The First Gospel - Psalm 63 | Josh Harrison
In this sermon from Citizens Church of Orange County, Josh Harrison takes us deep into the heart of the Book of Psalms, specifically Psalm 63, and explores what it means to worship God in every season of life—even (and especially) in the wilderness. With historical context, personal anecdotes, and practical theology, Harrison paints a vivid picture of how worship is more than a feeling—it’s a lifelong discipline anchored in God’s faithfulness.
Surveying the Psalms: Context and Categories
Harrison opens by recapping the church’s recent journey through the Old Testament, underscoring King David’s central—yet flawed—role in Israel’s story. David, the "man after God’s own heart," authored about half of the 150 psalms, making him both a model of passionate worship and an example of sincere repentance.
The Psalms are not just individual prayers, but a community songbook, intended to be sung together as acts of shared worship. Scholars, Harrison notes, love to categorize the psalms, but the most useful framework is Walter Brueggemann’s: psalms of orientation (when life feels right), disorientation (when life unravels), and new orientation (when God brings restoration after hardship).
Worship in Every Season
Most of us spend only a small fraction of life in those "mountaintop" moments of spiritual clarity and gratitude. Harrison admits he personally feels that way only about 10% of the time. Far more common are the valleys: exhaustion, apathy, grief, or outright chaos. The wonder of the Psalms is that they teach us worship is possible—and vital—even in those seasons.
Harrison forcefully argues: worship during brokenness, confusion, or pain is not lesser in God’s eyes; in many ways, it’s more beautiful. Bringing our small, tattered offerings to God—just as the widow offered her two coins—can be an even more profound act of faith than exuberant praise when all is well.
Two Kinds of Worship: Awe and Action
Drawing from Hebrew language, Harrison introduces two words for worship in the Old Testament:
Shacha: To fall face down in awe, an intense emotional and physical reaction to God’s palpable presence.
Oved: To work or serve—even when the feelings aren’t there. This is the worship of choice, faithfulness, and perseverance.
Together, these express a holistic life of devotion: awe when God’s presence is tangible, and action when worship requires grit, memory, and intentionality.
Psalm 63: Worship from the Wilderness
Psalm 63 was written by David when he was physically and emotionally exiled in the wilderness—either running from Saul or Absalom. Regardless of the cause, David models how to worship when far from comfort and community. Practical lessons include:
Show Up: David chooses to worship not because of his circumstances, but in spite of them. Like a spiritual "thermostat," he directs his focus toward God, rather than just reflecting his environment back to God.
Remember God’s Faithfulness: David intentionally recalls past experiences of God’s power and love, using memory as fuel for gratitude and praise even when present feelings are lacking.
Refuse to Settle for Less: Instead of letting survival instincts take over, David lifts his hands in worship, clinging to God rather than to fear, control, or despair.
Move Forward in Hope: David expresses confidence that God will satisfy and rescue him again, realigning his outlook from defeat to expectation.
Four Key Lessons from This Sermon
Worship isn’t just about feelings; it’s a discipline of showing up, especially in hard seasons.
True worship draws on memory—rehearsing God’s past faithfulness fuels hope in present difficulties.
Our messy, weary, and even doubting seasons are not barriers to worship, but invitations to a deeper, more honest relationship with God.
In every wilderness, choosing to cling to God and orient ourselves toward Him opens the door for future hope and new orientation.
This sermon reminds us that the Psalms—like our lives—are an ongoing conversation with God, not limited by circumstance but deepened through every valley and victory.
