Sunday Reflection – March 20, 2022

Psalm 63:1-8

“O God, you are my God, my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a barren and dry land where there is no water”(Ps 63:1). 

Thirst for most of us means being in need of a drink,  turning on the tap and letting it run to fill our glass to overflowing with a cool drink of water . The image the psalmist uses here of someone thirsting for God as in a barren and dry land however, speaks to the reality of many in our world, with no rivers or deep wells of water to draw from, the thirst is unquenchable, the tongue and mouth is dry and parched from having gone without water for an extreme length of time, unless you have had that experience you cannot know a thirst like that. The longing is palpable, unrelenting. 

This too is how the Psalmist describes the longing he has in his soul for God’s presence, it is so deep within him, so intense, that it is almost unbearable, as someone might be in pain.  Perhaps for some reason God has seemed far away, unable to be found.  As was felt in the time of the exile when God’s people felt God had forgotten them. 

In order that he might be comforted, find solace, the Psalmist seeks out God’s presence in the Holy Place, “therefore I have gazed upon you in the Holy place; that I might behold your power and your glory.” (v.2) As we ourselves in our own time of need, wanting to draw near to God,  we go to that place that helps us to do that, perhaps it is a place of worship, or out in nature, or some other place, or perhaps not a place at all, but just to be still in the moment and listen with our hearts for what speaks to us. I know for me a quiet walk in nature, surrounded by the beauty of creation, I often feel closest to God. 

The psalmist comes aside because as he says of God, “[his] loving kindness is better than life” (v.4). Even though he has felt God absent from him, still he knows that nothing, not even life itself, can measure up to the God he believes and trust in.  And so he will continually give him praise.

We are meant to praise our creator and give thanks to God, and whether we do that humbly on our knees or through acknowledging with praise and thanksgiving God’s presence as reflected in the beauty and wonder of his creation around us, or the image we see in the faces of those we meet.  It places us in God’s presence and He with us.  And in that there is contentment and peace to be found.

No God is not up there somewhere out of reach, but always close at hand and we are meant to come near, draw close to him.  “When I remember you upon my bed, the psalmist writes, “ and mediate on you in the night watches, for you have been my helper,  and under the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast”. (v.6-8)

The psalmist’s hope is in the Lord, because he has been his helper, he remembers what the Lord has done for him in the past, and for that he will continually praise him, give thanks, and trust in him always, for he knows that it is the Lord who will always hold him fast. 

And so too we should give thanks to our God, for it is in our remembrance and thanksgiving recalling the goodness of what God has done; that we know too our hope is in him, he is the God of our salvation, our Strength and our redeemer.

I hope you find some inspiration here when you stop by, and if you wish you can leave a comment when you do, or like and share my blog.  Take care all, God Bless.   

“My Soul Clings to you, your right hand holds me fast”. (Ps 63:8)