Bible commentary on the Book of Psalms, by Dr. Bob Utley, retired professor of hermeneutics. When this is the regular frame of a believer's mind, he values the loving-kindness of God more than life. Psalms 119:48). In the same way, nothing, not even your marriage and family life, should come before your love relationship with God. Even in Canaan, though a fruitful land and the people numerous, yet there were wildernesses . The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. The king had come to realize his need for God earlier as a result of what he had learned about God in the tabernacle. Why now, when the opportunities to serve You are so great? Ill never forget what he said next. 4. In that barren land, fleeing for his life from his own son, feeling disgraced and rejected, with an uncertain future, David penned Psalm 63. There are family pressures: finding the right mate and building a solid marriage in a culture where divorce is easy and accepted. K-_'Gc \ E%_1{L. 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. 1A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.a. 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. B Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956) p. 2487. Sometimes it has the idea of protection, as a mother bird shelters her young chicks. In the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy (63:7b). 10-22 as sections two (10-16, Rescue from Prison) and three (vv 17-22, Rescue . 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. "The psalm integrates well with the Isaiah text. Three things: Gods lovingkindness (63:3) was better to David than life itself. Because You have been my help, This denotes our recourse to Him through faith and prayer, as naturally as little chickens flee from the cold to the protection of the hen's wings. 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. Glorying is the equivalent of rejoicing. The bulk of this psalm speaks to this. 63:3-5 These verses describe how the psalmist praises God because of His lovingkindness (see Special Topic at Ps. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Read Matthew 5:10 at the top of this psalm. Socrates replied, When you desire the truth as much as you seek air, you can be my disciple.. How much do you desire to know God? But those who seek my life, to destroy it, For example, many people fill their lives with family and friends. Psalm 63:1. Because You have been my help: Many of Davids psalms are simple cries for help. Davids soul was close to God, following Him as one followed a Master or Teacher. * [63:4] For your love is better than life: only here in the Old Testament is anything prized above lifein this case Gods love. God responded with care and strength for David, upholding him with His mighty right hand (the hand of skill and strength). 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. For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, In a land parched, lifeless, and without water. We join athletic teams where there is more pressure to excel. 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. "The word here should be translated `jackals,' as that is the meaning of it,"[11] as is indicated by the alternative reading in the American Standard Version margin. Verses 8-9 conclude the first section of the psalm by revealing the fruit of the psalmist's prescription for his own soul. x][4~_ When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on. Psalm 63: Prayer is the breath of our relationship of God. He knew that there was more and his whole being craved it as a thirsty man in the desert craves for water. The result of this remembering is that he is satisfied and full of praise to God. . Scripture: Psalm 63:5-6. We're going to discover together, step-by-step, how David was satisfied in his heart in times of trouble. It displayed the anticipation of gratefully receiving from God, and the sense of surrender to Him. God is not only the greatest, but the best, of beings. There must have been a time when you met Him personally through Jesus Christ. This includes time in His Word, renewing your mind so that you can please Him. It was the kind of thing every pastor prays and longs for. It can become an overpowering, all consuming desire. You can learn all about his personality, his personal habits, and his family life. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul . 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. David thought that he would be ungrateful and rude to not praise and thank the God who loved him so greatly. Psalm 23 Exegesis Analysis. 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. 63 John 4:1-42. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. One of the reasons that we want God is because we know that He amazing. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name (63:4). I want to answer from Psalm 63 three questions about seeking after God: Psalm 63 allows us to peer into the heart of this man after Gods own heart. 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. In fact, the ancient church had the practice of beginning the singing of the Psalms at each Sunday service with Psalm 63, called the morning hymn (Commentary on the Old Testament, C. F. Keil & Franz Delitzsch, [Eerdmans], p. 212). Thus, more than twenty-thousand more were numbered among the slain. People despair without the sense of life; David despaired without the sense of Gods great love. 62:12). (Kidner), ii. And the mouths of liars will be stopped. Tools Psa 63:3 This psalm invites us to believe again that our faith in God will never desert us, no matter what happens. 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. 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.. The title of this psalm is, A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. You can learn a lot about President Obama. The writer seems to be overflowing with joy in the Lord. King David was a man who knew what it meant to live under pressure. A. This Psalm is filled with metaphors and creative imagery that is best understood through contextual knowledge. is the interpretation added to the figure, as in Psalm 144:7. Therefore he also used the night watches to meditate upon God. They are seeking to kill him v. 9. As you reflect on His great love and faithfulness toward you over the years, in spite of your failures, you ought to feel love for Him. The book is actually a collectio 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. it is you I seek! Christianity is not just a matter of the head, but of the heart. 15, 17), wrote. My lips would not praise You, unless before me were to go Your mercy. 1 [Psalm Of David When he was in the desert of Judah] God, you are my God, I pine for you; my heart thirsts for you, my body longs for you, as a land parched, dreary and waterless. (1) What the righteous man does not do. Psalm 63:1-11 One sign of a genuine believer is devotion to Christ. Prioritiesgodly prioritiesare crucial! And this is a God who is faithful. 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. Out of love and gratitude, we express our dedication to Him through three things: a passion to obey, a spirit of humility, and a servant's heart. 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. 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). The wicked would not prevail in the long run. 3 Because your xsteadfast love is better than life, You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. 10But those who seek my life will come to ruin; they shall go down to the depths of the netherworld! Let me ask you this morning What trials are you going through today? Jackals make sense here, rather than the foxes of some older translations (one Hebrew word serves for both). She didnt want to part from her (see also, 1 Kings 11:2; Gen. 34:3; 2 Sam. "The jackals are the scavengers of the East. Rebellion against God and Christ began at the arrest of Jesus ( Acts 4:23-26 ). to see your power and glory. Thousands were left where they fell to become the food of beasts. God isnt just a slice of life, who rounds out your other pursuits. 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 . They may be good things, but they are not God, and God alone can satisfy your soul. I have always been moved and challenged by Luke's description of Christ's decisive turn to the cross in Luke 9:51. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. We all make time to do what we really want to do. No one seeks for God unless God first seeks after them (John 6:44; Rom. It is a clear and judicious explanation of the text, and cannot be dispensed with. That which is bitter is called , root , stringere, from . We face the pressure of getting into college and once were there, of making it through. 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. Psalms THIRST AND SATISFACTION Psalm 63:1, Psalm 63:5, Psalm 63:8. What is the difference between having God as a slice of life versus having God permeate every part of life? What does the person look like who seeks after God? Then there is the pressure of getting a good job and, once we get it, of doing well enough to keep it and be promoted. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. David hid under Gods wing as a baby chick hides for protection under the mother hens wing. Click on the different category headings to find out more. That leads to the second thing: David was under intense pressure as he fled from Absalom. He is merciful in a way peculiar to himself; he is the Father of mercies, 2 Co. 1:3. [~'Elohiym] is plural and [~'Eli] is singular. But knowing that God will faithfully and loving watch over him is better than all that he lost his former life of good things. As he remembers who God is, this leads him to worship God, even in his time of trial. They are the final scavengers, consuming the remains of the kill rejected by the larger beasts. (Kidner). . 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. By Your gift You I praise, through Your mercy You I praise. He knew his calling (king, 63:11) and that God would not fail to accomplish all that concerned him (Ps. It is no embarrassment to us that many scholars reject it. 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. "[9] It would also explain the confidence and prophetic certainty of the entire psalm, which among other things, accurately announced the end of Absalom's rebellion as being accomplished by the wholesale death (literally) of the whole rebellious army, leaders and all (Psalms 63:9-10). 62 DeClaisse-Walford, et al., The Book of Psalms, 622. You can check these in your browser security settings. The International Bible Lessons can be read at: Bear with me for a second to let me wet my throat again. Holy, holy, holy, Merciful and Mighty, God over all, and blessed eternally. EXPOSITION Verse 1. Seeking after God should be our most important priority. This is the God that he knows, has walked with and served his life. 11Those who would hand over my life to the sword shall. a. Tools Psa 63:2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. This comes out in the phrase, all who swear by his name which is an expression of loyalty to David as their king. "They shall be given over to the power of the sword" (Psalms 63:10). (At this time he and those loyal to him went into the wilderness 2 Samuel 15:23; 28. An older translation put it more graphically; "Jesus set his face to . Verse 1. Two of the most well-known of these authors are Moses and . LESSONS FROM PSALMS SIXTY-THREE Scripture: Psalm 63:1-11 Ray O. Brooks Introduction: A. To seek after God means that there is always more, because God is an infinite person. The commitment carries you through the hard times when the feelings may fade. He is like someone in desperate need of water in a dry and weary land where there is no water.. 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. How can we make time alone with God a priority and yet avoid a legalistic approach to it? Exhibit A: A young man in college who is working and carrying a full load of classes. During that time David spent a short while in the northeastern portion of the wilderness of Judah before he crossed over the Jordan River. A Psalm of David.. Sometimes you have to work at the romance (which sounds contradictory, but its not).
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