Thoughts from the Past – Lonely but Loved

Another post from my old blog.

Dec. 10, 2005
Lonely but Loved

Psalm 63
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3 ¶ Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 7 ¶ Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. 9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

This Psalm was written by David when he was hiding in the wilderness from Saul. He was an outcast of society, so to speak, and he was unable to worship God in the sanctuary because of this. He longed to see the power and glory of God as he was accustomed to see it there.

Yet, we see that he was not in fear for his spiritual safety nor did he live in terror because he was unable to visit the sanctuary. He knew God still loved him. He still praised God and blessed Him. He was still satisfied with God and joyful in Him. He did not forget the Lord and continued to meditate upon him.

As more and more of the Lord’s children are finding themselves “outside the camp” in these perilous times, this Psalm is very refreshing and encouraging. David, who was under the old covenant that required sacrifice at a physical tabernacle (sanctuary), still felt God's love and care. Though circumstances had kept him from obeying the commands to worship God at the tabernacle, yet he rested in the knowledge that he was still loved, and rejoiced that he could still worship even where he was.

Notice that he was following God out there in the wilderness. He still loved the Lord and thought upon Him. He had not gone out there because he wanted to, or to escape the worship or knowledge of God. He was there of necessity, and saw the hand of the Lord upholding him in that.

Let us take hope and comfort in these words. Rather than feeling guilty or angry, let us remember to rejoice in the Lord, to praise Him and to rest in His care and love for us even though we are "stuck" in the wilderness as it were. Though others may try to destroy our faith and our souls, yet by the grace of God they will not succeed, and their lies shall be stopped. There will always be Sauls who lie about us, and Nabals who believe the lies (1 Sam. 25), but God is bigger than their lies.

Like David we must follow hard after the Lord and take comfort in the knowledge that we are in His hand.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.