. Perhaps they should ask David back? I wonder if they were wondering how they should ask him back...it doesn't really say.
Because King David sent a message and wondered why they were the last ones to welcome him back. Almost as if nothing had happened...This is a day of celebration not one of execution. Lives were spared...David was King once again. Now that's mercy.
What a wonderful witness to the power of God continually working in ones life! Amazing, ladies, simply amazing.
Have a great day! May blessings continue to richly flow from Heaven's Storehouse upon us all!
Love from Debbie in Illinois
Such rich reading lately. Resolving conflict. Loving the Lord whole-heartedly. I love reading the life of David as it parallels to his Psalms.
Post a Comment
Home