Week 27: Thirst
Weekly Chapters:
Psalms 112 - Proverbs 4
Passage of the Week:
Pslams 143:6
Adjective:
Intese or eager cravings or desire
Thesaurus:
Desire
Hunger
Hankering
Longing
Yearning
Father God,
As I think on our subject this week, I understand the difference between physical thirst and metaphorical thirst. I wonder if my thirsting is for good and Godly things or things that are destructive to my well-being. As we go through this week’s study, God give me the knowledge and desire to dig deeper.
Amen
Authentic vulnerability:
When I think of thirst, I always think of the physical sensation. The dry throat, the triggers in my brain to grab a glass, The desire for the clean, clear liquid of water. Dry feeling, trigger, desire for clean and clear: very cut and dry.
But in my spiritual life, I feel the dry feelings—those of not being fulfilled, feeling inadequate, feeling like I’m missing something. There is a trigger to get up and do something to quench it. There is a desire for clean and clear.
Instead of quenching this thirst, I get up and turn on the TV or Netflix or play a game on my phone.
My thirst is real, and instead of choosing the clean and clear word of God, I prefer a distraction. The trigger is there to pick the healthy, and I choose the mind-numbing. What happens if we deny our thirst?
What is your Authentic Truth?
Study:
Many times in the Bible, we see if/then statements. These are calls to action: Do this, followed by instructions, and then this will happen. We see it in our passages this week.
Psalms 119:145-152
145 I pray with all my heart; answer me, Lord! I will obey your decrees.
146 I cry out to you; rescue me, that I may obey your laws.
147 I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.
148 I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise.
149 In your faithful love, O Lord, hear my cry; let me be revived by following your regulations.
150 Lawless people are coming to attack me; they live far from your instructions.
151 But you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true.
152 I have known from my earliest days that your laws will last forever.
The Psalmist is crying out for God to rescue him. The Psalmist states that from early in the morning until late in the evening, he is reaching out to God asking to be saved, then in Verse 152, the Psalmist says that he knows God is faithful. If\then. If I seek Your counsel, then You will be loyal to the Psalmist.
Psalms 143:6
6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.
The Psalmist knows that God’s word is true. The Psalmist knows that God will deliver him.
Psalms 143:7-12
7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.
8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
11 For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.
12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes,for I am your servant.
The Psalmist confirms that he is in a state of high anxiety, he sees his enemy coming after him, but he knows that his thirst for God will be quenched. God will rescue him from his depression (Verse 7). The Psalmist turns himself over and knows that God will rescue him (Verses 11-12).
Solomon councils his children to search for knowledge and wisdom to listen to counsel in Proverbs 2:1-8 because if they do, God will guard their path.
Solomon further councils to trust in the Lord with all your heart, to lean on God because his plan will be true (Proverbs 3:5)
If we lean on God and follow Him, He will make our paths true, quenching our thirst in Him.
Father God,
Thank You for Your guidance in leading me to Your ways. Lord, I need You, I thirst for You, yet instead of reading and listening to You to clear my head and quench my thirst, I reach for a substitute. Lord, I will do better so that I can heal. I will focus my mental health by running for You instead of a substitute. I love You, Lord, for providing me with love and grace.
Amen.
Homework:
· The if/then statements are telling. If you are feeling thirsty for calm and if you are feeling troubled, anxious, frightened, or angry and you reach out to the Lord (Proverbs 3:5) versus your own devices (TV, games, gossip), the Lord will quench your thirst.
· Knowing what to do and doing it can feel difficult, I know. But you can do it. You can do hard things. Pray to God, seek his counsel, breathing it in.
