THIRSTING FOR GOD’S PRESENCE
Passage: Psalm 63:1~11  
Key verse: 1
Psalm 63[a]A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.
1 You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,(A)
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.(B)
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary(C)
and beheld your power and your glory.(D)
3 Because your love is better than life,(E)
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,(F)
and in your name I will lift up my hands.(G)
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;(H)
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.(I)
7 Because you are my help,(J)
I sing in the shadow of your wings.(K)
8 I cling to you;(L)
your right hand upholds me.(M)
1 You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,(A)
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.(B)
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary(C)
and beheld your power and your glory.(D)
3 Because your love is better than life,(E)
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,(F)
and in your name I will lift up my hands.(G)
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;(H)
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.(I)
7 Because you are my help,(J)
I sing in the shadow of your wings.(K)
8 I cling to you;(L)
your right hand upholds me.(M)
Footnotes
- Psalm 63:1 In Hebrew texts 63:1-11 is numbered 63:2-12.
Cross references
- Psalm 63:1 : Ps 42:2; 84:2
- Psalm 63:1 : Ps 143:6
- Psalm 63:2 : S Ps 15:1; 27:4; 68:24
- Psalm 63:2 : S Ex 16:7
- Psalm 63:3 : Ps 36:7; 69:16; 106:45; 109:21
- Psalm 63:4 : Ps 104:33; 146:2; Isa 38:20
- Psalm 63:4 : S Ps 28:2; 1Ti 2:8
- Psalm 63:5 : S Ps 36:8; Mt 5:6
- Psalm 63:6 : Dt 6:4-9; Ps 16:7; 119:148; Mt 14:25
- Psalm 63:7 : Ps 27:9; 118:7
- Psalm 63:7 : S Ru 2:12
- Psalm 63:8 : S Nu 32:12; Hos 6:3
- Psalm 63:8 : S Ps 41:12
- Psalm 63:9 : Ps 40:14
- Psalm 63:9 : Ps 55:15; 71:20; 95:4; 139:15
- Psalm 63:10 : Jer 18:21; Eze 35:5; Am 1:11
- Psalm 63:10 : La 5:18
- Psalm 63:11 : Ps 21:1; Isa 19:18; 45:23; 65:16
- Psalm 63:11 : S Job 5:16; Ro 3:19
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
When David was in the desert experiencing physical thirst, it reminded him of his even deeper spiritual thirst for God’s presence, and he cried out for his personal God. This world polluted by sin can feel like a desert where we grow tired and weary and cannot find true satisfaction. We should remember that our life is meant to be a pilgrimage to God’s presence. When we catch even a glimpse of his power and glory, we realize we want nothing else. To praise him becomes our joy (2-4). Only God in his truth and love can satisfy us fully (5).
At the end of a busy day, we can reconnect to God by meditating on his goodness (6). It is like stepping out of the world for a moment, and we regain our perspective. We can cling closely to God through faith and prayer and find his strength is always sufficient to uphold us (8). When David relied on God to be his help, he could confidently rejoice even though he had many enemies.
Prayer: Father, thank you for planting a thirst for your presence in our hearts. I will seek you earnestly and be fully satisfied with your goodness.
One Word: My soul thirsts for God
At the end of a busy day, we can reconnect to God by meditating on his goodness (6). It is like stepping out of the world for a moment, and we regain our perspective. We can cling closely to God through faith and prayer and find his strength is always sufficient to uphold us (8). When David relied on God to be his help, he could confidently rejoice even though he had many enemies.
Prayer: Father, thank you for planting a thirst for your presence in our hearts. I will seek you earnestly and be fully satisfied with your goodness.
One Word: My soul thirsts for God