Clinging to God - Part 2

Some have gone through very difficult circumstances when advice from relatives, experts and friends was of little help. But when they turned to God alone, they were most often transformed by their experience. Clinging to God is a life-changing experience. It changes the way we look at God and ourselves, at life and death.

We can cling to God out of desperate need, but we can also cling to Him out of the deep desire of holy love for God as portrayed by Psalm 63.

The psalmist expresses his intense longing for His presence: “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).

The psalmist is aware that the things of this world cannot satisfy the deep hunger of his soul. Fame, fortune, awards or applause do not satisfy his soul’s desire for companionship and love, for meaning and affirmation, for eternity and fellowship. As a hungry soul he clings to God knowing that only God can truly satisfy his desire for true friendship and love.

In God’s presence, the psalmist’s soul is satisfied and breaks into joyful song (v. 5). He is content in the holy, loving presence of God. Having experienced such wonderful moments, his soul clings on to God, never wanting to leave. It is similar to what is seen at airports, when tearful mothers cling tightly to their departing children, not wishing to begin the time of separation.

The psalmist clings to God when he writes: “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night … I sing in the shadow of your wings” (v. 6-7). His soul clings to God during the drowsy hours of the night. He enjoys being in God’s refreshing presence and expresses this through song. The psalmist

understood what it meant for his soul to cling to God both for urgent help and deep fellowship. We ought to be challenged by his experience.

The world has become superficial, mostly filled with meaningless pursuits. Restlessness hides our desperate need. In trouble we often run to anything and anyone other than God. In our lonely moments of existential despair, we turn to entertainment, meaningless chatter, and noisy, fleeting experiences.

How wise are those who learn to turn to God, who train their souls to cling to God, the Source of life and true joy. As Deuteronomy 30:19-20 reminds us, clinging to God is a choice each of us must make, with love for God and obedience to Him. God is “your life and the length of your days” (v. 20, NKJV) – more than we realise.

Discussion Questions:

Meditate on Psalm 27:4 and John 6:67-69. What push factors are driving you to God and what pull factors are at work that draw you to Him? How can you grow from clinging to God because of your dire circumstances to staying with Him because of His divine character? When does a Christian step forward from loving God for the sake of his own self to loving God for God’s sake?

Pray deeply Psalm 63:8 – “My soul clings to you.” Tell Him your difficulties in clinging to Him, your addictions and distractions, your preoccupations and ambitions. Make a commitment to practise His presence in your daily routines – think of how you can put this into practice.