The God of the Desert Places - Part 1

The God of the Desert Places
Psalms 23

“1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

The famous 23rd Psalm was written by King David. His life before becoming king was anything but grand. He spent much of his time alone in the wilderness watching over his father’s sheep herds. After his childhood in the desert as a shepherd boy, David returned to the wilderness when the then king, Saul, wanted to kill him. Later, David returned again to the desert when his own son, Absalom, sought to murder him to take possession of the throne. I imagine that life in Israel’s wilderness was not a pleasant place to live whether David was a shepherd boy with no shelter, the chosen one on the run from a powerful madman or the king of Israel.

During a recent visit to the San Diego Natural History Museum, photographs of Israel were displayed along walls of the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit. If I hadn’t known the pictures were of Israel, I could have easily mistaken them for Southern California where I live. I live inland where it is most similar to Israel. It is hot and dry during the longer than average summer and that summer bleeds into the spring and fall here. Summer often shows itself in March and lingers until well after Halloween, sometimes remaining hot into December. For me, the summer months seem to drag on and bring a desperate longing for cooler weather. Every year I look forward to the end of summer. While others are lamenting the grey skies and rainy winter weather, I look forward to the heat letting up. I like to snuggle into my warm clothes, sit in a Jacuzzi or cuddle up to a crackling fire.

Perhaps David’s wilderness had the same hot and arid weather that seems to suck the life right from your bones. What I do know is that David longed for cool waters and soft grasses to comfort him. The climate where he lived brought him a longing for still waters and lush meadows. Like me, he must have welcomed the refreshing night breezes after a particularly hot day.

Even though he may have never looked forward to the desert, perhaps David understood the benefit of the desert for his sheep. As a shepherd, he would have led his father’s sheep through the desert to find new pastures and watering holes. His sheep would have learned how to follow him closely in the rocky terrain to survive until they reached the lush valleys, green pastures and refreshing waters. It was during their desert treks that the sheep learned surefooted skills, developed hardiness and the ability to withstand the harsh conditions of the high desert. It was there that they learned to follow their shepherd. Only he knew the way to the good valleys.

The children of Israel were the ultimate desert dwellers. After their exodus from Egypt they needed to cross the sandy Sahara Desert to get to the Promised Land. What should have been a three week journey lasted 40 years. A whole nation’s lack of faith, grumbling and complaining led God to banish them to the desert where they wandered for 40 years. He even declared that they would stay there until all the unbelieving had passed away. They had been so focused on the desert that they forgot who God really was. I am sure they never came to appreciate their desert because as soon as Joshua and Caleb brought them out of the desert they began their complaining all over again. The “giant” men that God asked them to confront on the way to the Promised Land seemed to overwhelm their faith.

Jesus even had a time of testing in the wilderness before his ministry could begin. For 40 days and nights, Satan was allowed to test him. Jesus was eventually found worthy of the calling God had sent him to earth to fulfill and became the ultimate gift to humanity, but I don’t think he enjoyed it.

I often wonder whether David ever came to appreciate the desert. I don’t think he did. After all, who in their right mind raises their hands in God’s classroom and says, “Ooh, Ooh. Pick me. I want to go to the desert.” Not one of the desert experiences written about in the Bible are spoke of endearingly. The times of testing, desert trials and wilderness experiences are not spoken of with fond reverence. I don’t think anyone enjoys their desert experiences. It just isn’t a fun place to live. I struggle with living in the desert, not only physically but spiritually. Desert experiences are difficult. They are trying. They are painful. Yet each one of us goes through desert times in our lives. Everyone experiences seasons of drought, wavering faith, loneliness, and sometimes just plain evil attacks.

stay tuned for part 2....