Psalm 63:1, “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;”
Looking back on my childhood, I remember vividly sitting down to supper many evenings with my family. My mom is a great cook and she would make sure we all had plenty to eat. Sometimes my mama would fix a certain dish that would not be completely eaten at supper time. Mama would put up these leftovers to be eaten later when the options for food were less. If I could ask the reader to consider this illustration while reading the verse previously cited. Seeking the Lord was not David’s leftovers, but the first thing he thought on and did each day. Please consider how David sought the Lord:
(1) In His sanctuary (Ps 63:2)! David understood that there was a place where the Lord would meet with His people. David longed to see the Lord’s “power” and “glory” manifested there. It was also a place where David would learn more about God’s covenant love for His people and God’s unchangeable promises (63:3, “lovingkindness”). There is such a place today, it is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are to seek God, His house is a great place to start.
(2) In his (David’s) prayers and meditations (Ps 63:4-6)! When we read in vs 4 “I will lift up my hands”, it is nearly synonymous with prayer. Please notice Psalms 141:2, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Also notice 1 Timothy 2:8, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” David was a man who understood the meaning of prayer. Many nights he must have sought God in the “night watches” when Saul of Kish would hound him through the wilderness of this world. Many days he must have called on the Lord for help.
(3) In his (David’s) past days of life (Ps 63:7, “thou hast been my help”)! I’m sure there were many times in David’s experience on this earth when he would think back and seek to be refreshed by the times of fellowship he enjoyed with the Lord. Those times are memorials in the life of a child of grace; times when he/she can look back on and say, “Lord you were right there with me.” What a precious encouragement it is for a child of grace to think back and meditate on the times when God was your “help”.
In closing, I would ask the reader to pay close attention to verse 11 in Psalms 63. David said, “every one that sweareth by him shall glory:…” David declares that every person who promises to obey God shall be happy in Him, but the mouths of liars will soon be stopped (my words). David understood that seeking the Lord “early”, or first in your life, was living in obedience to Him. Psalms 63 was more than likely penned by David after he spoke to Abiathar in 1 Samuel 22:21-23. David felt the weight of guilt for what Doeg the Edomite had done to Abiathar’s father and the others in Nob (1 Sam 22:22, “I have occasioned”). Yet, David encouraged Abiathar, and himself, as well as all who read these words, that they who seek the Lord and live to please Him will see happy days, but the laughing and boasting of those who do wickedly will soon end (Doeg and Saul of Kish). Just another way the Bible teaches us to put the Lord first in our lives and we will not be disappointed. Amen!