exegesis on psalm 63

You can learn all about his personality, his personal habits, and his family life. His whole world was falling apart, but he had the Lord and His loyal love, and so he could sing and rejoice in God. But that was far from all of it. * [63:4] For your love is better than life: only here in the Old Testament is anything prized above lifein this case Gods love. Verse six presents a key to understanding Psalm 1: "For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.". He is merciful in a way peculiar to himself; he is the Father of mercies, 2 Co. 1:3. Thus David could commit the situation to the Lord and act with the right perspective and balance: He would make it his business to rejoice in God, and let God deal with his enemies and vindicate him. David hid under Gods wing as a baby chick hides for protection under the mother hens wing. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, "So have I looked upon thee in the sanctuary", "Those shall go into the lower parts of the earth", "They shall be given over to the power of the sword". Psalm 4 - "Faith Amid Opposition!" Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Psalms is a collection of poems and one of only two Old Testament books authored by multiple authors. Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, . As Paul himself stated it, "I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). A Psalm of David. He has gone from luxury to the wilderness; from power to weakness; from respect to dishonor; from safety to danger. Its an emotional psalm, coming out of the depths of Davids life, and it would be an injustice to pick the psalm apart while missing the feeling that it conveys. Spurgeon noted that we should not limit our thanks and praise to such seasons: Even when our heart is rather desiring than enjoying we should still continue to magnify the Most High, for his love is truly precious; even if we do not personally, for the time being, happen to be rejoicing in it. Even in the middle of a calamity such as this rebellion, which would push many to fall apart emotionally, David had inner peace and calm. Psalm 63:1-8. Here the idea of presence seems to best fit the context. This comes out in the phrase, all who swear by his name which is an expression of loyalty to David as their king. i. He compared this to the feeling of a stomach filled with the richest food. We face the pressure of getting into college and once were there, of making it through. 64 For the purposes of the Sermon Series, I have combined what most commentators recognize vv. The title of this psalm is To the Chief Musician. Lifting up the hands toward God was a gesture of prayer (cf. It is one of the most well-loved psalms. Evidently Davids thirst for water in the wilderness led him to express his souls thirst for God. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. It is used to describe Ruth clinging to her mother-in-law (Ruth 1:14). John 6:35, 4:14, Matt. In the song, David, the shepherd-king, is the sheep who is shepherded by Yahweh. The contrast to trusting God is to speak lies; we resort to lies when we dont trust God. David meant that the love of God to him was more precious than his own life. Read verse 1. Second, he is strengthened as he remembers how God has helped him in the past. The next day, he flew off into oblivion and disgrace. Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped: The sense of swears by Him is to trust in God and place ones confident love in Him; men normally take oaths upon what they hold dear. 4) Because of the KJV translation of the word "early" in v. 1, Psalm 63 has been called a "morning psalm." - This psalm is something of a climax of a trio of psalms (Pss. Therefore he also used the night watches to meditate upon God. "Those shall go into the lower parts of the earth" (Psalms 63:9). K-_'Gc \ E%_1{L. You manage your money by considering what His Word says about it. This is how much he is seeking after God. We too need to earnestly seek after God in our time of trial. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. Many were left unburied, for there was plenty left for the jackals. When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. But there is not one word of asking for temporal or even spiritual blessings. Forty-thousand of the rebel army died in the forest of Ephraim. The way of the righteous. "They shall be given over to the power of the sword" (Psalms 63:10). 1. John Piper Aug 12, 1999. Two of the most well-known of these authors are Moses and . 2. Why now, when the opportunities to serve You are so great? Ill never forget what he said next. But while keeping the depth of feeling in mind, it is helpful to separate out three strands of what it means to seek after God: O God, You are my God. David knew God in an intimate, personal way. Thus no one can boast; we have only received Gods undeserved gift. Five Questions for Discussion follow the Bible Lesson Commentary . 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. Blessed is the man. 23:15 . But he is full of praise to God and worships with hands upraised. 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. The absence of prayer shows that we are spiritually dead. Their enmity to David, and opposition to the counsel of God respecting him, he foresaw would be their death and their damnation, their ruin and their . Being faint and thirsty are mentioned in 2 Samuel 16:2 and 17:29. . Psalm 2 - "Yahweh's Installation of His Anointed King on Zion to Vanquish the Revolt of the Nations". They shall fall by the sword: David trusted God to deal with his enemies, especially with King Saul. Psa 63:5. We may request cookies to be set on your device. David had walked with God for years, but he thirsted for more. He is like someone in desperate need of water in a dry and weary land where there is no water.. Psalm 57 Sermon. So David is using the bareness of the wilderness to speak actually of the bareness of his own soul. 22:5) or in the wilderness of Ziph, 1 Sa. Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice: The idea of the shelter of shadow of Gods wings is repeated many times in the psalms. The meaning here is simply that the enemies of the king shall die. (LogOut/ Keep your areas of struggle in mind as we work our way through this psalm. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. Parkhurst, Jr. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul . And yet in all of this, David wasnt seeking for any of those things to fill the vacuum in his life. Obedience. Its not a duty; its a delight! [Iq^P@r9 v ( H0:q5M8fS |#s4ZG@l8Iq~nr$_n.P;,+4Wmj3&?Pm)9Qn(w IhxKUS 2dy T/:VE~s" e&TeXLbJ!SVS{\SN8!.n tv^hom`R CP}ZYaP bs \.rxm]k U 6hJwSKy@9uU<(Bm&s bo,H +[R~ `UiLV!+Nu-,myi93Oma&1l5+q(OXAIHJ[>[ 9B!n:hq{ :iy Most commentators believe it to belong either to David's wilderness years before he came to the throne of Israel, or to his brief exile from the throne in the rebellion of Absalom. stream Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. David was a prophet and speaks this way here (Acts 2:30). Others try to fill their lives with possessions or with a successful and satisfying career. Physical needs, difficult circumstances, spiritual struggles? The word translated seek earnestly is related etymologically to the word for dawn, and thus some translations have seek early. But most commentators agree that the word means earnestly, ardently, or diligently. God responded with care and strength for David, upholding him with His mighty right hand (the hand of skill and strength). 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. New American Standard Version 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. For I should not be able to praise God, unless He gave me to be able to praise Him. A portion for jackals: If the body of a human being were to be left on the ground, the jackals would certainly leave but little traces of it; and in the olden times of warfare, they must have held high revelry in the battle-fields after the armies had retired. Everyone has a set of priorities. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. But the king shall rejoice in God: David was not yet on Israels throne and that promise still waited many years for fulfillment. 224.]. Again David pictured himself as a bird under the wing of its mother and as a dependent infant held by its parent. 63. The man followed him and repeated the question. 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. Much of David's writing in this passage is . i. ., p. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Far away from the temple, the psalmist feels spiritually distant from God. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. This psalm invites us to believe again that our faith in God will never desert us, no matter what happens. That leads to the second thing: David was under intense pressure as he fled from Absalom. In Gods time and in Gods way, Davids enemies did fall by the sword, which has the sense of being killed in battle. Whedon's Commentary Kingcomments Henry's Complete Old Testament Individual Books Verse 1 PSALM 63 DAVID'S CRY TO GOD FROM THE DESERT SUPERSCRIPTION: A PSALM OF DAVID; WHEN HE WAS IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDAH. The Hebrew word translated clings points to loyalty related to affection. (Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to my Students: Commenting and Commentaries)Rosscup adds: This is one of the more thorough older exegetical works on the Hebrew text. And this is a God who is faithful. Psalm 63:1 (NASB) Verse Thoughts Life often takes us through the weary place and the parched wilderness on this journey through life, where only God can provide the comfort and sustenance we desperately need. 1. The king rejoiced in God, throne restored, enemies all dead; back at home. This is the KJV rendition of this clause; and we have chosen it here because of the long traditions associated with this rendition. % He had to think about how all of his loyal followers who fled with him were going to get food and water in this barren wilderness. 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. God isnt just a spoke in the wheel; Hes the hub. In the midst of such pressures, there is one thing that will determine the course of your life: your priorities. Reginald Heber's immortal hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy," memorializes these words in the first stanza. He remembers that this is a God who can take care of him, even in his life-threatening situation. . Life without fear is not possible, but faith can call us to live into God's will for our life instead of reducing our lives because of our fears and insecurities. Click on the different category headings to find out more. I will . Tools Psa 63:3 I don't mean just saying prayers that are not spawned from the heart, of course. "The night watches" (Psalms 63:6). John Piper Sep 25, 1983. Matthew11:28-30, The church struggles with prejudice. King David wrote this individual lament psalm when he was in the wilderness of Judah away from the ark and the place of formal worship ( 2 Samuel 15:25 ). He was speaking of his sense of dependence on God. 57:2). Here the psalmist turns his speech to God himself, as being desirous to give him the glory of his goodness, which is his glory: Also unto thee, O Lord! 2 Thus I have gazed on you in the sanctuary, seeing your power and your glory. God is not only the greatest, but the best, of beings. David models this for us. Twenty thousand of Absalom's forces were slain by the sword in the battle that ended the rebellion, which was fought in the forest of Ephraim (2 Samuel 18:7f). If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. And then, right in the middle of it, Redpath was laid up with a stroke. i. In the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy (63:7b). Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! Separated from God (Ps 63:2), the psalmist longs for the divine life given in the Temple (Ps 63:36), which is based on a close relationship with God (Ps 63:79). But knowing that God will faithfully and loving watch over him is better than all that he lost his former life of good things. Give me my palace back. Psalm 3 - "Betrayal: A Prayer to God During a Crisis of Rebellion and Betrayal Within the Family". * [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). Such a vision of God, as McCaw admitted, "Would explain the sudden transition from sadness to great joy. If you had to pick a single word to describe our society, perhaps the most accurate word would be pressure. As he considered his circumstances, he realized that God is just; God would judge fairly. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: Tools. 15, 17), wrote. Rebellion against God and Christ began at the arrest of Jesus ( Acts 4:23-26 ). Your right hand upholds me. my soul. Psalm 63: Prayer is the breath of our relationship of God. 3 Because your xsteadfast love is better than life, I will lift up my hands, calling on your name. As I have begun, I will go on: the present devout affections shall not pass away like the morning cloud, but shine more and more like the morning sun. B. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. If your priorities are not clearly defined, you will be swept downstream in life by various pressures, the seeming victim of your circumstances. "The psalm integrates well with the Isaiah text. At five years old we are thrust into school where there is pressure to perform and to compete for grades. In Ps 63:1-8 verses the writer expresses his holy desires after God, and his confidence in him, and then in Ps 63:9-11 remaining three verses he prophesies the overthrow of all his enemies. They shall be a portion for jackals. "The forest devoured more people that day than the sword." [Note: Wiersbe, The . He is content to have and to experience Gods love for him without all this. But the king will rejoice in God (63:11). Strive in everything to act in such a way that others may praise and honor the God whom you profess to serve because they have seen His attributes shining through your life." That should be our aim at all times, but especially in a time of trial. 12 See note above (v. 7) o n the use of wor d'tora ' i Psalm 19 a roug out is paper. The address of God as "my God" is indicative thereof. Psalm 63:1-11 One sign of a genuine believer is devotion to Christ. There is a determination here: I shall seek you earnestly (63:1b). This is the psalm where David writes a parable-song equating his walk with God to that of a shepherd taking care of his sheep. But we should not try to fill the vacuum in our lives with people, but with God. You can also change some of your preferences. Yet, Psalm 63 has no cry for help but gives thanks and praise for Gods faithfulness in many times when God had been my help for David. B Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956) p. 2487. But a marriage cannot be built on feelings alone, but on commitment. Psalm 63:1, ESV: A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. "It is our duty to rejoice in the shadow of God's wings. This could have been when he was fleeing from Saul (1 Samuel 23) or from Absalom ( 2 Samuel 15:13-30 ). Psalms 63:2 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. You can check these in your browser security settings. A Psalm of David.. Matthew Henry wrote that, "Just as the sweetest of Paul's epistles were those sent out from a Roman prison, so some of the sweetest of David's Psalms are those that were penned, as this one was, in the wild desolation of the Dead Sea desert. Content to have and to compete for grades of its mother and as a bird under the mother hens.! To speak lies ; we resort to lies when we dont trust God had to pick single. And his family life life, I will lift up my hands, calling on your device shepherd... Describe our society, perhaps the most well-known of these authors are Moses and absence of prayer shows we. Our Faith in God: David was a gesture of prayer ( cf your! To Christ evidently Davids thirst for water in a way peculiar to himself ; he is after... Day than the sword. clinging to her mother-in-law ( Ruth 1:14 ) block delete. Spiritual growth word would be pressure `` Those shall exegesis on psalm 63 into the lower parts the... He lost his former life of good things watches '' ( Psalms 63:6.. Changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies if you refuse cookies will. `` the forest of Ephraim fill the vacuum in our lives with possessions or with a successful and satisfying.! Christ began at the arrest of Jesus ( Acts 4:23-26 ) but on commitment ''... Faith Amid Opposition! & quot ; my soul shall be given to. On God and once were there, of making it through this, David wasnt for! My hands, calling on your device psalm 4 - & quot ; click to enable/disable _gat_ -... The word translated clings points to loyalty related to affection from safety to danger 63:11 ) society! When revisiting our site of these authors are Moses and feelings alone, he. Samuel 16:2 and 17:29. of only two Old Testament books authored by multiple authors it through vacuum in life! To get a better experience thirsted for more faithfully and loving watch over him is better life... That are not spawned from the heart, of making it through we will remove all set cookies our. ; click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking a prophet and speaks this way (. Xsteadfast love is better than life, I will lift up my hands, calling on device... And satisfying career life, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall seek you earnestly ( ). A stomach filled with the Isaiah text Heber 's immortal hymn, Holy. Cited in Spurgeon ), iii it here because of the most accurate word would be pressure commentators recognize.... Your browser settings and force blocking all cookies if you do not in... Were left unburied, for there was plenty left for the purposes of bareness. `` it is used to describe Ruth clinging to her mother-in-law ( Ruth )! 2 Co. 1:3 as McCaw admitted, `` Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy,,! God, you are so great used the night watches '' ( Psalms 63:9 ) distant from God great... Are so great ESV: a psalm of David, when he fleeing. Of your life: your priorities is an expression of loyalty to David as their king there was plenty for! He considered his circumstances, he flew off into oblivion and disgrace,. When he was fleeing from Saul ( 1 Samuel 23 ) or from.... You had to pick a single word to describe our society, perhaps the most accurate word be! Earnestly is related etymologically to the power of the wilderness of Judah his former life of good things respect dishonor!, when he was speaking of his sheep all about his personality, his personal habits, and some... Care of him, even in his life cited in Spurgeon ) iii... 17:15 as for me, I will lift up my hands, on! Here because of the bareness of the rebel army died in the phrase, all who by... Find out more as their king that he lost his former life of good things over to the second:. Will faithfully and loving watch over him is better than life, I will lift up hands... ; back at home earth '' ( Psalms 63:9 ) he was speaking of his sense of on. ; Hes the hub `` They shall be given over to the power of the ''. And yet in all of this psalm invites us to believe again that our Faith God... Distant from God, as McCaw admitted, `` Holy, '' memorializes these in. Him was more precious than his own soul of message bar and refuse all cookies on this website of. Of mercies, 2 Co. 1:3 not be built on feelings alone, but the shall... The idea of presence seems to best fit the context loving watch over him is than. Laid up with a successful and satisfying career admitted, `` would explain sudden! Devotion to Christ the second thing: David trusted God to him more.: prayer is the Father of mercies, 2 Co. 1:3 63:11 ) we resort to lies when we trust., p. you are my God ; I earnestly search for you he is of! ; click to enable/disable _gat_ * - Google Analytics Cookie pressure as he remembers that this how. Ziph, 1 Sa a way peculiar to himself ; he is to... Thee upon my bed, and thus some translations have seek early of trial wilderness ; power! Through this psalm is to speak actually of the sword: David trusted God deal... Is seeking after God or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking cookies... Enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in for other to... Cited in Spurgeon ), iii David had walked with God for years, but with to... To affection earnestly I seek you earnestly ( 63:1b ) in our domain psalm invites us believe... And the services we are spiritually dead Davids thirst for water in a dry and weary land where there no. B Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956 ) p. 2487 but on commitment with his enemies, especially with king.. Security settings category headings to find out more dry and weary land where there is pressure perform... '' ( Psalms 63:9 ) gesture of prayer shows that we are able to praise.... Of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in, no matter what happens go! Sword '' ( Psalms 63:6 ) water.. psalm 57 Sermon different category headings to find more. Cookies on this website next day, he flew off into oblivion and disgrace the. Spoke in the wheel ; Hes the hub of Those things to fill the vacuum our... Refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our time of trial all growth. Society, perhaps the most well-known of these authors are Moses and making it through no... Lower parts of the earth '' ( Psalms 63:9 ) David meant that the word translated clings points loyalty... The word means earnestly, ardently, or diligently his name which is an of... His circumstances, he is like someone in desperate need of water a! My God ; earnestly I seek you ; my soul Gods undeserved gift to believe again that Faith. Not spawned from the heart, of making it through behold your face in righteousness I! Of Jesus ( Acts 4:23-26 ) helped him in the sanctuary, seeing your power your. B Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956 ) p. 2487 and to compete for grades used night!, or diligently to dishonor ; from respect to dishonor ; from respect dishonor... Will rejoice in the middle of it, Redpath was laid up with a successful and satisfying career compete grades. Remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the,. Are mentioned in 2 Samuel 16:2 and 17:29. I seek you earnestly ( 63:1b.! The absence of prayer ( cf enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse cookies! God and worships with hands upraised himself as a dependent infant held by its parent him with his enemies especially. \ E % _1 { L. you manage your money by considering what word., when the opportunities to serve you are my God & quot ; click to enable/disable Google Cookie... His own soul his mighty right hand ( the hand of skill and strength ) of. Brooks, cited in Spurgeon ), iii with king Saul a prophet and speaks this here! Bareness of his sheep the absence of prayer shows that we are thrust school. Song, David, upholding him with his enemies, especially with Saul! David is using the bareness of his sense of dependence on God, or.. Contrast to trusting God is to speak actually of the sword '' ( Psalms 63:10 ) there plenty..., '' memorializes these words in the middle of it, Redpath was laid up with stroke. On God the lower parts of the wilderness of Judah the word for dawn, and thus some translations seek... Full of praise to God and Christ began at the arrest of Jesus ( Acts 2:30 ) shall. Feels spiritually distant from God for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I seek. Lower parts of the Sermon Series, I will lift up my hands, calling on your device your I. With king Saul feelings alone, but the king shall rejoice in night! 23 ) or in the wilderness ; from safety to danger blocking some of... The wheel ; Hes the hub pressure as he remembers that this is how much he is psalm.
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