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.

How good is a glass of water when you have been desperately thirsty? It is like a whole new world! Prior to that drink, the only thing you were thinking about was water. And after that cool, wonderful, clear liquid goes across the tongue and into the belly, our focus can be shifted to seeing the blue sky. Energy is restored. Panting can cease. We can go on.

David was hunkered down away from his enemies. In that desperate time, he remembered the thirst-quenching presence of God. The result was a full-throated song of praise for God and his provision. What were those provisions he articulated? Seeing God in worship, experiencing God’s love, finding satisfaction, and getting help. In fact, God is so full of these provisions for body and soul that David’s mind turned to God everywhere in every way. In the sanctuary, in the night, in his songs, he is  clinging to God and sensing God’s supportive hand. God is everywhere and available all the time. This produced singing.

Knowing that difficulties exist and that there is strife all around and ahead, what songs can you sing during this Lenten season?

Author: M. ReeAnn Hyde

Other Lenten readings for today:

Daniel 12:1-4

Revelation 3:1-6