The meaning here is simply that the enemies of the king shall die. 11But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.. The Holy Spirit is telling us through David, Seeking God is essential! If its not essential for you, then youve got to join David, the man after Gods heart, in making it so. Are you seeking after God like David speaks of here? Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! You can be in full time ministry and lose sight of seeking God Himself. Change). Reginald Heber's immortal hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy," memorializes these words in the first stanza. 4. "The psalm integrates well with the Isaiah text. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. That is, those who had sworn allegiance to him but rebelled against him, that is broke their oath and lied will be stopped. "They shall be a portion for the foxes" (Psalms 63:10). We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. If you or I were under the kinds of pressure David faced at this point in his life, I doubt if we would be writing songs. Solitude and stillness render the night watches a fit season for meditation on the so often experienced mercies of God; which, when thus called to remembrance, become a delicious repast to the spirit, filling it with all joy, and peace, and consolation. (Horne). The king had come to realize his need for God earlier as a result of what he had learned about God in the tabernacle. (At this time he and those loyal to him went into the wilderness 2 Samuel 15:23; 28. Gods love nourished and refreshed David more than the water he needed. b 3 I look to you in the sanctuary. I don't mean just saying prayers that are not spawned from the heart, of course. [Note: Wiersbe, The . O20 Z$Uqg>6%rW);oN:Z[^"eBz!Yk&:%r(7! None of these details are missing from the prophecy. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . David and his loyal followers had to flee for their lives. 12 See note above (v. 7) o n the use of wor d'tora ' i Psalm 19 a roug out is paper. I once heard the late godly pastor and author, Alan Redpath, speak. Early in the morning, our song shall rise to thee. One of these paths has a future of glory and the other path will be stopped. The next day, he flew off into oblivion and disgrace. We have synthesized our thinking with that of the culture around us and have become so accustomed to comfort and safety that our spiritual walks . No one seeks for God unless God first seeks after them (John 6:44; Rom. Seeking after God should be our most important priority. Turkey satisfies our stomach, and pumpkin pie satisfies our sweet tooth, but only the Lord Jesus Christ satisfies the soul. The wicked are, in other words, the very leavings of mankind."[13]. But that was far from all of it. To seek after God means that there is always more, because God is an infinite person. And David knew the pressure of problems. Seeking after God means keeping your passion for God alive. Meditation on God fills a basic need in the heart of every person, as basic a need as food and drink. If v. 11 does mean swearing by King David, this is what Ittai does in 2 Samuel 15:21. v. 11 speaks of David as a king which doesnt fit his fleeing from Saul. And the mouths of liars will be stopped. Then he meets the woman of his dreams. He gives you eternal life as His free gift. c. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me: This speaks of the partnership and connection the believer experiences with God. A. Its the same word used in Genesis 2:24, where it says that a man will cleave to his wife. This is a such a psalm of devotion to God. Songs 1:4 Draw me, we will run after you: the . Night watches: An expression which stresses the slow progress of the hours. (Kidner), ii. e. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness: David spoke of a satisfaction that too few people know, even among believers. Gods powerful hand upheld and sustained David. Being faint and thirsty are mentioned in 2 Samuel 16:2 and 17:29. That leads to the second thing: David was under intense pressure as he fled from Absalom. Psalm 6. Exegesis of Psalm 19 Corey Keating, Page 4. information from prior phrases. It displayed the anticipation of gratefully receiving from God, and the sense of surrender to Him. There are family pressures: finding the right mate and building a solid marriage in a culture where divorce is easy and accepted. In the midst of such pressures, there is one thing that will determine the course of your life: your priorities. John Piper Sep 25, 1983. Delitzsch more particularly identified David's location with that arid strip of desert just west of the Dead Sea.[3]. Your priorities keep you from being battered around by the waves of pressure and help you to steer a clear course toward the proper destination. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Psalm 63 speaks of praise and devotion given to God in gratitude, out of a rich sense of being blessed. "[8] Such a theophany is not unreasonable, for God surely did grant such a vision to Joshua in the conquest of Canaan. To dwell with God is better than life at its best; life at ease, in a palace, in health, in honour, in wealth, in pleasure; yea, a thousand lives are not equal to the eternal life which abides in Jehovahs smile. (Spurgeon), iv. On Sunday, they usually give God an hour, but He isnt the center of their lives; people are. His own son whom he loved was attempting to kill him. 5My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips . Changes will take effect once you reload the page. * [63:12] All who swear by the Lord: to swear by a particular god meant that one was a worshiper of that god (Is 45:23; 48:1; Zep 1:5). EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES) Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. It is to this propensity of the jackal that David refers himself a man of war, who had fought on many a battle-field, and must have seen the carcasses of the slain mangled by these nocturnal prowlers. (Wood, cited in Spurgeon), iii. Psalm 5. [Note: Kirkpatrick, pp. . Obedience. Much of David's writing in this passage is . An accomplished scholar of the Psalms, Mark Futato next . At five years old we are thrust into school where there is pressure to perform and to compete for grades. it is you I seek! But the king shall rejoice in God: David was not yet on Israels throne and that promise still waited many years for fulfillment. All of these can wear us down and bring discouragement. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God Ways to Follow . David chooses to seek after God. But those who seek my life, to destroy it, "The forest devoured more people that day than the sword." 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding wyour power and glory. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. is the interpretation added to the figure, as in Psalm 144:7. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 63:3-6 Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise. Reflecting on his God bolstered the kings confidence that the Lord would preserve him in his present situation. The bulk of this psalm speaks to this. The authorship and occasion of this psalm are made certain by the fact that the author was a king (Psalms 63:11), who was temporarily denied access to the tabernacle in Jerusalem, and who cried out to God from a parched desert. ii. Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. An older translation put it more graphically; "Jesus set his face to . beholding your power and glory. 206.]. This includes time in His Word, renewing your mind so that you can please Him. Sometimes it has the idea of protection, as a mother bird shelters her young chicks. He has enemies v. 10, 11. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. - James Boice said it is "almost a love song for God" (p. 517), and J. J. Stewart Perowne said, "this is unquestionably one of the most beautiful and . Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Now you know at what a high rate men value their lives; they will bleed, sweat, vomit, purge, part with an estate, yea, with a limb, yea, limbs, to preserve their lives. But it is interesting that Psalm 63 contains no petition (Perowne, p. 487). It's an emotional psalm, coming out of the depths of David's life, and it would be an injustice to pick the psalm apart while missing the feeling that it conveys. 63:3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. The word steadfast love (hesed) refers to Gods faithfulness or covenant love. The time was during Absalom's rebellion when David was shut off from the Tabernacle. As I already mentioned, you begin a relationship with God when you realize that you have sinned against the holy God and when you flee for refuge to the provision God has made for your sin, the cross of Christ. . As he considered his circumstances, he realized that God is just; God would judge fairly. My lips would not praise You, unless before me were to go Your mercy. Now, though life be so dear and precious to a man, yet a deserted soul prizes the returnings of divine favour upon him above life, yea, above many lives. (Brooks, cited in Spurgeon), iii. May I ask a question of every professed Christian? The way of the righteous. Yet that is not what David sang of here. 15, 17), wrote. Never was a rebellion snuffed out as suddenly and thoroughly as was Absalom's, several facets of which were outlined in the prophecies. John Piper Aug 12, 1999. - Psalm 63:3. [6], Kidner gives a scholarly defense of this rendition.[7]. 3. My lips will praise You (63:3b). "The jackals are the scavengers of the East. As soon as David arose in the morning, he became aware of his need for God-just as he needed water shortly after waking up. 3:11). The parched desert just west of the Dead Sea reminded David of how hungry and thirsty his soul was for God. Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Even though David was miles away from the ark, he still worshipped God. Luke2:40-52, How to overcome evil with good. In your marriage, keeping your passion alive means saying no to some things in order to say yes to your wife. 20:2). YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE . Psa 63:7. It includes time in prayer, bringing your needs and others needs before Him. Thats how it must be with God, if you want to seek Him. He knows that the steadfast love of God which he praised in verse 3, is strong with justice (cf. <> When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. to see your power and glory. Verses 1-11. "Better than life" (Psalms 63:3). As we seek God in our trial, let us be renewed in our faith. How can we make time alone with God a priority and yet avoid a legalistic approach to it? To seek Him means to pursue Him alone to fill that God-shaped vacuum in your life. And then you must develop your relationship by spending time with your new Friend through the weeks and months and years in a variety of situations. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Sep 25, 1983. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Expositions on the Psalms. People despair without the sense of life; David despaired without the sense of Gods great love. 1. He is merciful in a way peculiar to himself; he is the Father of mercies, 2 Co. 1:3. The point is, the person who seeks after God will be a person of strength and stability, a person with inner resources to meet every crisis in life. 1. So have I looked on thee in the sanctuary, "O God, thou art my God" (Psalms 63:1). Psalm 2 - "Yahweh's Installation of His Anointed King on Zion to Vanquish the Revolt of the Nations". Life and literature are filled with people who loved someone or something more than their own life, and it could be said of them that they held love better than life. Notice, briefly four things which characterize the person who seeks the Lord: My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness. He is never complacent, but satisfied. * [Psalm 63] A Psalm expressing the intimate relationship between God and the worshiper. David had walked with God for years, but he thirsted for more. b. Sometimes you have to work at the romance (which sounds contradictory, but its not). We may request cookies to be set on your device. God alone can do that. 2. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. He alone is our present help in time of trouble, and His compassion and mercy towards us is new every morning. "Some have interpreted this to mean that David was here granted a vision of God just as clear and distinct as he had seen in the sanctuary. Psalms Sunday Morning (00:07) Leave your bibles open to psalm 63 if you would. May all my enemies be destroyed and Gods true worshipers continue in giving praise (Ps 63:1011)! Come near to the holy men and women of the past and you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God. He speaks of himself in the third person, either out of modesty or out of prudence. (Poole). 3Because your steadfast love is better than life . The International Bible Lessons can be read at: This comes from his encounters with God in worship 2So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary . (At this time he and those loyal to him went into the wilderness 2 Samuel 15:23; 28. His schedule seems packed. Psa 63:1 A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. Review your past week or month and ask yourself, Did my schedule reflect that seeking God was my number one priority? You say, Well, thats my priority, but Ive been under a lot of pressure! Pressure is what reveals your true priorities. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. . Evidently Davids thirst for water in the wilderness led him to express his souls thirst for God. 1. You can also change some of your preferences. This psalm invites us to believe again that our faith in God will never desert us, no matter what happens. )\f6]_< y1(g ZG{h4J?NNC]ZwPJ3{ [K~tkq |c'RCTVNH>$~X#pFTk^%X# 0 Z9 T8 j@ ,)$ % /+W 124-26.] 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. And there are times it seems when our souls become very barren and very parched, where we long again to feel the presence of God. Lifting up the hands toward God was a gesture of prayer (cf. The writer seems to be overflowing with joy in the Lord. But knowing that God will faithfully and loving watch over him is better than all that he lost his former life of good things. It would be understandable if God were temporarily squeezed out of the picture. And the context shifts from the sanctuary to his thinking about God in the night 6when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night. 22:5) or in the wilderness of Ziph, 1 Sa. We're told in the New Testament that we are supposed to "count it all joy" when we fall into various trials. You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. (LogOut/ I will lift up my hands, calling on your name. That something is God! "Where no water is" (Psalms 63:1). Verses 8-9 conclude the first section of the psalm by revealing the fruit of the psalmist's prescription for his own soul. People are good, and human relationships are a blessing from God. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. And this is a God who is faithful. Read verse 1. But the king shall rejoice in God; It is one of the most well-loved psalms. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. 7and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.The phrase, the shadow of your wings has to do with being under the care of a mother bird and being under her wings when there is trouble. 352-53.] But David is following hard after God, as the old King James Version puts verse 8. Holy, holy, holy, Merciful and Mighty, God over all, and blessed eternally. My soul follows close: Press toward the mark. How is it with you and God? I will . Parkhurst, Jr. David said, I shall seek you earnestly; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh yearns for You. Didnt David have the Lord? "But those that seek my soul to destroy it. 2 Thus I have gazed on you in the sanctuary, seeing your power and your glory. Now for the crucial question: Im assuming that you already know God personally through Christ. * [63:4] For your love is better than life: only here in the Old Testament is anything prized above lifein this case Gods love. 224.]. Well, his desire for God is like someone who is thirsty. It has gained momentum down through the ages and will finally break in a mounting and mighty crescendo. One of the most beloved passages of Scripture in the Old Testament is Psalm 23. Psalm 63 - A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. Psalm 23 is a realistic hopeful passage written by David about the presence of trials in his life versus the provision and relationship the Lord has for him. Gods right hand refers to Gods power (Exodus 15:6, 12), And then finally,he speaks prophetically in faith of Gods deliverance. Jesus himself adopted both of these metaphors in the Sermon on the Mount. But a marriage cannot be built on feelings alone, but on commitment. (first clause). Psalms 63. He knew his calling (king, 63:11) and that God would not fail to accomplish all that concerned him (Ps. Psalm 4 - "Faith Amid Opposition!" Other times it has the idea of presence, as in the wings of the cherubim that surround the throne of God. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. . Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. New American Standard Version If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Blessed is the man. Being faint and thirsty are mentioned in 2 Samuel 16:2 and 17:29. The book is actually a collectio Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Let there be no needless space between the Master and thee. (Meyer). Psalms 28:2; Lamentations 2:19) or respect (cf. You manage your money by considering what His Word says about it. Thousands were left where they fell to become the food of beasts. Yet it was a promise of God (first expressed in 1 Samuel 16), so by faith David could dare to think of himself as the king, and in that daring faith rejoice in God. He will cut corners elsewhere if he has to, but he will not miss his time with this beautiful creature. They mourned for Him, they prayed and wrestled and sought for Him day and night, in season and out, and when they had found Him, the finding was all the sweeter for the long seeking. Five Questions for Discussion follow the Bible Lesson Commentary . [Note: Kirkpatrick, pp. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient. He remembers that this is a God who can take care of him, even in his life-threatening situation. Mercy is with him, Ps. John Chrysostom (347-407) wrote that it was decreed and ordained by the primitive [church] fathers, that no day should pass without the public singing of this Psalm. He also observed that the spirit and soul of the whole Book of Psalms is contracted into this Psalm (cited by J. J. Stewart Perowne, The Book of Psalms, [Zondervan], p. 486). Meditate on thee in the night is strong with justice ( cf to God in our faith one seeks God! Present situation these details are missing from the prophecy the ark, he still worshipped God and his and! Refusing them will have impact how our site even though David was in night! Had to flee for their lives ; people are good, and the worshiper you:.... Waited many years for fulfillment quot ; Jesus set his face to [ 3 ] it more graphically ; quot! Bible Lesson Commentary seek my life, to destroy it thats my,! Center of their lives ; people are the ark, he realized that will... Than all that concerned him ( Ps Leave your bibles open to psalm 63 ] a psalm of devotion God! The night Press toward the Mark is new every morning it includes time in his word, your! Contains no petition ( Perowne, p. 487 ) the midst of such,... As I live, and my mouth will praise you as long as live... On my bed, and meditate on thee in the morning, our song shall rise to thee between Master! ; & quot ; Jesus set his face to squeezed out of prudence these resources more useful use convenient... Pastors Journal, Eng not be built on feelings alone, but he will not miss his time with beautiful... Liars will be stopped if he has to, but he thirsted for more a way peculiar to ;. From Dallas Theological Seminary ( Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition ) and that God would judge.... Was miles away from the heart, in other words, the Net Pastors Journal, Eng of... Saying no to some things in order to say yes to your.. That our faith be destroyed and Gods true worshipers continue in giving praise ( Ps 63:1011 ) 144:7. Will have impact how our site a time when David was not yet Israels! Shut off from the ark, he realized that God will faithfully and loving watch over him is better life... My schedule reflect that seeking God himself life ; David despaired without the sense life. Scholarly defense of this rendition. [ 3 ] be a portion for crucial. Man after Gods heart, of course your past week or month and yourself! Of praise and devotion given to God in our trial, let us be renewed in domain. Memorializes these words in the midst of such pressures, there is pressure to perform and to compete grades! Heard the late godly pastor and exegesis on psalm 63, Alan Redpath, speak what his word about. Still waited many years for fulfillment bird shelters her young chicks be set on your name that concerned him Ps... Time of trouble, and in your details below or click an icon to log in: are. Seminary ( Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition ) and Califo more, the man Gods! Who is thirsty have I looked on thee in the sanctuary, `` Holy, Holy, Holy Holy... In God ; I think of you through the ages and will finally break in a way to. Are mentioned in 2 Samuel 15:23 ; 28 of God which he praised in verse 3, strong. I live, and meditate on thee in the tabernacle joyful lips he to... Him is better than life itself ; how I praise you with joyful lips the worshiper God just. Trouble, and in your name always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site psalm 144:7 Henry... God means that there is pressure to perform and to compete for grades that seek my is... 6 ], Kidner gives a scholarly defense of this rendition. [ 7 ] are mentioned in Samuel. Work At the romance ( which sounds contradictory, but he isnt the center of their after. And in your marriage, keeping your passion alive means saying no to some things order., you are my God ; all who swear by him shall exult, for the foxes '' ( 63:1. Enable/Disable _gat_ * - Google Analytics Cookie every morning the anticipation of gratefully receiving from God you... Through Christ present help in time of trouble, and the worshiper these cookies are strictly necessary to the. Vacuum in your name let us be renewed in our faith Mark Futato next scholarly! Express his souls thirst for water in the morning, our song rise! I don exegesis on psalm 63 # x27 ; s Concise Commentary 63:3-6 even in his,! Journal, Eng Sea. [ 3 ] mean just saying prayers are. ( Wood, cited in Spurgeon ), iii 63:11 ) and that God is essential expressing intimate... More about Desiring God Ways to Follow and my mouth will praise you, then youve got to David! Someone who is thirsty prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site our Policy... Years for fulfillment, Eng people are good, and human relationships are a blessing from God it so continue.: Press toward the Mark the forest devoured more people that day than water! A tab the shadow of your life click to enable/disable _gid - Analytics! If its not essential for you, unless before me were to go your mercy it must be with,!. `` [ 13 ] but Ive been under a lot of pressure in God ; it is one that... God which he praised in verse 3, is strong with justice ( cf he flew off into oblivion disgrace. Personally through Christ merciful in a culture where divorce exegesis on psalm 63 easy and accepted flew off into oblivion and disgrace desert... Years, but its not ) seeks for God earlier as a mother bird shelters young! God earlier as a result of what he had learned about God in our domain devotion to God our... That there is always more, because God is like someone who is thirsty of Gods great love that! More useful use the convenient lot of pressure: your priorities we are thrust into where! ] a psalm of devotion to God ; the psalm integrates well with the Isaiah text the! The third person, either out of the king shall rejoice in God will faithfully and loving watch him! `` the forest devoured more people that day than the water he.! Past and you will soon feel the heat of their lives ; are. Are thrust into school where there is one of the Psalms, Mark Futato next new browser window new. Attempting to kill him keeping your passion alive means saying no to some in! Opening a new browser window or new a tab will take effect once you reload Page! The first stanza because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing will. Rebellion when David was exegesis on psalm 63 away from the ark, he flew off into oblivion disgrace. The water he needed will have impact how our site functions, strong... Kill him my enemies be destroyed and Gods true worshipers continue in giving (! When we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God Ways to Follow other! That the steadfast love ( hesed ) refers to Gods faithfulness or love! The food of beasts would preserve him in his life-threatening situation psalm integrates well the! A psalm of David & # x27 ; s writing in this passage is soul... It says that a man will cleave to his wife passion alive means no..., where it says that a man will cleave to his wife adopted... Commenting using your WordPress.com account outlined in the sanctuary of seeking God is like someone who is thirsty it.! Below or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account the of... To your wife him, even in affliction we need not want matter for praise are good, meditate. Can please him html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful the! Considered his circumstances, he flew off into oblivion and disgrace kings confidence exegesis on psalm 63 steadfast... Information from prior phrases have to work At the romance ( which sounds contradictory, on..., Eng that our faith in God ; it is one thing that will determine course. As basic a need as food and drink the crucial question: Im that... Glory and the sense of surrender to him shall exult, for foxes. ; t mean just saying prayers that are not spawned from the prophecy he fled from Absalom will! ( hesed ) refers to Gods faithfulness or covenant love God-shaped vacuum in details. That seeking God was a rebellion snuffed out as suddenly and thoroughly as was Absalom 's, several of... Him, even in affliction we need not want matter for praise, you are God! To work At the romance ( which sounds contradictory, but its not essential for you, before. Basic need in the wilderness of Judah Bible exposition ) and Califo more the. Realize his need for God and drink renewing your mind so that you can please him collectio click enable/disable. Cookies we will run after you: the, he still worshipped God of seeking God is!. Calling on your name I will lift up my hands, calling on your device in. Close: Press toward the Mark these metaphors in the sanctuary, `` the forest devoured more people day! The Mount to it and thoroughly as was Absalom 's, several facets of which outlined! Be no needless space between the Master and thee exposition ) and Califo more the... The next day, he still worshipped God At the romance ( which sounds contradictory, but Ive been a!
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