My soul thirsts for God

15 February 2009

Matthew 5:6

Read: Matthew 5:6; Psalm 42:1-8; Psalm 63:1-8

Introduction

In Scripture, prayer is sometimes described as a yearning or longing for God. In fact, this is one of the primary reasons for praying.

Augustine: ‘Our hearts are restless till they find their rest in You.’
C.S.Lewis: ‘I don’t pray to get answers. I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me, all the time waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God; it changes me.’
Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled (Matthew 5:6).
‘Open your mouth wide and I will fill it,’ (Psalm 81:10b) – note the word ‘wide’. Like a baby bird desperate for food.

Ironically, the more we are satisfied with God the more we feel a holy dissatisfaction; the more he fulfils our longing, the more we long for him. Compare a loving marriage relationship. So the more we pray, the more we sense the need to pray.

Psalm 42

Eleven psalms were written by the sons of Korah, including this one (42-49, 84-85, 87-88). The patriarch of the tribe was judged for his rebellion against God, but his descendants did not die out (Numbers 16: 26:10-11). They were later numbered among David’s highly-skilled warriors (1 Chronicles 12:1-6). When Jehoshaphat faced his enemies, the sons of Korah were among those who led the people in worship (2 Chron 20:18-19). They were now renowned musicians.

These psalms are expressions from the heart, although they do seem to be carefully put together in a Hebrew poetic structure.

‘As the deer…’ (42:1)

The country between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea is harsh desert land, very rocky, with limited water supplies. Deer, gazelles and other animals live high on the cliffs and ledges and come down for water only when necessary.

Here David describes a deer, thirsty after the heat of the day, longing for water. So he, too, yearns for God.

‘longs’ (AV, RSV, GNB, JB)
‘pants’ (ESV, NIV, NASB, LB)

The primary meaning of the verb is to incline, slant or bend, as if reaching for water.

See also the phrase ‘pour out my soul’ (42:4)

This is the fundamental nature of prayer – yearning, longing, even panting for God.

Two questions

‘Where is your God?’ The answer is to remember what the Lord has done (4)
‘Why are you downcast?’ The answer is to hope in God and to praise him (5, 11)

Day and night

The high point of the psalm is in verse 8 –

The Lord’s love is with him by day
The Lord’s song is with him by night

Day and night he is in God’s care.

Psalm 63

David wrote this when he was in the desert, fleeing from his son Absalom, who had rebelled against him. See 2 Samuel chapters 15 and 16.

Thirst

He is in the desert where there is a longing for water but his longing for God is even greater (63:1) Note: he is actually IN a desert land, not ‘as in…’ as rendered by some versions.

The world is like a desert – e.g. the opening line of Pilgrim’s Progress – ‘As I was walking in the wilderness of this world…’
Story of pilgrim group in 1986 in the Sinai desert near St Catherine’s monastery, where after dark a huge vat of hot, sweet tea was served up and people consumed several cups.
Or of myself as a young man ‘rock hunting’ in the Outback with my father and growing increasingly parched knowing there was a can of cold Coke in the car but not being able to open it for hours.
In this psalm there is a passion for seeking after God – a longing, a thirst for God.
‘Earnestly’ (NIV) = literally ‘early’ or ‘at dawn’. Prayer is a priority. Also, as in the desert, the best time to ‘drink’.

In the sanctuary

The Psalmist has seen God in the sanctuary (2).

Sanctuary = the holy place in the temple. Either the human body (1 Cor 6:19-20) or the local church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). In both places today we experience the presence of God.

Love is better than life (3)

The love of God is better than life itself (3). So he will praise the Lord. Results –

His soul is satisfied (5) – his longing is met.
The Lord is his help (7) – he has no need to fear his enemies
His cause is vindicated (9-11) – he knows he is in right standing with God
Therefore he sings and rejoices (7, 11).

Challenge

How earnestly do we approach God? How much do we long for him? Or are we just indifferent?

We need the Holy Spirit to help us (Romans 8:26). Then we can pray in the spirit and enjoy more of the fullness of God in our lives. The Spirit’s role is to glorify Jesus so that Christ becomes more real to us every day.

Something to think or talk about

Remember, you don’t have to answer all the questions. Choose those that seem most relevant to you.

Read Psalm 42; Psalm 63

Biblical
1. What can you find out about the habits of deer in biblical times? (42:1)
2. What do we learn about Old Testament worship practices from 42:4? (See also Psalm 122:1-4; 149:1-9; 150:1-6; Nehemiah 8:1-12).
3. Why do you think the psalmist specifically calls God the ‘living’ God (42:2).
4. What worship and prayer practices did David use? (63:2,3,4,5,6,7,11)
5. What part did music play in David’s life? (42:8; 63:5, 7).

Personal and practical
6. On a scale of 1 (little) to ten (much), how would you describe your personal sense of longing for God? (42:1; 63:1)
7. What everyday things in life might you long for rather than God? Identify them and consider why they attract you. What can you do to get them in perspective?
8. How do your worship and prayer practices compare with David’s? (see Q.5) What do you do that he didn’t do and vice versa? Could you or should you make any changes?
9. When you are feeling ‘downcast’, how can 42:5 and 42:11 help you?
Prayer
The Holy Spirit is given to us to help us in our weaknesses (Romans 8:26-27). Ask God to fill you with the Spirit and to help you to pray in the Spirit (Eph 6:18)..

Christian Life