David starts with a clear statement of Who he is straining towards with his spiritual will:
"You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water."
We all know what physical hunger and thirst is. But David is obviously acutely aware of his spiritual hunger. Do we recognise this in ourselves and/or even experience it in any form at all? Is it only those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good who want more of Him? Is there any lukewarm part of us that could be awakened like this? If so, we ought to realise that outright hunger might be the result because apparently God does not always extend his presence.
"I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you."
We know that things changed when a) the curtain was torn in two b) Jesus rose again and c) the Holy Spirit filled the believers. Prior to this, the temple was a material boundary for God's presence in some sense; the temple presence now more fully realised in the church. David was filled with the Holy spirit at times but this was a time of longing for the temple, knowing that there he would be sure of a glimpse of God's glory. (Can we cope with anything than a glimpse in this mortal state?) Before we ask for glimpse of God's glory, we should pause. To see it will change us. It might be uncomfortable. This is serious. Things will never be the same again. Let's do it, though. You'll be in a desert some day, like David, wishing you were back there.
"I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands."
Not being in the temple and not being in that kind of glory doesn't stop David from praising God. If my heart were passing through some temporary process that leads to less or no tangible 'spiritual' peace, would I praise God less or lean into the desert and seek him with my full 'desert' heart?
"I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."
Can you put into words the best times you have had with God? By definition, a 'peace beyond understanding' can't be fully rendered into language but the physical analogy is a place to start. As with food, the yearning, the lack, the scarcity, the fear, the food Envy, examining portions and wishing for abundance.... (Or cars or jobs or money)... the craving all ends when we are blessed with God's fullness. What else is worth that much?
"On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings."
Whatever the reason the King was not sleeping, he turned it to his spiritual benefit. Material darkness and insomnia was no reason not to look to God. With all the danger to his life and murderous enemies, David knew God had his back and God's sovereignty was a kind of ultimate guarantee.
"I cling to you; your right hand upholds me."
When darkness, enemies and hunger are on us, the most rational response (as believers) is to lean into God. We didn't create ourselves or endow ourselves with faculties. Even if we genuinely face the end or prolonged material hardship, our faith can be the pathway to facing it without ultimate despair.
"Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals."
David was God's anointed king and an important part of Jesus' lineage. Opposing him was a very poor decision and tantamount to opposing God in some ways. As God's ambassadors now we move forward in His name. When on his business, the ends he has determined for our humble actions cannot be thwarted. Ultimately, opposing God in a final sense (or His King or ambassador) is a sign of being lost and will result in destruction, loss and alienation from God. A greater loss than any other.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
Jesus obviously understands true spiritual hunger: he describes Himself as the bread of life. It is a great blessing to recognise that without regular fellowship with God, we gradually pass into malnourishment. Our part is not allowing this to happen. But there are no guarantees of unbroken spiritual bliss this side of heaven; sometimes we eat the dread emptiness of not knowing where the Lord has gone and, like David, we need to lean into it. May we know the bread of life today in our hearts. May peace and fellowship with the Saviour be manifest. And if we don't feel it, let's do it anyway.
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