God, you are my God. And I want you so much. My soul and my body thirst for you, like a dry, weary land with no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, My lips will praise you. Psalm 63:1-3
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"My soul and my body thirst for you", what a wonderful line and what a delightful way to feel about God! What does it mean to be a true worshiper? In the conversation with the Samaritan woman, Jesus offers a few characteristics of a true worshiper: 1) A true worshiper worships the Father. 2) A true worshiper worships in spirit. 3) A true worshiper worships in truth. Jesus should know because He was a true worshiper. He worships in father in Spirit and in truth when He was living as a man among us. A true worshiper is also like David, meaning, he worships always through good and challenging times.
The Bible tells us David was a shepherd, he was a great warrior, he was a musician and to his downfall he was a ladies man. That is not to say that he did not read the Scriptures and mediate on God's word. We also know a few other things about David: He had many wives. We know that he was not always the best disciplinarian of his kids. In the story of Tamar for example, David did not do anything about the rape and his attitude concerning the rape almost cost him his life and his kingdom. We know that David committed adultery with Bathsheba and then try to cover it up ordered her husband's murder. David was not a perfect man who never sinned or never made a mistake.I would even say that he was bad to the bones; Yet God still called Him a man after His own heart. So what could be the reason? David always trusted God no matter what the situation and he praised God through everything in his life.
The above verse was probably written while David was in big trouble. He was on the run. His own son Absalom was after him; even though he was still king at the time, he humbled himself when it comes to God. David knew who the King of kings really was. In David we found a noble example of a loving, sensitive, gentle, self-analyzing soul, living in communion with God. He was an extraordinary man because in the middle of major misfortune (he was in hiding), he found time for God. In his hour of distress he looks up to heaven. In the middle of the midnight hour, he worshiped God. It is not without cause that God called him a man after His own heart. Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 13:14
David understood that human existence is about God, not about selfish ambitions and hidden personal agenda. David accepted responsibility for his actions/choices, even when he did evil! David constantly stood ready to repent.
As far as worship,David was outstanding example for all of us. Many of the Psalms reflect David's passionate heart for worship. "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3). It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving kindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night" (Psalm 92:1-2). I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised (Psalm 18:3). David was a man after God's own heart, because he truly glorified God in his heart! To truly worship God, we must know Him and not be ignorant of His good and glorious nature (Acts 17:23). Worship is to glorify and exalt God; to show our loyalty to our Heavenly Father.
God is looking for true worshipers. People who are not going to stop loving him just because they are hurt or sick, or just because their marriages come to an abrupt end, or just because they haven’t received the doctor’s report expected. God is looking for those who will remain faithful when tested. Can He count on you? This beautiful compliment, "a man after My own heart", is one that should characterize every one of us who calls Christ our Lord and Savior(Christians like you and I).
Praise the Lord!
