CLINGING TO CHRIST

"My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me." - Psalm 63:8

You are following God as close as you want to.  That statement may seem to be false.  Popular Bible teachers sell books, CDs and DVDs that are advertised to help believers get closer to God.  While some of these resources may be beneficial, the fact is that our closeness to God is not some "secret" that only a few preachers know. 

The phrase, "My soul followeth hard after thee," is really translated to mean, "I cling close to Thee."  The choice to cling close to God is a personal decision that each believer makes daily.  Why aren't believers clinging close to God?  I believe that the enticements of this world distract many from the One who matters most.

What is keeping you from clinging close to God?  God is certainly willing for you to be close to Him. 

I need to clarify something.  We do not cling to God in order to be saved or remain saved.  Instead, we cling close to God because we want Him.  We want His fellowship.  We long to enjoy His company. 

Our security is found in the last part of our text, "... thy right hand upholdeth me."  We cling to God because we want Him.  He holds on to us to protect us and help us.  We are not secure because we hold on to Him.  We are secure because He is holding on to us.

God invites us to come close to Him.  He wants us to abide in Him.  Don't be satisfied with a long-distance relationship with God.  He desires more.  You need more.  There is no long-term satisfaction found in any other place than Christ Himself.

Don't disgrace your Lord by choosing something of lesser value to embrace.  Don't dishonor God by clinging to anything less than Him. 

Like the Fanny Crosby hymn, we should say,

"Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died;

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side."

REJOICING IN THE SHADOW OF HIS WINGS

"Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice." - Psalm 63:7

My job often requires a lot of technical insight.  Numerous times I've been at a job site and encountered a problem I couldn't solve.  It is always good to know that I can call someone and get technical support. 

In life, I encounter many problems that I can't solve myself.  Unfortunately, there's not a technical support phone number I can call for many of my problems.  Yet I have found Someone I can call when I need help.  I am thankful that there is help available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  In humble prayer, I can call upon One who knows the problems I face --- and the solution to my problems.

In our text, David refers to God's help:  "... thou hast been my help..."  God has a great track record when it comes to providing help.  Saints through the ages have made it through the most difficult situations because of divine grace.  Often, I think it would be beneficial if we'd put everything on hold for a few minutes and simply remember the times God has come through for us in the past. 

Because of God's help, David writes, "... therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."  Figuratively, David refers to God's protection as being like a bird that protects her little ones by hiding them under her wings.  It is comforting to know that our Lord provides shelter and protection for His children. 

Do you recall your childhood days?  It was assuring to know that your parents were there to help and protect you.  Now as adults, we yearn for such peace.  The good news is that the help and protection we experience from our Lord is far greater than the safe haven we enjoyed at home when we were growing up.

God gives us help and protection from the storms we face.  God does not promise us a life void of storms.  However, He does provide us shelter from the storms.  God does not promise us freedom from pain, but He does provide us sufficient grace for the pain we experience.  

The source of our rejoicing is not found in peaceful circumstances, for many times our circumstances are difficult.  Instead, we rejoice because of the One who guides us through the difficulties and preserves us through our storms. 

Like David, we should say, "Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."

MEANINGFUL MEDITATION

"When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches." - Psalm 63:6

There are times I have problems going to sleep.  Sometimes it is due to stress.  I admit that sometimes I struggle going to sleep because of worry.  Yet there are times I lie awake for seemingly no reason at all.  Sleepless nights are most troubling when I know that I have to get up much earlier than usual the following morning.

I don't claim to have all the answers for insomnia.  Although I don't practice it as well as I'd like, my policy is to allow myself 30 minutes to go to sleep.  If I am not very sleepy after 30 minutes, I get up and read.  Usually I read from the Bible or a Christian book.

From our text, we learn that David would think about God while lying on his bed.  Apparently for him, sleepless nights were times of worship and reflection. 

First of all, David remembered God.  "... I remember thee upon my bed..." David's thoughts were not wasted on the cares of this world.  Instead, his thoughts were very noble.  He remembered God. 

Secondly, he meditated on God.  Meditation is more than a passing thought.  Meditation involves deep concentration.  David's meditation of God was a delightful time of contemplation and adoration.  What a way to go to sleep!

Notice that David meditated on God, "... in the night watches."  During the dark, lonely hours of the night, David found comfort while meditating about his Lord.

Let me confess something.  Most of the time, I get ready for church a few minutes early on Sunday mornings.  I sit in the recliner, lean back, close my eyes and think about the Lord.  In a short period of time, I find myself deep in sleep. 

This leads me to ask myself the question:  why don't I do that more often during those sleepless nights? 

Perhaps if I did, the sleepless nights would not remain sleepless.

A SATISFIED SOUL

"My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips." - Psalm 63:5

I love to eat.  I especially enjoy a great steak.  To me, there is nothing like savoring the flavor of a juicy steak.  It makes my mouth water to even think about it.

In our text, David writes, "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness."  Marrow and fatness refers to the tender, juicy part of meat.   What David is saying is that God satisfies his soul like tender, juicy meat satisfies his taste buds.  Think about that.  God satisfies the soul.  Complete satisfaction.  

Why don't we experience that kind of satisfaction with God?  When I was growing up, I'd come home from school, ready to eat.  However, we normally didn't eat supper until Dad got home (an hour or so later).  Mom would give us this warning:  don't eat any junk food.  Why was junk food forbidden close to suppertime?  If I ate a lot of potato chips before supper, it would ruin my appetite.  Eating junk food before a meal removes an appetite for better food.

Most believers do not have a hunger for God because they are eating too much worldly junk food.  When we have a daily intake of worldly junk food, our appetite for God and His Word suffers. 

Although potato chips are enjoyable, they don't compare to a juicy steak.  Yet if we eat enough potato chips before a steak dinner is served, we don't enjoy steak very much. 

The junk food of the world does not compare to the satisfaction found in our Lord.  Yet the junk food will keep us from enjoying Him as we should.  We need to change our spiritual diet.  We must remove worldly junk food so that the savor of our Lord may be enjoyed.

Finally, David writes, "... my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips."  In response to the satisfaction found in the Lord, David feels the need to put on a concert for the Lord.  His praise is directed toward an audience of One.   Notice that David promises to praise the Lord with "... my mouth..." David was neither shy nor timid concerning his faith.  Praise would often flow from his lips.

David promised to praise the Lord, "... with joyful lips."  David's praise will come from a heart full of joy.  Joyful lips would offer praise to his Lord.

When I enjoy a great meal, I have a desire to thank and praise the cook.  The spiritual meal that we enjoy at the Master's table should create a desire for us to praise Him for the bountiful provision we've enjoyed.

Our Lord satisfies the hungry.  Let us accept Isaiah's invitation:  "... harken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." (Isaiah 55:2)