Reading: Psalm 61-63

QUESTIONS

Chapter 61

  • How does David’s appeal to God in his distress inform your own approach to prayer during tough times? 
  • How can you seek to dwell in God’s presence daily, just as David expressed his desire to dwell in God’s tent?

Chapter 62

  • How can we practically “wait in silence” for God in our daily lives?
  • How can we guard our hearts against placing trust in wealth or power?

Chapter 63

  • What does David’s thirst for God mean to you? Have you ever felt a similar spiritual thirst?
  • How can we cultivate the same sense of spiritual satisfaction that David experiences in this Psalm?
DEVOTION

Psalm 58: A Plea for Just Rule

About ten years ago, I experienced a severe bout of anxiety that led to depression.  I found myself incapable of completing normal, everyday tasks and in desperate need of help.  This was one of the worst experiences of my life, and now I look back at that time and see that it was a huge growth spurt for my faith.  With Charles Dickens, I would say, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

God works like that. He brings us to the end of ourselves so that we can see Him more clearly and oh man, it’s so, so good to see Him more clearly! 

Psalm 61, 62 and 63 express David’s desperation, but more importantly, they show us where David goes and thus, where we can go when we feel desperate—”to the rock that is higher than I.” (61:2) We can run for “refuge under the shelter of God’s wings!” (61:4) “for He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress.” (62:2)

David also tells us why we can run to God, why we can put our confidence in Him: “my hope is from Him…On God rests my salvation and my glory.” (62:5,7) See my problem was and continues to be that I often place my hope and my glory in something other than God.  

Pastor David recently told me something that penetrated my heart and offered me a new perspective and a new way to evaluate life and where I’m placing my hope.  He said, “If it’s glory, you CAN’T lose it.” Think about that, take some time to consider what, besides God, you place your hope in and then pray Psalm 63 asking God to help you earnestly seek, thirst and faint for him alone. (63:1) Ask God to help you come to know with all your heart, mind and strength that his “steadfast love is better than life” and praise him because it’s true; his love is so, so good.

– Amber Stites