It’s one of those concepts that’s better felt than “tellt”. Ask someone to describe the soul, and I’m guessing they’ll usually pause for a moment or two in order to come up with words to describe something so intangible yet something that we interact with — or something that “inner acts” with us — all the time. Call it the inner being . . . call it our essence or substance . . . call it the seat of emotions and appetites . . . call it the mind . . . call it the seat of who we are . . . call it the core of our personality. We all know we have a soul . . . we all know that we are more than just physiological beings. As I read Psalm 63 this morning, the soul is mentioned three times giving us some insight as to the working of the soul for those who are in relationship with the God who created them and infused them with a soul.

It’s another wilderness Psalm written by David. I’m guessing that his throat is parched and his stomach is growling, but his attention is to the yearning of his soul: “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” (Ps. 63:1-2). While a burger and soda might hit the spot right about now, the thirst of David’s soul for His God is such that it directs all other yearnings toward knowing afresh God’s power and glory . . . that power and glory which He knew in the place of worship. What would satisfy David’s longing? To know the presence of His God in the wilderness. Sure, to be delivered from the wilderness would be great, oh, but that his soul would know the nearness of God would be so much greater. If the wilderness was the place of intimate communion with his God, then I think David might say, “Buy me a one way ticket!” My God, early will I seek You . . . my soul thirsts for you . . .

I find it remarkable that a Psalm that is written in the wilderness is so packed with praise . . . but that’s what happens when the soul’s thirst is quenched by the presence of God . . . worship is the outcome of the soul that hungers after God: “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness.” Think of the richest foods . . . think of the juiciest steak . . . think of whatever your favorite food is . . . and the smile it puts on your face to eat it . . . and the satisfaction that comes from dining on it . . . that’s the soul’s response to knowing the presence of God. “Seek me and you will find me” our God promises. And when the soul hungers and thirsts for Him, oh the deep, deep satisfaction that is known. And the response to “being full” on God is to praise and exalt the Feeder of our souls. “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name . . . And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips” (63:3-5). Praise is the physical manifestation of the satisfying of our soul’s longing for God. You just can’t hold back! He’s met with You . . . His Spirit has touched the essence of who you are . . . and what do you do? . . . you praise Him.

The soul that seeks God is the soul that is satisfied by God . . . and, it is the soul which holds on to God for dear life . . . the soul that determines to cling to God. The Psalmist writes, “Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me” (63:6-7). Thirst begets satisfaction which begets more thirst. To have known a good meal which “hits the spot” is to want that meal again. To have communed with God . . . whether it’s in the wilderness or in the land of plenty . . . is to want to know that sweet fellowship again and again and again. And so, the soul’s GPS locks on seeking Him . . . following close behind Him . . . wanting to never be far from Him . . . on continually hungering and thirsting for some more soul food.

This morning the Psalmist’s words are mine: Father, my soul thirsts for you . . . my soul is satisfied in You . . . my soul clings to You. My lips shall praise You . . . my inner man will bless You. You are so good to me! Amen.