Psalm 63:1, ESV: A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The point is, to seek after God means to go after God with an intense desire. But I want you to see that a person who seeks after God is not a religious mystic who is out of touch with reality. This is the KJV rendition of this clause; and we have chosen it here because of the long traditions associated with this rendition. They shall fall by the sword: David trusted God to deal with his enemies, especially with King Saul. 1. f. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches: David thought that there were not enough hours in the day to think upon Gods greatness and goodness. Gods support and provision of safety were the immediate causes of Davids meditation and praise. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! Other times it has the idea of presence, as in the wings of the cherubim that surround the throne of God. 63:1 O God, you are my God, 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. He will cut corners elsewhere if he has to, but he will not miss his time with this beautiful creature. I invite you to turn there in your Bibles. SUPERSCRIPTION: A PSALM OF DAVID; WHEN HE WAS IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDAH. This is the God that he knows, has walked with and served his life. There is a brief diversion, however in verse 9 when in a stark contrast the focus goes from the Almighty to those who plot to destroy. He is the bread of life and the living water, the one who fills those who hunger for righteousness (cf. The psalm concludes with a return to a focus on trusting a God who protects. Brief Definitions of Hebrew Verbal Forms that Impact Exegesis. In the song, David, the shepherd-king, is the sheep who is shepherded by Yahweh. Therefore he also used the night watches to meditate upon God. God seemed to be blessing his preaching. You can learn a lot about President Obama. Just as you feel physically after eating a delicious prime rib dinner, so David felt spiritually after feasting on the Lord. Reflecting on his God bolstered the kings confidence that the Lord would preserve him in his present situation. Psalm 57 Sermon. YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE . David meant this in the sense that it blessed and honored God when His creatures praised Him and thanked Him appropriately. Thus will I bless thee That is, so as I have done, and have now said. 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. i. None of these details are missing from the prophecy. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. This is a Psalm written by David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. The writer seems to be overflowing with joy in the Lord. Others try to fill their lives with possessions or with a successful and satisfying career. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Three things: Gods lovingkindness (63:3) was better to David than life itself. Psalms 63:1-2. "[1], All but the timid scholars agree with Rawlinson who wrote: "All the indications agree exactly with the superscription that this psalm was composed by David as he fled through the wilderness of Judea toward the Jordan during the revolt of Absalom."[2]. "[10] Christ himself adopted this beautiful metaphor (Matthew 23:37). 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. Then, there is the mystery of that little word, "So," standing at the head of Psalms 63:2, which will surely bear this interpretation. Psalm 63:1-8. He stayed steady in the storm because he had the inner resource of Gods strength. 7you have been my help. God has helped David out of many difficulties, including life threatening situations.And to think back about this builds up his faith. 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. The king;I, who am already anointed king, and who shall be actually king, when these mine enemies are fallen by the sword. One of the reasons that we want God is because we know that He amazing. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2009, All Rights Reserved. New American Standard Version Seeking after God means keeping your passion for God alive. If you figure that youve reached a level of maturity in your Christian life where you can put it in neutral and coast, youre in trouble! There is no reason for taking these words in some figurative or mystical sense. We all make time to do what we really want to do. (first clause). Lifting up the hands toward God was a gesture of prayer (cf. 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 ). Expositions on the Psalms. And also all those who are loyal to him will exult. [~'Elohiym] is plural and [~'Eli] is singular. This Psalm is filled with metaphors and creative imagery that is best understood through contextual knowledge. World problems, economic problems, personal problems, and the problems of friends and loved ones all press upon us. They shall be a portion for jackals. x][4~_ Prioritiesgodly prioritiesare crucial! When he was in the Desert of Judah. Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis: Commentary, Psalm 63:1-8, (Lent 3C), Beth L. Tanner, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2016. 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). Absalom and Ahithophel, the leaders, led the way. He was satisfied (63:5), but he wasnt satisfied. [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 15, 17), wrote. And he remembered how God had taken care of him in the past. Indeed, even our Lord Jesus Christ was tried and tested and tempted during his time on this earth. Turkey satisfies our stomach, and pumpkin pie satisfies our sweet tooth, but only the Lord Jesus Christ satisfies the soul. No area was off limits to God. He gives you eternal life as His free gift. Psalm 63 invites us to take 4 specific steps, found in verses 1-4, to find soul satisfaction during troublesome times. The address of God as "my God" is indicative thereof. . There he had become sure of Gods great power and glory. Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, . To seek after God means that there is always more, because God is an infinite person. At five years old we are thrust into school where there is pressure to perform and to compete for grades. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 63:3-6 Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise. 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. Psalm 51: Psalm 57: Psalm 63: Psalm 69: Psalm 46: Psalm 52: Psalm 58: Psalm 64: Psalm 70: Psalm 47: Psalm 53: Psalm 59: Psalm 65: . Reginald Heber's immortal hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy," memorializes these words in the first stanza. is the interpretation added to the figure, as in Psalm 144:7. . . 11Those who would hand over my life to the sword shall. I will lift up my hands, calling on your name. 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. ], Jesus stays behind in the temple. As we seek God in our trial, let us be renewed in our faith. Holy, holy, holy, Merciful and Mighty, God over all, and blessed eternally. Evidently Davids thirst for water in the wilderness led him to express his souls thirst for God. In David we have a notable example of a sensitive, tender, self analysing soul, living in sustained communion with God, while deeply sensible of the claims of the civil and religious polity of Israel, and, moreover, while externally devoted to a large round of exacting public duties. 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). b. How does one go about making the change. to see your power and glory. This is merely an Old Testament manner of speaking of the grave. But our trials are meant to lead us to God. But the king shall rejoice in God; Davids soul was close to God, following Him as one followed a Master or Teacher. In it, Jesus promised this. May I ask a question of every professed Christian? David made it a priority to spend time alone with God. 63:2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. David had walked with God for years, but he thirsted for more. There are family pressures: finding the right mate and building a solid marriage in a culture where divorce is easy and accepted. (LogOut/ Exegesis of Psalm 19 Corey Keating, Page 4. information from prior phrases. [Notice the contrasts: Davids mouth is full of praise, their lies. This is how much he is seeking after God. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. 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). ! As you think on what God has done for you in Christ, it ought to move you emotionally. Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; Psalm 63 was written by David while he was alone in the wilderness of Judah. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 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. A Psalm of David. It can become an overpowering, all consuming desire. Fellowship must be cultivated. (Morgan), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. Can it be right for us to treat the Lord with mute indifference? (Spurgeon), iii. He has gone from luxury to the wilderness; from power to weakness; from respect to dishonor; from safety to danger. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! Exhibit A: A young man in college who is working and carrying a full load of classes. David hid under Gods wing as a baby chick hides for protection under the mother hens wing. In your marriage, keeping your passion alive means saying no to some things in order to say yes to your wife. Thus it is crucial that you have the right priorities. How can a Christian who has lost the passion for God regain it? Psa 63:7. I have looked upon you . John Piper Aug 12, 1999. A Psalm of David.. Psalm 1 - The Two Ways: The Way of the Righteous and the Way of the Wicked". e. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness: David spoke of a satisfaction that too few people know, even among believers. "In the Hebrew, these words are: [~'Elohiym], [~'Eli]. It is good to see you all this evening and glad that you, those of you have come back this second time are here. Your priorities determine how you spend your time, with whom you spend your time, and how you make decisions. 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. Christianity is not just a matter of the head, but of the heart. Rebellion against God and Christ began at the arrest of Jesus ( Acts 4:23-26 ). John Piper Sep 25, 1983. 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. 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). God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God Ways to Follow . Instead of anticipating destruction as the Lords enemies could, David confidently rejoiced. Sep 25, 1983. He left his possessions and his wives behind him. Psalm 63:1. The next day, he flew off into oblivion and disgrace. Psalm 63:1-11. No one seeks for God unless God first seeks after them (John 6:44; Rom. Delitzsch more particularly identified David's location with that arid strip of desert just west of the Dead Sea.[3]. But it is interesting that Psalm 63 contains no petition (Perowne, p. 487). 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. Meditation on God fills a basic need in the heart of every person, as basic a need as food and drink. 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. 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. Many of us remember the day President Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal. . By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. The title of this psalm is To the Chief Musician.To Jeduthun. Your relationship with the Lord is comparable to a marriage relationship. 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! Verse 2: David wanted to see God's power and *glory in the *Temple in Jerusalem. 224-226) nicely outlines it as God my desire (1-4); God my delight (5-8); and, God my defense (9-11). 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. Psalms 63. To know the President personally would require an introduction or occasion to meet, and then spending hours with him over a long period of time in many situations. But those who seek my life, to destroy it: Davids deep communion with God did not take away his problems. He meant, "Let the promotion of God's glory or honor be your aim in all that you do. The word steadfast love (hesed) refers to Gods faithfulness or covenant love. When a couple falls in love, there are strong feelings, and there is nothing wrong with that. "O God, thou art my God; earnestly will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee. Why now, when the opportunities to serve You are so great? Ill never forget what he said next. He has fled from the throne. "It is our duty to rejoice in the shadow of God's wings. God isnt just a slice of life, who rounds out your other pursuits. The bodies of the dead provided food for the wild beasts. i. Its not a duty; its a delight! 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 63:9-10. My mouth offers praises with joyful lips (63:5b). It includes time in prayer, bringing your needs and others needs before Him. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Precisely because we cant fix them we have to come to God and depend wholly on God. 1. Psa 63:1 A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. Luke2:40-52, How to overcome evil with good. 22:5) or in the wilderness of Ziph, 1 Sa. What a remarkable fulfilment of David's prophecy came to pass. David chooses to seek after God. 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 higher and more responsible the leadership position, the greater are the pressures. Thats how it must be with God, if you want to seek Him. He spoke of the deep satisfaction that comes in a surrendered seeking of God, of receiving His great love, of praising God without reservation. His schedule seems packed. b. People are good, and human relationships are a blessing from God. 11But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.. Psalm 2. How much do you desire to know God? 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. finally,he speaks prophetically in faith of Gods deliverance. * [Psalm 63] A Psalm expressing the intimate relationship between God and the worshiper. (At this time he and those loyal to him went into the wilderness 2 Samuel 15:23; 28. And yet he did not neglect earnestly seeking God in this trying situation. He alone is our present help in time of trouble, and His compassion and mercy towards us is new every morning. EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES) Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul . 206.]. We are in Psalm 63 this morning. If you love God, youll make time to spend with Him because you delight to do so. What does he remember? 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. Your right hand upholds me. The International Bible Lesson (Uniform Series ) for October 31, 2010 , is from Psalm 63:1-11 . John 6:35, 4:14, Matt. But once youve received it, how do you go on seeking after God? In Ephesians 4:9, Paul referred to the grave of Jesus as "the lower parts of the earth." The last 3 verses say a bit about what David is going through. 1. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. % He wanted to go deeper. February 21, 2016 Transfiguration of Our Lord Ash Wednesday with joyous lips my mouth shall praise you! Thinking about Gods ability to satisfy his every need brought a sense of fullness into Davids life. Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged faith, Psalm 63, renewed faith, Seeking God, testing, the wilderness, thirsting after God, trials | Leave a Comment. Psalm 140:4 and Psalm 58:8, where, as in this passage, the treading or bending of the bow is transferred to the arrow. Again David pictured himself as a bird under the wing of its mother and as a dependent infant held by its parent. "The God in whom we trust despite natural disasters and historical threats, the God who will finally bring an end to wars (Ps 46:9), the God whose 'withness' takes its ultimate expression in the sending of the one named Immanuel -- these are some of the themes that suggest themselves from this psalm for these days of autumn." Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. From a formal perspective, verses 8-9 offer a striking example of assumed repetition. Mark 12:1-12, Arguing about whos the greatest. They will go to the depths, or Sheol, and their bodies will be left for scavengers.But he will rejoice, that is, he will come back to Jerusalem. His own son whom he loved was attempting to kill him. Again, those things have their place, but they are not meant to satisfy your soul. "The night watches" (Psalms 63:6). And then, right in the middle of it, Redpath was laid up with a stroke. Psalms Sunday Morning (00:07) Leave your bibles open to psalm 63 if you would. She didnt want to part from her (see also, 1 Kings 11:2; Gen. 34:3; 2 Sam. What does the person look like who seeks after God? Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. 352-53.]. He is like someone in desperate need of water in a dry and weary land where there is no water.. a. 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). How can we make time alone with God a priority and yet avoid a legalistic approach to it? If your priorities are not clearly defined, you will be swept downstream in life by various pressures, the seeming victim of your circumstances. Its contents are read and sung by millions every day. O20 Z$Uqg>6%rW);oN:Z[^"eBz!Yk&:%r(7! And the mouths of liars would then mean those who had sworn by David before, but now have rebelled against him, breaking their word.). 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. Two things are necessary for such triumph as this. "Early will I seek thee" (Psalms 63:1). 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. Songs 1:4 Draw me, we will run after you: the . Yes, because he calls Him my God. But he wanted more. 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. The primary sense of [the Hebrew word is] to glue together; from thence it signifies figuratively to associate, to adhere to, to be united with; and particularly to be firmly united with strong affection. (Chandler, cited in Spurgeon). . 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 . Being faint and thirsty are mentioned in 2 Samuel 16:2 and 17:29. K-_'Gc \ E%_1{L. I remember you through the watches of the night, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.c. 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.. "So have I looked upon thee in the sanctuary" (Psalms 63:2). Verse 1. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . The time was during Absalom's rebellion when David was shut off from the Tabernacle. Psalm 63:4. That is, those who had sworn allegiance to him but rebelled against him, that is broke their oath and lied will be stopped. He wasnt praying, O God, give me my wives back. Psalm 63 background the journey to the wilderness ! David summarizes his renewed faith 8My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.He is fully dependent upon God and God is upholding him in his trial. He remembers that this is a God who can take care of him, even in his life-threatening situation. 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. But they shouldnt come before your marriage. In Gods time and in Gods way, Davids enemies did fall by the sword, which has the sense of being killed in battle. You manage your money by considering what His Word says about it. Seeking after God means that you are seeking to develop an intimate relationship with the God whom you have met personally through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. "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. (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. There is in the love of God a richness, a sumptuousness, a fulness of soul-filling joy, comparable to the richest food with which the body can be nourished. (Spurgeon). But the king will rejoice in God (63:11). David wasnt consumed with thoughts of getting even. Sermon. In the midst of such pressures, there is one thing that will determine the course of your life: your priorities.
Are Hot Weather Ocps Authorized Air Force,
Special Education Conferences 2022 Texas,
Articles E