When David was in the wilderness of Judah, he exclaimed, “God, You are my God; I shall be watching for You; My soul thirsts for You” (Ps. 63:1). The Lord seemed distant, and David longed for His presence. Then, in verse 2, he reminisced about times that he saw God’s glory in His sanctuary, when the Lord seemed more accessible. This contrast captures a common human predicament: We often don’t appreciate things going well until they’re gone. But in the wilderness, we quickly wither and recognize how urgently we yearn for the Lord. Many times, sadly, it’s not until we experience deep thirst that we’re able to taste the goodness of Jesus’ living water. (See John 7:37-38.)
The trouble is that it might take years to realize we are in a wilderness. Then, because of our desperation, every new mud puddle glistens with glorious possibilities like a mirage, and we plunge in, convinced that we’ve finally found something fulfilling. But only the water Jesus gives truly quenches thirst and promises eternal life (John 4:13-14).
That’s why we must remain sensitive to our Savior’s guidance through the barren land. He promises, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8). When we heed God’s call, we exclaim along with David, “My soul waits in silence for God alone; from Him comes my salvation” (Ps. 62:1).
Bible in One Year: Psalm 60-66