A distinct difference between the one true and living God and all His false imitators is the fact that it is possible to enter into and maintain a relationship with Him. Abraham was a friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7). Moses spoke with God face to face (Exodus 33:11). David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Jesus was One who was heard, seen, looked upon, and handled by the apostle John and others (1 John 1:1). Knowing God—i.e. establishing and cultivating a relationship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ—is imperative to eternal life (John 17:3).
In Psalm 63:1-2, David writes: “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So, I have looked for You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.” These words give great insight into how David cultivated his intimate relationship with his Maker. David’s relationship with God had the following characteristics:
- Personal. “O God, You are my God.” Jehovah was not an indistinct theory, idea, or philosophy that David had locked intellectually on to. He was not simply a cosmic Overseer. He was David’s Sovereign, a Person who David knew personally.
- Prioritized. “Early will I seek You.” Just as every life has its priorities, every day has its priorities. Each day, David prioritized Jehovah over his domestic, personal, and kingdom responsibilities. What we seek first matters. A vibrant, intimate relationship with God is the result of daily prioritization, not happenstance.
- Persistent. “My soul thirsts for You.” The body’s need for water is persistent. It is an ongoing, continuous need for a healthy life upon this earth. Drinking enough fluids yesterday does not eliminate the need to do the same thing today, tomorrow, next week, or next month. Drawing near to God today is a persistent spiritual need.
- Passionate. “My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” David’s pursuit of Jehovah and His fellowship was not casual or ho-hum. It was intense; it was pursued with a life-or-death passion—like a man dying of thirst seeking an oasis in a desert.
- Purposeful. “So, I have looked for You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.” David searched for God where God could be found. If you want to draw near to God, you need to go where God is—His word and your prayer closet.
David’s personal, prioritized, persistent, passionate, and purposeful relationship with God was abundantly blessed: “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips” (Psalm 63:5).
