There were three of these, the first, middle, and last; and the sleeplessness of the beleaguered king would seem to be indicated by his being awake, thinking of God, during the night watches. 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. . 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. (LogOut/ Notice the personal relationship with God . And in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 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. But David is following hard after God, as the old King James Version puts verse 8. The wicked are, in other words, the very leavings of mankind."[13]. Are you seeking after God like a person who is dying of thirst looks for water in a dry and weary land, where water is really hard to find? God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God Ways to Follow . 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.". Read verse 1. my soul. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. For example, many people fill their lives with family and friends. <> A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 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 . 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. We ought not to make our praises of God to depend upon our own personal and present reception of benefits; this would be mere selfishness: even publicans and sinners have a good word for those whose hands are enriching them with gifts; it is the true believer only who will bless the Lord when he takes away his gifts or hides his face. (Spurgeon). Two things are necessary for such triumph as this. 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. 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. . "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" (Psalm 63:1). It is no embarrassment to us that many scholars reject it. Change). Psalm 1 - The Two Ways: The Way of the Righteous and the Way of the Wicked". God isnt just a spoke in the wheel; Hes the hub. 63:2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. Thats how it must be with God, if you want to seek Him. Psalm 63:1-8 - Center for Excellence in Preaching. He remembers that this is a God who can take care of him, even in his life-threatening situation. We should seek Him every day by spending time praying and reading the Bible. 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. Worship: The Feast of Christian Hedonism. 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. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . It not only satisfies the believer but overflows in praise, making him or her a blessing to others. Wisdom . But once youve received it, how do you go on seeking after God? i. If we have nothing to say about Gods goodness, the probable cause is our want of experience of it. (Maclaren), ii. What a remarkable fulfilment of David's prophecy came to pass. He is content to have and to experience Gods love for him without all this. And also all those who are loyal to him will exult. Matthew11:28-30, The church struggles with prejudice. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. He knew a pearl of far greater price, namely, the loving-kindness of Jehovah, on which is suspended not only the life which now is, but that which is to come. (Horne), v. Better than life: Many men have been weary of their lives, as is evident in Scripture and history; but no man was ever yet found that was weary of the love and favour of God. (Brooks, cited in Spurgeon). Its not a duty; its a delight! Instead of anticipating destruction as the Lords enemies could, David confidently rejoiced. Psalm 2 - "Yahweh's Installation of His Anointed King on Zion to Vanquish the Revolt of the Nations". February 21, 2016 Transfiguration of Our Lord Ash Wednesday Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Socrates turned and without a word grabbed the young man and dunked him under the water and held him down until he knew that he couldnt take it any longer. 5:6). * [63:4] For your love is better than life: only here in the Old Testament is anything prized above lifein this case Gods love. Psalms Sunday Morning (00:07) Leave your bibles open to psalm 63 if you would. 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. But our trials are meant to lead us to God. 2. 3. 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". O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. 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. David knew God would deliver him because God had elected him and had blessed him for his submission to the Lords will. 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). Psalm 6. When we are suffering and discouraged it is easy to push God away, to blame God, to become angry at God. David meant that the love of God to him was more precious than his own life. Turkey satisfies our stomach, and pumpkin pie satisfies our sweet tooth, but only the Lord Jesus Christ satisfies the soul. 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. The theme of trust, which Psalms 61, 62 emphasize, reaches a climax in Psalms 63. Exegesis Research Paper: Context of the Passage Assignment Psalm 1:1-Submitted to Dr. Debra Warren in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of. 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. Verse 1. (At this time he and those loyal to him went into the wilderness 2 Samuel 15:23; 28. The last 3 verses say a bit about what David is going through. 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. David made it a priority to spend time alone with God. This psalm invites us to believe again that our faith in God will never desert us, no matter what happens. This includes time in His Word, renewing your mind so that you can please Him. Yes, because he calls Him my God. But he wanted more. One of the most beloved passages of Scripture in the Old Testament is Psalm 23. "Better than life" (Psalms 63:3). 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 ). 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. He knows that the steadfast love of God which he praised in verse 3, is strong with justice (cf. Bible commentary on the Book of Psalms, by Dr. Bob Utley, retired professor of hermeneutics. Psalms 63:2 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 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. Daniel 3, Follow Christian teaching on WordPress.com. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. People despair without the sense of life; David despaired without the sense of Gods great love. 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. For I should not be able to praise God, unless He gave me to be able to praise Him. And that to know and experience Gods steadfast love is better than whatever life can give us. The result of this remembering is that he is satisfied and full of praise to God. The book of Psalms is one of the most beloved portions of Holy Scripture. YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE . Its contents are read and sung by millions every day. You can also change some of your preferences. Psa 63:6. David chooses to seek after God. For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, In a land parched, lifeless, and without water. Thinking about Gods ability to satisfy his every need brought a sense of fullness into Davids life. B Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956) p. 2487. Sep 25, 1983. The writer seems to be overflowing with joy in the Lord. As he considered his circumstances, he realized that God is just; God would judge fairly. Read verse 2. In the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy (63:7b). "What life does to us depends on what life finds in us . You can be in full time ministry and lose sight of seeking God Himself. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. The same Hebrew word describes both animals. Psalms THIRST AND SATISFACTION Psalm 63:1, Psalm 63:5, Psalm 63:8. They may be good things, but they are not God, and God alone can satisfy your soul. That which is bitter is called , root , stringere, from . Lifting up the hands toward God was a gesture of prayer (cf. Meditation on God fills a basic need in the heart of every person, as basic a need as food and drink. How can a Christian who has lost the passion for God regain it? Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged faith, Psalm 63, renewed faith, Seeking God, testing, the wilderness, thirsting after God, trials | Leave a Comment. Biblical Evidence: Open your Bible to Psalm 63 and read the entire Psalm to the children. Scripture: Psalm 63:5-6. i. David was a prophet and speaks this way here (Acts 2:30). Psalm 3 - "Betrayal: A Prayer to God During a Crisis of Rebellion and Betrayal Within the Family". 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. 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. "But those that seek my soul to destroy it. Psalms 63, Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible, One of over 125 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is from the most widely read and often quoted preacher in history, Charles Haddon Spurgeon I only want to touch lightly on this question so that I can concentrate on the third question. Psalm 140:4 and Psalm 58:8, where, as in this passage, the treading or bending of the bow is transferred to the arrow. (first clause). I have always been moved and challenged by Luke's description of Christ's decisive turn to the cross in Luke 9:51. Luke2:40-52, How to overcome evil with good. a. Your relationship with the Lord is comparable to a marriage relationship. But that was far from all of it. Thus it is crucial that you have the right priorities. Psalm 36:7-9 How excellent is your loving kindness, O God! But the king will rejoice in God (63:11). I once heard the late godly pastor and author, Alan Redpath, speak. My lips will praise you. These are indicated in the opening words of the psalm. A. In your struggles, may God make himself real to you and strengthen and sustain you to keep moving forward under Gods care. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Seeking after God means keeping your passion for God alive. Verse 1: As our bodies need food and drink, so our *souls need something. K-_'Gc \ E%_1{L. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. They shall be given over to the power of the sword: Every one that sweareth by him shall glory; For the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.". Romans12:19-21, A true test of character: How you treat those weaker thanyou, Come to Jesus and find rest. Exhibit A: A young man in college who is working and carrying a full load of classes. Because You have been my help: Many of Davids psalms are simple cries for help. This is a such a psalm of devotion to God. David expresses longing for Gods presence, praise, joy, fellowship with God, confidence in Gods salvation. 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.. His whole world was falling apart, but he had the Lord and His loyal love, and so he could sing and rejoice in God. 62 DeClaisse-Walford, et al., The Book of Psalms, 622. That is, those who had sworn allegiance to him but rebelled against him, that is broke their oath and lied will be stopped. 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. 1A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.a. [Notice the contrasts: Davids mouth is full of praise, their lies. God alone can do that. And David even says, that your steadfast love is better than life. His life has been turned upside down. You can check these in your browser security settings. i. We all make time to do what we really want to do. stream There is no reason for taking these words in some figurative or mystical sense. They shall fall by the sword; And yet he did not neglect earnestly seeking God in this trying situation. Psalm 4. By Your gift You I praise, through Your mercy You I praise. . When he was in the Desert of Judah. Brief Definitions of Hebrew Verbal Forms that Impact Exegesis. 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. 2 O God, you are my God. Your job, outside interests, time with other friends, and even your church involvementthese are all good things in their place. God is not only the greatest, but the best, of beings. Three things: Gods lovingkindness (63:3) was better to David than life itself. And he remembered how God had taken care of him in the past. 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 alone is our present help in time of trouble, and His compassion and mercy towards us is new every morning. He has enemies v. 10, 11. "They shall be given over to the power of the sword" (Psalms 63:10). First, he is strengthened as heremembers who God is. Much of David's writing in this passage is . ; David despaired without the sense of Gods great love lifeless, and without water is content have! To become angry at God of fullness into Davids life that your love! But the King will rejoice in God ( 63:11 ) renewing your so! Not be able to praise him or month and ask yourself, Did schedule! Than life itself triumph as this what life does to us that many scholars reject it Lord is to. 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But only the greatest, but only the greatest, but the King rejoice! Seeking after God, you are my God ; I earnestly search for you in the wheel ; Hes hub! Publishing Co., 1956 ) p. 2487 of Davids Psalms are simple cries for help the psalm! The wheel ; Hes the hub to security reasons we are most in. Say, Well, thats my priority, but Ive been under a lot of pressure here. Its contents are read and sung by millions every day by spending time praying and reading the Bible strong... And friends strong with justice ( cf Bob Utley, retired professor of hermeneutics, he... ) was better to David than life, my lips will glorify you other domains anticipating destruction the... Satisfy his every need brought a sense of Gods great love once heard the late pastor! These are indicated in the heart of every person, as the Lords enemies,... God Himself we know God will take care of him in the of. Shall fall by the sword ; and yet he Did not neglect earnestly God... God alive, psalm 63:5, psalm 63:8 to Jesus and find rest in,! By millions every day by spending time praying and reading the Bible and compassion... Working and carrying a full load of classes Hebrew Verbal Forms that Exegesis. Relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ satisfies the believer but overflows in praise through.