Who Do We Cling To?
“God, You are my God; I shall be watching for You;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and exhausted land where there is no water.
So have I seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and glory.
Because Your favor is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name. . . .
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand takes hold of me.”
(NASB—2020 Psalm 63: 1-4 & 8)
My daughter has a dog, a beautifully, kind golden retriever. Her name is Maple (or as my daughter has lovingly shortened to “Mapes”). A dog—a man’s best friend, or in this case, a woman’s. I remember the day my daughter texted me to say she had bought a dog; I thought, “Has she lost her mind?!!” At the time, my daughter was in college finishing her bachelor’s degree, serving as a research assistant for this tough mathematics’ professor. Her capstone project was soon required; her stress level was exorbitantly high, and now she had seemed to add to her stress level by purchasing a dog (and not just a dog but a PUPPY).
On my side of the situation, as I said, I thought her mind was gone because a puppy would only add to her stress because a puppy required so much attention, and that’s just what Maple did—she required my daughter’s attention. However, I noticed something else. In focusing her attention upon Maple, my daughter’s stress began to dissipate. That’s true; as she gave her time and energy to caring for her puppy, training for her puppy, and raising her puppy, then a miracle began to unfold—my daughter gained more peace.
Fast forward three years. In talking by text with my daughter about dogs, she sent me these words yesterday. “They are sooo sweet and easy to love.” You know, I think she is right.
Maple (aka “Mapes”) has grown into a wonderful companion for my daughter who must call home so far away from me. Back when Maple was growing up, I had the pleasure of living with her for a few months, and I must admit that I began to fall in love for the same reason: She is sooo sweet and sooo easy to love.
Bible theologian A. W. Tozer wrote: “You can see God from anywhere if your mind is set to love and obey.”
As my daughter makes a life with her husband on a continent 5,000+ miles away, I see over and over the benefits the puppy Maple, now grown-up golden retriever Maple brings. When I am afforded the opportunity to travel there, to visit my daughter and her husband, the one who always comes running to the door when we arrive home from the airport is Maple. Consistently, time and again, she comes running to see who has come to visit. It was during my last visit a couple weeks back that I noticed something—Maple knew me.
When we arrived to my daughter’s home, Maple was standing there in the foyer, and she affectionally came to receive a petting, but something else occurred: Immediately Maple lay in the floor at my feet, rolled over to her back, extended her legs, and asked me with her eyes, “Would you be so kind as to rub my belly?” Of course, I happily complied with Maple’s request (ME! The girl who was never the dog-lover BEFORE Maple entered my daughter’s life & now my life).
Now maybe we wonder: How in the world does the description and story of a Golden Retriever (or of any dog) reveal God? The crazy thing is that the two do connect.
- A dog loves her master unconditionally.
- A dog’s love for her master is pure and undivided.
- A dog’s eyes are always upon her master.
- A dog’s body is positioned in a way that she desires the constant touch of her master.
- A dog stands in readiness for her master’s call.
- A dog obeys her master.
In the Bible, we see King David’s compassion and love for King Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth (the son of Jonathan whom David loved and made a covenant with years before).
SEE WITH ME GOD’S WORD.
Mephibosheth said to King David when he extended compassion, love, and care.
“Again he prostrated himself, [Mephibosheth did] and said, “What is your servant, that you should be concerned about a dead dog like me?”
(NASB—2020 2 Samuel 9: 8)
Who Do We Cling To?
- Truthfully? Who Do We Cling To?
- Faithfully? Who Do We Cling To?
- Daily? Who Do We Cling To?
- Hour-by-Hour? Who Do We Cling To?
During good seasons & During tough seasons? Who Do We Cling To?
[LORD] “that you should be concerned about a dead dog like me?” (2 Samuel 9: 8)
Who do we look to when we arise from our bed in the morning and exclaim with sincere devotion? “God, You are my God; I shall be watching for You; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, . . .” (Psalm 63: 1a)
When evening comes and we prepare for our night of rest upon our bed, who do we look to as we proclaim these words? “[Father God] Because Your favor is better than life, My lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. . . .”(Psalm 63: 3-4)
As days pass by and as we walk throughout the years of our lives, who do we find that we love more than anyone, who we willingly tell the world this truth? “[Almighty God] My soul clings to You; Your right hand takes hold of me.”(Psalm 63: 8)
As I consider the undivided devotion and love my God deserves, I remember Tozer’s words: “You can see God from anywhere if your mind is set to love and obey.”
As I consider the ways my eyes are to remain fixed upon my LORD, obediently moving at His command, I remember King David’s words: “God, You are my God; I shall be watching for You;” (Psalm 63: 1)
As I consider my lowly state in relation to Almighty God, I remember Mephibosheth’s words: “What is your servant, that you should be concerned about a dead dog like me?” (2 Samuel 9: 8)
As I consider how I should position my body to always remain near my Father, I again remember David’s words: “My soul clings to You; Your right hand takes hold of me.” (Psalm 63: 8)
The Christian artist Brandin Reed sings the melody “Satisfy,” and as I consider the lyrics, these come to my mind, words that reveal WHO we should cling to ALWAYS.
“My heart beats for You [LORD].
My heart beats for You [FATHER GOD].
YOU always Satisfy. . . .
My heart needs more of You [JEHOVAH].
My heart needs more of You [JESUS].
YOU always Satisfy.”
So, today, I wonder: Who MUST We Cling To?
“But as for me, I will be on the watch for the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
Do not rejoice over me, enemy of mine.
Though I fall I will rise;
Though I live in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.”
(NASB—2020 Micah 7: 7-8)