A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

¹ 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.

² I have seen you in the sanctuary
    and beheld your power and your glory.
³ Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
⁵ I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

⁶ On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.
⁷ Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ I cling to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

David was fleeing terrible enemies when he penned these words. I imagine him crouching down in some shade from the heat of the wilderness sun and crying out to God. Why was his first cry to declare who his God is rather than complain to God because of the lack of water? Remarkably and wonderfully in this time of separation from all that he physically needed, he was most intent on his relationship with God. He had already learned, and was still learning, about the soul longing to be known (my God) and know God (my God).

Reflecting on this draws us to the final crucifixion scene in John 19:28-30 when Jesus was on the cross:

 ²⁸ Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

In all of the suffering of Christ, he must have experienced terrible physical thirst. Taking on the sin of the world and offering redemption for all humanity also caused terrible spiritual suffering. Our Savior—so human and so divine—did this for us. Is the Father, rather than water, what Jesus thirsted for on the cross?

Where is your thirst slaked?

Author: M. ReeAnn Hyde

Other Lenten readings for today:

Daniel 3:19-30

Revelation 2:8-11