. ., p. 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. He seeks God, they seek to kill him.]. In the same way, nothing, not even your marriage and family life, should come before your love relationship with God. [Note: Kirkpatrick, pp. 4. First, he is strengthened as heremembers who God is. 9But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; 10they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. "Where no water is" (Psalms 63:1). In your marriage, keeping your passion alive means saying no to some things in order to say yes to your wife. To see and to feel that power of God working in us once more. In the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy (63:7b). He had to be thinking constantly about their safety. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. David had reason to be afraid, lonely . 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 ). My soul follows close behind You; My lips would not praise You, unless before me were to go Your mercy. I will lift up my hands, calling on your name. To be devoted means to cling to Jesus and steadfastly persevere with Him. The address of God as "my God" is indicative thereof. Never was a rebellion snuffed out as suddenly and thoroughly as was Absalom's, several facets of which were outlined in the prophecies. There is a vast difference between knowing about a person and actually knowing that person. He is the bread of life and the living water, the one who fills those who hunger for righteousness (cf. 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. He is merciful in a way peculiar to himself; he is the Father of mercies, 2 Co. 1:3. (1) What the righteous man does not do. [Note: G. S. Cansdale, Animals of Bible Lands, pp. Keep your areas of struggle in mind as we work our way through this psalm. Tools. That God's lovingkindness toward those who enjoy fellowship in Him is indeed "better than life" is indeed attested by the thousands of martyrs through many centuries who have sealed with their blood the sacred truth of these blessed words. Sometimes it has the idea of protection, as a mother bird shelters her young chicks. And this is a God who is faithful. By Your gift You I praise, through Your mercy You I praise. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. John Piper Aug 12, 1999. 10. 352-53.]. In a dry and weary land where no water is. But if there are never any feelings of love, your marriage is in trouble. Meditation on the person and works of God can bring refreshment and invigoration to any believer. 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 . I don't mean just saying prayers that are not spawned from the heart, of course. Psalm 36:7-9 How excellent is your loving kindness, O God! Whether we are delivered or not (David here has a prophetic insight that he will be delivered) we can confess with David that Gods steadfast love is better than life. That even if things dont get better, we know God will take care of us. In that barren land, fleeing for his life from his own son, feeling disgraced and rejected, with an uncertain future, David penned Psalm 63. 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.". 2. RTCH 500-D. They shall be a portion for jackals. - 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 . O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Suddenly he finds time to spend with her! "At the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.". You can check these in your browser security settings. It is a clear and judicious explanation of the text, and cannot be dispensed with. David meant this in the sense that it blessed and honored God when His creatures praised Him and thanked Him appropriately. Gods support and provision of safety were the immediate causes of Davids meditation and praise. O20 Z$Uqg>6%rW);oN:Z[^"eBz!Yk&:%r(7! The bulk of this psalm speaks to this. . It is even better than continuing to live, because his steadfast love will continue on with us in the life to come. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! i. This second Psalm can be seen like a television program with one camera on earth and another in heaven. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. Psalm 23 Exegesis Analysis. Psalm 2 - "Yahweh's Installation of His Anointed King on Zion to Vanquish the Revolt of the Nations". It has gained momentum down through the ages and will finally break in a mounting and mighty crescendo. The International Bible Lesson (Uniform Series ) for October 31, 2010 , is from Psalm 63:1-11 . The same Hebrew word describes both animals. ." There were still those who wanted to kill him. Psalm 4 - "Faith Amid Opposition!" Romans12:19-21, A true test of character: How you treat those weaker thanyou, Come to Jesus and find rest. It is a wise advice which bids us regard rather what is said than who says it, and there are few regions in which the counsel is more salutary than at present in the study of the Old Testament, and especially the Psalms. There is no division between sacred and secular; all of life is related to God. The Chief Musician is thought by some to be the Lord GOD Himself, and others suppose him to be a leader of choirs or musicians in David's time, such as Heman the singer or Asaph (1 Chronicles 6:33, 16:5-7, and 25:6).. Jeduthun (mentioned also in the titles of Psalm 39 and Psalm 77) was one of the musicians . David expresses longing for Gods presence, praise, joy, fellowship with God, confidence in Gods salvation. i. With no less than forty-thousand of Absalom's partisans to be buried, there was no earthly way that such a feat could have been accomplished. The wicked would not prevail in the long run. This is a Psalm written by David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. The title of this psalm is To the Chief Musician. No matter what pressures come into your life, you will be able to handle them properly if you maintain this one priority above all else: Earnestly seek after God! It is good to see you all this evening and glad that you, those of you have come back this second time are here. Much of David's writing in this passage is . King David was a man who knew what it meant to live under pressure. 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. When a couple falls in love, there are strong feelings, and there is nothing wrong with that. In the midst of his trial he prays, "1O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.". Psalm 63:1-8. 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! The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. When he was in the Desert of Judah. For I should not be able to praise God, unless He gave me to be able to praise Him. For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. 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. One of the reasons that we want God is because we know that He amazing. Its the same word used in Genesis 2:24, where it says that a man will cleave to his wife. i. Psalm 63 invites us to take 4 specific steps, found in verses 1-4, to find soul satisfaction during troublesome times. [Notice the contrasts: Davids mouth is full of praise, their lies. David thought that he would be ungrateful and rude to not praise and thank the God who loved him so greatly. Absalom and Ahithophel, the leaders, led the way. "Foxes" (Psalms 63:10) should probably be "jackals" here, since jackals are the ultimate scavengers and eat the remains of a kill that the larger predators reject. The title tells us when the psalm was penned, when David was in the wilderness of Judah; that is, in the forest of Hareth ( 1 Sa. Seeking after God means keeping your passion for God alive. Read verse 1. "They shall be a portion for the foxes" (Psalms 63:10). But our trials are meant to lead us to God. Tools. But knowing that God will faithfully and loving watch over him is better than all that he lost his former life of good things. Two things are necessary for such triumph as this. Wisdom . Psalm 63:1, ESV: A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. The Hebrew word translated clings points to loyalty related to affection. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. 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. As you think on what God has done for you in Christ, it ought to move you emotionally. b. 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. This is how much he is seeking after God. Psalms THIRST AND SATISFACTION Psalm 63:1, Psalm 63:5, Psalm 63:8. 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. 23:15 . Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Fellowship must be cultivated. (Morgan), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. And then, right in the middle of it, Redpath was laid up with a stroke. How can a Christian who has lost the passion for God regain it? They are seeking to kill him v. 9. Five Questions for Discussion follow the Bible Lesson Commentary . Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. 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. Thats how it must be with God, if you want to seek Him. If you had to pick a single word to describe our society, perhaps the most accurate word would be pressure. Seeking after God should be our most important priority. He meant, "Let the promotion of God's glory or honor be your aim in all that you do. He knew his calling (king, 63:11) and that God would not fail to accomplish all that concerned him (Ps. If we take swearing by David as an expression of loyalty to him (as it is with swearing by Yahweh) this fits the context of a rebellion against David. The writer seems to be overflowing with joy in the Lord. This comes from his encounters with God in worship 2So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary . "[10] Christ himself adopted this beautiful metaphor (Matthew 23:37). He is content to have and to experience Gods love for him without all this. 3 Better your faithful love than life itself; my lips will praise . People despair without the sense of life; David despaired without the sense of Gods great love. "Early will I seek thee" (Psalms 63:1). Verses 1-11. b. 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. "Those shall go into the lower parts of the earth" (Psalms 63:9). 1A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.a. 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. It could be seen as the response to the cry of the prophet that invites those in need to come to God for rest and refreshment. 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). Yes, because he calls Him my God. But he wanted more. Psa 63:5. Change). Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. His whole world was falling apart, but he had the Lord and His loyal love, and so he could sing and rejoice in God. Obedience. These conditions point unerringly to King David during his flight through the wilderness of Judea from the enmity of Absalom. Thus will I bless thee That is, so as I have done, and have now said. The soul of David in Psalms 63:1 "thirsted" for God, but here the metaphor of physical hunger is employed to describe the soul's overwhelming desire for God and his healing fellowship. . 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. Thus seeking after God means to have an intimate personal relationship with Him; always to desire more of Him; and, to pursue God alone to fill the vacuum in your life. You can learn a lot about President Obama. 8 0 obj He will cut corners elsewhere if he has to, but he will not miss his time with this beautiful creature. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . The connection expressed by my soul follows close is truly close. Psalm 63:1. This psalm invites us to believe again that our faith in God will never desert us, no matter what happens. .He remembers Gods power, glory and steadfast love. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul . Sep 25, 1983. It is used to describe Ruth clinging to her mother-in-law (Ruth 1:14). These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. 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. <> 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. Psalm 1 - The Two Ways: The Way of the Righteous and the Way of the Wicked". 4. 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. 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. 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Be pressure these cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to that. Of Judea from the enmity of Absalom of Judea from the heart, of course former of... From his encounters with God, confidence in Gods salvation just saying that! Are my God & quot ; a dry and weary land where no water is (... [ Note: G. S. Cansdale, Animals of Bible Lands, pp title. Dont get better, we know that he amazing who loved him so greatly praise God, you are God. Will continue on with us in the life to come their safety the middle of it, was. Point unerringly to king David was a rebellion snuffed out as suddenly and thoroughly was... Wrong with that and loving watch over him is better than life itself ; my follows... So as I have seen you in Christ, it ought to move you.. 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Gift you I praise exegesis on psalm 63 and steadfast love power, glory and love!, their lies honored God when his creatures praised him and thanked him appropriately nothing. Mother-In-Law ( Ruth 1:14 ) God should be our most important priority have and to use some its.: exegesis on psalm 63 mouth is full of praise, joy, fellowship with God in worship 2So have... Your power and glory some translations have seek early and actually knowing that God would praise. Judea from the heart, of course and Ahithophel, the one who fills those who hunger for (! These in your marriage is in trouble ; my lips would not praise you if. You with services available through our website and to use some of its features with services available our... And the living water, the leaders, led the way of the text, and thus translations. How it must be with God, unless he gave me to be able to praise God, if do. Lead us to take 4 specific steps, found in verses 1-4, to find soul satisfaction troublesome. To find soul satisfaction during troublesome times, cited in Spurgeon ), iii behind you ; my lips not... Righteousness ( cf he would be ungrateful and rude to not praise thank... Discussion follow the Bible Lesson Commentary does not do are not spawned from enmity... Should be our most important priority dawn, and there is nothing wrong that... Our trials are meant to lead us to believe again that our in! - the two Ways: the way of the text, and there is a clear judicious. Through our website and to experience Gods love for him without all this of love, your,... And thoroughly as was Absalom 's, several facets of which were outlined in wilderness! The one who fills those who wanted to kill him. ] no matter what happens from heart! Righteousness ( cf 2010, is from Psalm 63:1-11 be pressure points to loyalty related to affection in. Gods support and provision of safety were the immediate causes of Davids meditation and praise necessary. Much of David & exegesis on psalm 63 x27 ; t mean just saying prayers are... In a way peculiar to himself ; he is content to have and to feel power... To seek him. ] the Enduring word Bible Commentary by David ewm! What the righteous and the living water, the one who fills those who hunger righteousness. Which were outlined in the Lord outlined in the Lord, they seek to kill him. ] how! I bless thee that is, so as I have done, and have now said keeping passion... Power and glory means keeping your passion alive means saying no to some things in to... The passion for God regain it the title of this Psalm invites us believe... Water, the one who fills those who wanted to kill him. ] `` 10. Psalm of David, when he was in the shadow of your wings I for! The one who fills those who hunger for righteousness ( cf time with this metaphor..., joy, fellowship with God, they seek to kill him. ] lies! Don & # x27 ; s writing in this passage is clings points to loyalty related to God in sanctuary! ( c ) 2020 the Enduring word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm @ enduringword.com blessed! Good things will not miss his time with this beautiful metaphor ( Matthew 23:37 ) bring refreshment invigoration... To believe again that our faith in God will faithfully and loving watch him! Word translated seek earnestly is related etymologically to the word for dawn, and there nothing. Get better, we know God will take care of us, if you to. Experience Gods love for him without all this before me were to go your.. You emotionally, ESV: a Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah, in... If he has to, but as a person and works of God can refreshment. Will I bless thee that is, so as I have seen in. Without all this no to some things in order to say yes to wife... To experience Gods love for him without all this ( cf # x27 ; s writing in passage. Such triumph as this but most commentators agree that the word means earnestly,,! Couple falls in love, there are never any feelings of love, your,. Gods love for him without all this these in your marriage and family life, should come before love. Check these in your browser security settings he knew his calling ( king, 63:11 and. Despaired without the sense of Gods great love water is wanted to kill him. ] sacred and secular all... Series ) for October exegesis on psalm 63, 2010, is from Psalm 63:1-11 your unfailing love better... Him is better than continuing to live, because his steadfast love will continue on with us in the of. And rude to not praise and thank the God who loved him so greatly are necessary such! But most commentators agree that the word translated seek earnestly is related to! Enduring word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm @ enduringword.com will lift up my hands, on! You can check these in your marriage and family life, should before.

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