Introduction
Some of the commentators suggest that this psalm is another lamentation. A lamentation — I’ve been saying — is a psalm in which the psalmist cries to the Lord for help because of the trouble he’s in. And certainly the psalmist is in trouble. We know that from the title, which tells us that the psalm is associated with a time when David was in a desert. The title could be referring to the time when he was on the run from Saul. Or it could be referring to the time when he was on the run because of his son, Absalom, who conspired against him. That’s perhaps more likely because he seems to be referring to himself when he mentions the king in verse 11. When he was on the run from Saul, he wasn’t yet the king of Israel. But when he was on the run from Absalom, he was the king. And so, it’s likely that this psalm is associated with that time in his life. His life is in danger and he’s on the run.
However, in a lamentation, the psalmist normally cries to the Lord for help because of the trouble he’s in. And in this psalm, there’s no cry for help. He’s not appealing to the Lord to save him. So, he’s in trouble, but instead of crying to the Lord for help, he’s thinking about the Lord. On his bed at night, he remembers the Lord. He thinks about God’s steadfast love. He thinks about the way the Lord protects him. He thinks about the way the Lord upholds him. And having remembered the Lord, the psalmist ends with praise, because he believes the Lord will deal with his enemies and will save him.
When I preached for the very first time, I preached on this passage. And even though it was around 30 years ago, I remembering highlighting David’s change in perspective. Sometimes, when we’re in trouble, all we can think about are our problems and the things we’re facing. And we’re overwhelmed with dread and unease and worries and fears. And at times like that we need to turn our attention away from our problems and focus our thoughts on the Lord. We need to remember him and his steadfast love and faithfulness.
Verses 1 and 2
In verses 1 and 2, David conveys to us his longing for the Lord which he likens to a thirst. There wasn’t much water to drink when he was in the desert, fleeing from his enemies. No doubt, then, he was suffering from physical thirst. But while he may have longed for a drink, what he really longed for was for the Lord his God. And in verse 2, he remembers the times when he used to go up to the sanctuary to worship the Lord. And there, in the presence of the Lord, in his sanctuary, David beheld the Lord’s power and glory. So, he thinks back to those days, when he could go up to the sanctuary to worship the Lord. But now, he’s cut off from the sanctuary, because he’s far away from Jerusalem and he’s in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
When I was reading some of the commentaries this week, it was funny to read the way the commentators were trying to think of parallels in the modern world: times when believers have been unable to go to church to worship the Lord with his people. And the commentators struggled to think of reasons why modern believers might not be able to attend church. If someone lives in a country where there’s persecution, they might not be able to attend. Or if someone is ill or elderly, they might not be able to attend. But after that, they couldn’t think of reasons why believers wouldn’t be able to go to church. Clearly the commentators were writing before Covid-19, because now we all know what it’s like to be unable to attend church. During lockdown, we could remember going to church and what it was like. But we weren’t able to go to church.
Verses 3 to 8
However, even though David was cut off from the sanctuary, he wasn’t cut off from the Lord. And in verses 3 to 8 he remembers the Lord. He mentions God’s love in verse 3. Once again, this is God’s covenant love, his steadfast love, his never-ending love for his people. And you see, there was no need for David to feel abandoned by God, because God has promised to love his people with an unfailing love.
David says that God’s love is better than life. By comparing God’s love to life, he’s conveying to us how important God’s covenant love is to him. And as he thinks about God’s covenant love he begins to glorify God and to praise him. He vows to praise the Lord for as long as he lives; and he vows that he will lift up his hands to the Lord. In those days, people lifted their hands when praising God. And so, once again he’s vowing that he will praise the Lord.
And even though he’s in a dry and weary land where there’s no water, and where there’s probably nothing much to eat, his soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods. Think of how we feel content and happy and satisfied after a great meal. Well, that’s how David felt, even though he’s stuck in this wilderness. He feels content and happy and satisfied, because he’s been thinking about the Lord and the Lord’s steadfast love for his people.
Some of the commentators quote the words of Augustine who said that the Lord has made us for himself and our heart is restless until it find its rest in him. We were made to glorify the Lord and the only way to find peace and satisfaction and meaning is by doing what we were made to do, which is to glorify the Lord who made us. Those who don’t believe will try to find satisfaction in other things; and they will fill their lives will all manner of substitutes. But since we were made for God, then they will never find satisfaction or peace or meaning, until they turn to their Maker and worship him alone.
And so, here’s David, out in a dry and weary land where there is no water. He has nothing. And yet he’s satisfied, because even in that wilderness he’s able to do what he was made to do, which is to praise the Lord his God.
And so, according to verse 6, he remembered the Lord while he lay on his bed. And through the watches of the night, instead of thinking about his problems, and his worries and fears, he thought about the Lord, who is his helper. He refers to the shadow of God’s wings. And so, we’re to think of the way a hen will gather her chicks under her wings. And the chicks are safe, aren’t they? Well, the Lord gathers his people under his loving arms. And David then thinks of a mother and baby, and how the baby clings to his mother and the mother wraps her arms under the child to carry him. Well, David was clinging to the Lord by faith and the Lord was upholding him.
Even though David has had to flee for his life and he’s now living in this dry and weary land, where there is no water, he’s content and he’s satisfied and he’s at peace, because instead of dwelling on his problems, he’s been thinking about the Lord his God, who has bound himself to his people with a promise to love them and to care for them always. And so, there’s no reason for David to be afraid, because he can count on the Lord, just as you and I can always count on the Lord.
Verses 9 to 11
And then, in verses 9 to 11, David anticipates how the Lord will deal with his enemies. Those who seek David’s life will themselves be destroyed. Those who want to bring him down will themselves go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and will become the food for jackals. In other words, they will die in the wilderness with no one to bury them.
On the other hand, the king — and David is referring to himself — the king will rejoice in God; and all who swear by God’s name will praise the Lord. He’s anticipating the time when he and his people will rejoice because of the victory God has won for them. God’s people will open their mouths to praise the Lord, whereas the mouths of liars will be silenced.
So, he’s anticipating victory for the king and all of God’s people and death and destruction for their enemies.
Application
And, we know, of course, that the day is coming when Christ the King will come to earth with glory and in power to judge the world and to destroy his enemies and to bring his people to our eternal home to be with him for ever and for ever in glory.
And while we go on living on the earth, we know that we too can count on the Lord and on his steadfast love, because he has promised to be our God and to help us. Just as a hen watches over her chicks, so he watches over his people. Just as a mother carries his child, so he will carry his people. And so, no matter what troubles you face, no matter what trials you have to endure, no matter what fears and worries you have, you can do as David did, and you can turn your attention away from your troubles and onto the Lord your God, who has promised to love you with a never-ending love. And at night, instead of thinking about the things that worry you, you can think about the Lord your God, who has promised never to leave you or forsake you.
And we know that we can count on the Lord, because even though we’re sinners, who deserve to be shut out of his presence forever, Jesus Christ our Saviour has made peace between God and us. He is the only Mediator between God and his people and he has made a lasting peace between us by obeying the Lord on our behalf and by dying to pay for our sins with his life. Though he is God the Son, and lived in the true sanctuary which is heaven itself, he was prepared to leave the true sanctuary and to go from the presence of his Heavenly Father. And while he was on the earth, he suffered hunger and thirst and he was pursued by enemies who hated him and who wanted to kill him. And on the cross, he was for a time forsaken by his Father in heaven. He was forsaken so that you and I would never be forsaken by God, but reconciled to him for ever. And so, because of Christ our Saviour, we have peace with God and we know we can always go to him for help and strength and for all that we need. We can go to him, because of Christ our Saviour, the only Mediator between God and sinners.
And so, it’s little wonder that all those years ago the angel announced to the shepherds good news of great joy. Here is good news of great joy: the Saviour has come who would give up his life in order to bring you to God. And so, because of Christ, God has promised never to leave you. And because of Christ, God has promised to bring you into his presence to behold his power and glory for ever and for ever in the life to come.
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