RR Psalm 63:1,2 Part 1

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Psalm 63:1 A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 2 O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.

For the third Psalm in a row (61,62,63) David is a king who is weary and seeking shelter.  David’s life was filled with trauma, some of it he produced, but most of it was put upon him by others.  The trauma he is addressing in these three Psalms is when his son, Absalom, led a rebellion to usurp his father’s throne and take over the kingdom.  It almost worked,… but God.

The story is told in Scripture, 2Samuel 13-19.  It is a long story which ends with David grieving over his son’s death (that he tried to prevent).  As we begin Psalm 63, David is focused intently upon God… “earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You.”  David is “seeking” God spiritually, “thirsting” for God in his soul, and “longing” for God in his flesh.  Sounds like he is pursuing God, body soul and spirit.  David is “all in” and we should be too.

This makes me think of one of my favorite Scriptures.  Psalm 84:2 How lovely are Your tabernacles, Adonai-Tzva’ot! 3 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of Adonai. My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. 4b …Adonai-Tzva’ot—my King and my God!

What does it mean that all this is taking place in a desert, described as, Psalm 63:2b …a dry and weary land, where there is no water?  Water is necessary for (almost all) life.  No water, (almost) no life.  Rabbi’s Note: For centuries it was believed that water was necessary to sustain life.  The latest research indicates this may not be altogether true, yet, at the same time, the chemical reactions required for life are certainly easier in the presence of water.  End RN.  

Not only do we need water to live, Yeshua promises us an abundance… John 7:38 “Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture says, ‘out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”  Moreover, the greater reality of our life is our life in the spirit.  John 7:39 Now He said this about the Ruach, whom those who trusted in Him were going to receive; for the Ruach was not yet given, since Yeshua was not yet glorified.

Call out to God in agreement with David, “We need You, Lord!”  So, we close with this… Isaiah 55:6 Seek Adonai while He may be found, call on Him while He is near.  Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri       4 Sep 2026                 22nd of Elul, 5786
De 31:14-19         Nah 1-2          2 Ch 18           Rev 2:18-29   (Ac 12)