Psalm 63:1,8

(A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.) 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; My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

In the last three days, our area has received the equivalent of over a month of rain. As you would assume, flooding and water damage have ensued. Golf courses were not immune. Most of the area courses now have at least three island greens with the other low lying greens being submerged. It might be a while before a golf ball is teed up. Inevitably, however, we will be told this summer that the water tables are low and are in need of the rain. We will then exclaim, “But it has rained all winter!”

Physical water is necessary for us, but it’s provision is only temporary. Notice verse one of Psalms 68 as David was being pursued by Saul. He finds himself in the Judean wilderness in desperate need of water. This area was a place of great refuge. It is suspected this wilderness area was where Jesus was tempted. Further, John the Baptist preached here and Herod the Great built two fortresses in the event the people revolted against him. The terrain is not the only reason this area provided great refuge. The lack of water didn’t tend to lend itself to a place for recreation to be enjoyed by the locals.

David had no doubt exerted himself greatly while being persecuted by Saul. He found himself without water in a deserted wilderness, yet notice what he desired. “My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; My soul followeth hard after thee.” Even though David was in desperate physical need, he desired God. He knew of the great provision made possible by Jehovah Jireh or “God the Provider.”

We should strive to walk even closer with God in times when our physical need is great. His close communion settles the mind of our earthly needs and desires when we focus on a spiritual closeness. Jeremiah Burroughs in his book “Rules For Our Walking With God” wrote that when we are afflicted we should pray, “it is not so much the deliverance from an affliction that my soul thirsts after, but O Lord! you know my soul thirsts after you.” Burroughs said it is then when “affliction is approached correctly for your sanctification.” We all have afflictions – either interval or external. We may be broken physically or have a spirit in need of a cleansing. Through Christ, we have a God who is able. When we are the most physically thirsty or spiritually starved, draw nearer to our Savior. He is not only present, but is reliably able!