The world seems so loveless, doesn't it?
Even in Scripture, our life on earth is painted in rather negative colors. Want examples? Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 calls everything vanity, Romans 8:21-21 says that creation is trapped in corruption and groaning, and 2 Corinthians 4:16 reminds us that we're wasting away.
In Psalm 63, King David feels a similar desperation. And honestly, isn't that a little interesting? Think about it: aside from his great sin of adultery, David was a holy king. God Himself called him "a man after my heart, who will do all my will" (Acts 13:22). And yet in this psalm, David compares himself to someone "in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (v1), later he'll describe the enemies that seek to kill him (v9), and his entire attitude is one of neediness.
However, despair is not the hallmark of this chapter. Not at all. Because in a world of wickedness, despair, and need, there is a God of holiness, hope, and providence. And if your soul needs to hear more, then keep reading.
In David's great need, what does he do? He looks to the Lord—and there he finds absolute satisfaction! This is the heart of what I want to write about today. Now, we could talk forever about His glory, His power, and so on. But I would like to focus on verse 3, where David writes that God's "steadfast love is better than life."
Better than life! To the depressed, this might be an agreeable statement, but as Charles Spurgeon put it, "To dwell with God is better than life at its best; life at ease, in a palace, in health, in honour, in wealth, in pleasure; yea, a thousand lives are not equal to the eternal life which abides in Jehovah's smile. In him we truly live, and move, and have our being."1
Nothing could be better than His love! Even though "the grass withers" (Isaiah 40:8), and even though we are "a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes" (James 4:14), we have an unfading love and inheritance in our Savior Jesus.
As one modern song puts it:
What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone; Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to Him belong.
Now humor me, and consider the depth of Jesus's love for us. I'm saying to consider it deeply. This lovingkindness (the Hebrew word ḥeseḏ) is literally a zeal for us. It's this immense grace, favor, mercy, faithfulness—and it's all ours! He does not withhold it from us, ever, at all.
Has God not helped you, provided for you, cared for you, and protected you? Hasn't He held you fast? Then there is the greatest display of the Father's love: the sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus, on the cross. What love could be greater, than for Jesus to lay down His life, becoming a curse for us, taking our sin onto Himself and giving us His righteousness? We were condemned by our sin, and He saved us from it!
You wretched sinner, can you fathom God's glad compassion on you? See this mighty Warrior, Christ our King! The Lord of hosts2 has overcome the world, and nothing can separate us from God's love. Though Satan prowls like a roaring lion, with flaming arrows to destroy us—though the world may encamp against us to tear us down—though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death—we have the Creator, the Sustainer, the Provider, the Savior!
Consider the classic hymn, The Love of God, with its third verse:
Could we with ink the ocean fill
and were the skies of parchment made,
were every stalk on earth a quill
and every man a scribe by trade,
to write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry;
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky.
If you meditated on God's love, day and night, you would never find its end. That's not to say you shouldn't try!—because even a glimpse into the love of God brings comfort beyond comparison. Indeed, we could never think of anything better than His steadfast love. And we have it without limit.
James 1:22 advises us to be a doer of the Word, and not just a hearer of it. So how do we respond to this glorious, unfathomable, beloved truth?
Well, it's often been said that theology should always lead to doxology. For me, this isn't my natural inclination; I usually respond to truth by seeking out a command to start obeying.3 But here, David speaks of worshiping God. Lifted hands, spoken blessings, and praising lips. That's the response. Because sure, obedience is its own form of worship (Rom. 12:1), but singing and praising God is something else.
Lastly, consider how David's worship here is joyful. He sings for joy, and praises God with joyful lips. How else would he ever respond to the overwhelming love of God? All of our earthly troubles crumble into dust when encountering the deep joy found only in Christ's love. Anxiety, frustration, despair—these things may plague us, but we can find deep comfort in the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, who lifts off our burdens and takes our guilt and holds us fast in His arms forever and always. Amen.
someone make these into a devo book-
this is a topic i've been reflecting a lot on recently, so it was great to hear your exposition of it. lots of good verses, hymns, and funny footnotes.
what a blessing it is to serve a God whose love has no end! thank you for your time in writing!
Very very true and powerful. This is a concept most Christians overlook. It's something I didn't really grow up doing, but after implementing it into my daily life it's really helped keep my mind in line and focused where it should be.
Worshiping God in song, is important.