A Satisfied Soul Sings and Clings

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A Satisfied Soul Sings and Clings

July 2, 2023 • Psalm 63

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It's details that we sometimes miss. The note at the top of Psalm 63 provides what is needed to understand

the circumstances surrounding this beautiful Psalm. King David was a fugitive from his own land and was

forced to flee into the wilderness because of the treachery of his third son, Absalom. The rebellion against his

father stemmed from a complex web of resentment, ambition, and familial conflict. He cunningly won the

hearts of the Israelites, declared himself king, and even publicly slept with David's concubines in a show of

power. This audacious uprising led to a civil war, where Absalom's forces were ultimately defeated.

David uses the metaphor of a parched body's desperate need for water to illustrate his yearning to feel the

presence of God. His sorrow stems not from threats to his political standing or life but from his involuntary

estrangement from the sanctuary where God is revered. Being away from the Lord's temple is like traversing a

barren, arid land devoid of water (Ps. 63:1). David's "soul thirsting" and his "flesh fainting" for God signifies

his profound longing for a spiritual connection with the Lord. During this difficult time, David faced the

possibility of losing his kingship, reputation, and even his life. Rather than complain, he turned to God and

found joy in knowing that the Lord was all he needed for a fulfilling life. David prayed to seek God's guidance,

found contentment, and resolved to cling to the Lord's steadfast love, which he believed was better than life

itself (Ps. 63:3). A SATISFIED SOUL SINGS AND CLINGS.

Outline:

Fainting flesh needs a faith that will cry out (v. 1a).

God sometimes uses the wilderness to wean us from worldliness (v. 1b).

Love draws the line between worship and idolatry (v. 2-4).

A satisfied soul cannot be silent; it has to sing (v. 5-7).

A soul that clings to God knows whose grip to trust (v. 8).

Salvation is settled by what the soul seeks (vv. 9-11).

Application:

Are you suffering in a dry and weary land?

What is your soul clinging to, and whose grip are you trusting?

Is salvation settled for you?

Questions:

Do you long for God? How strong is your desire for him currently?

How does God use trials in the wilderness to turn our hearts toward him?

Why do our hearts struggle with loving the gifts rather than the giver?

What means of grace are available to help our souls cling to God?

Why is it important to remember who is holding us?

Praise the Lord // Psalm 150

August 6, 2023 • Psalm 150

Psalm 23 // The LORD Is My Shepherd

July 23, 2023 • James Allison • Psalm 23

Sheep are one of the only animals that can’t really take care of themselves. All of the dirt, grime, and dust naturally gets absorbed into their wool, and they need someone to clean them. Left to themselves, sheep would wander off into the wilderness and die. They need a someone to guide them. A sheep can't really protect itself, and it can't really provide for itself. Sheep need a shepherd. Isaiah 53:6a says, we all like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way. This is the human condition. We, like sheep, wander off on our own path leaning on our own understanding - trusting in something other than the Good Shepherd to save, sustain, and satisfy. Psalm 23 is King David's deeply personal testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness throughout his life. As a Shepherd King, David knew what it meant to say of his creator “The LORD is my Shepherd”

Psalm 32 // The Forgiveness of God

July 16, 2023 • James Moseley • Psalm 32

When it comes to understanding who God is, we often make the mistake of viewing God based on how we view ourselves. We all have faults and areas where we have come up short, and if we are not careful, we end up with a view of God that looks a lot like us. When this happens, it affects the way we relate with Him. This is seen in a big way when it comes to God’s forgiveness. The way you and I forgive is very different from God’s Forgiveness. Some of us may struggle in our relationship with God because we have defined God’s forgiveness based on who we are instead of who He is! Today we carry around the weight of our guilt and shame as believers, and this is not the life Jesus speaks of when He invites us into a relationship with him. In Psalm 32, we see that David has had his joy restored for his year of carrying around the guilt and shame from his sins. David experienced the forgiveness of God! He starts by showing us what comes with God’s Forgiveness. From here, he opens our eyes to what conviction looks like in the life of a Jesus Follower, followed by how we can experience this forgiveness in our own life that only comes through Him! HE FORGIVENESS OF GOD Psalms 32: 1-5 ESV 1. WHAT IS FORGIVENESS? A. God's forgiveness REMOVES the guilt of our sin “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven… ( v1) B. God’s forgiveness COVERS the shame of our sin “… whose sin is covered!” (v.1b) C. God’s forgiveness WIPES CLEAN the record of my sin “ How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity…” (v. 2a)