As the modern Hymn says, quoting the Psalm, as the dear panteth for the water so my soul longeth after thee. These words seem to be the expression of David. David was known as the man after God’s own heart. Doubtless there were many times when David panted for God. Understanding that He needed God much more than he needed his base necessity. More than water and even the air that was breathed. We need God.
Sometimes it doesn’t seem like we need God to live. I mean, what would happen if you didn’t read your Bible for a few weeks and never prayed. Would you shrivel up and die? Of course not. But he sustains our life and he can take it at any time. But if you do not know that Jesus is the sustainer of life, one would not know that they needed God to live. The reality is, we do.
David realized this through much of his life, but there was a time when he lost focus on the pursuit of God. With the loss of this pursuit he was pursuing something else. He starting pursuing his own desires. I don’t believe this was just a moment of blindness, but a slow regression. You can see some of the progressions that took place in 2nd Samuel.
II Samuel Chapter 1
1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
It is a sad reality that the sweet Psalmist of Isreal had lost sight of his pursuit of God and caused much problems in his life. God would have to judge him, and David never seem to fully recover from this time in his life. He repented fervently but the scar tissue was there. Allowing himself to lose the pursuit of God cost him greatly. If we are not passionately pursuing him, we will slip into pursuing our own desires. It is something that happens over and over again in the Christian life. this is way Paul proclaims that he had to die daily. This death is the death of self and turning to Crist to live through us.
God Desires us to seek his face, to desire him. We must come to the understanding that He is all that we need. The more we seek out God the more we should realize our utter dependance on him and his ability to meet all our needs.
S.T.
Acts 20:24
"But none of these things move me..."
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