We're told in the New Testament that we are supposed to "count it all joy" when we fall into various trials. Suddenly he finds time to spend with her! There is a vast difference between knowing about a person and actually knowing that person. He is merciful in a way peculiar to himself; he is the Father of mercies, 2 Co. 1:3. Sep 25, 1983. This is a such a psalm of devotion to God. 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. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. a. I. 224.]. Psa 63:1 A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. People despair without the sense of life; David despaired without the sense of Gods great love. 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). In the same way, nothing, not even your marriage and family life, should come before your love relationship with God. One of the reasons that we want God is because we know that He amazing. We may request cookies to be set on your device. And as we learn in 2 Samuel, David was in fact restored to power and his enemies were destroyed. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. The title of this psalm is To the Chief Musician. 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. Glorying is the equivalent of rejoicing. 62 DeClaisse-Walford, et al., The Book of Psalms, 622. 57:2). In a dry and weary land where no water is. i. )\f6]_< y1(g ZG{h4J?NNC]ZwPJ3{ [K~tkq |c'RCTVNH>$~X#pFTk^%X# 0 Z9 T8 j@ ,)$ % /+W 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. Matthew11:28-30, The church struggles with prejudice. 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 bodies of the dead provided food for the wild beasts. Notice the intensity of his seeking, He says, earnestly I seek you. He is not just praying every once in a while. He was speaking of his sense of dependence on God. * [63:4] For your love is better than life: only here in the Old Testament is anything prized above lifein this case Gods love. She didnt want to part from her (see also, 1 Kings 11:2; Gen. 34:3; 2 Sam. Absalom and Ahithophel, the leaders, led the way. It is attributed to King David, set when he was in the wilderness of . 22:5) or in the wilderness of Ziph, 1 Sa. 8 0 obj Fellowship must be cultivated. (Morgan), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. A Psalm of David.. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! This could have been when he was fleeing from Saul (1 Samuel 23) or from Absalom ( 2 Samuel 15:13-30 ). Psalm 65 - At the Temple, In the Earth. "[8] Such a theophany is not unreasonable, for God surely did grant such a vision to Joshua in the conquest of Canaan. And he remembered how God had taken care of him in the past. 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). 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: . He gives you eternal life as His free gift. But those who seek my life, to destroy it, 1. his lips will praise God BDB 986 II, KB 1387, Piel imperfect 2. he will bless God as long as he lives BDB 138, KB 159, Piel imperfect 3. he will lift up his hands BDB 669, KB 724, Qal imperfect 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. But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped. Gods love nourished and refreshed David more than the water he needed. Psalm 63:1-8. David expresses longing for Gods presence, praise, joy, fellowship with God, confidence in Gods salvation. A Psalm of David. Other times it has the idea of presence, as in the wings of the cherubim that surround the throne of God. Exhibit A: A young man in college who is working and carrying a full load of classes. How is it with you and God? b 3 I look to you in the sanctuary. 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? Whats the result? When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on. 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.". As we seek God in our trial, let us be renewed in our faith. 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. Psalms 63. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. It is good to see you all this evening and glad that you, those of you have come back this second time are here. Thus] So, as in Psalm 63:2 . 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. ], Jesus stays behind in the temple. Again, those things have their place, but they are not meant to satisfy your soul. 352-53.]. 12 See note above (v. 7) o n the use of wor d'tora ' i Psalm 19 a roug out is paper. This is the KJV rendition of this clause; and we have chosen it here because of the long traditions associated with this rendition. It can become an overpowering, all consuming desire. The king;I, who am already anointed king, and who shall be actually king, when these mine enemies are fallen by the sword. Notice, briefly four things which characterize the person who seeks the Lord: My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness. He is never complacent, but satisfied. 6My soul shall be sated as with choice food. Delitzsch more particularly identified David's location with that arid strip of desert just west of the Dead Sea.[3]. Everyone has a set of priorities. 63:2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. God seemed to be blessing his preaching. How can a Christian who has lost the passion for God regain it? So David is using the bareness of the wilderness to speak actually of the bareness of his own soul. 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. Two of the most well-known of these authors are Moses and . Luke 16:10, A change within that leads to obedience: Matthew 21:28-32, Four things to remember in times of trial. Tools. So have I looked on thee in the sanctuary, "O God, thou art my God" (Psalms 63:1). The contrast to trusting God is to speak lies; we resort to lies when we dont trust God. Its not a duty; its a delight! There are the pressures of raising godly children in our pagan society. In the song, David, the shepherd-king, is the sheep who is shepherded by Yahweh. How does a person who lacks self-discipline go about getting it? The perfects after affirm that which they now do as they have before done; cf. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. We face the pressure of getting into college and once were there, of making it through. (LogOut/ As I already mentioned, you begin a relationship with God when you realize that you have sinned against the holy God and when you flee for refuge to the provision God has made for your sin, the cross of Christ. But they shouldnt come before your marriage. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Teach your children Psalm 63, and tell them about a better Thanksgiving. Psalm 140:4 and Psalm 58:8, where, as in this passage, the treading or bending of the bow is transferred to the arrow. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. If we have nothing to say about Gods goodness, the probable cause is our want of experience of it. (Maclaren), ii. 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. 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! Psalm 63:1-11 One sign of a genuine believer is devotion to Christ. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. 2. Tools. They are seeking to kill him v. 9. Do you allow a day to pass without converse with God? Change). This includes time in His Word, renewing your mind so that you can please Him. The authorship and occasion of this psalm are made certain by the fact that the author was a king (Psalms 63:11), who was temporarily denied access to the tabernacle in Jerusalem, and who cried out to God from a parched desert. According to its title, Psalm 63 was written from the Wilderness of Judah and David was in the wilderness hiding from a conspiracy to kill him. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! Here the idea of presence seems to best fit the context. Notice the personal relationship with God . 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. 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. Prioritiesgodly prioritiesare crucial! Psalm 63:4. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Let me ask you this morning What trials are you going through today? Can it be right for us to treat the Lord with mute indifference? (Spurgeon), iii. 62:12). (Kidner), ii. First, he is strengthened as heremembers who God is. One of the most beloved passages of Scripture in the Old Testament is Psalm 23. 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. And in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. He is like someone in desperate need of water in a dry and weary land where there is no water.. "[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]. Yet it was a promise of God (first expressed in 1 Samuel 16), so by faith David could dare to think of himself as the king, and in that daring faith rejoice in God. 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. The king had come to realize his need for God earlier as a result of what he had learned about God in the tabernacle. 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. . The threat to the Davidic dynasty, David's kingdom being a type of the Messianic kingdom, and the heavenly necessity that David's heart should have been comforted and strengthened in this situation - all these things might very well indeed have led to such a theophany. He told how he faced a time in his life when the opportunities for ministry were the greatest he had ever seen. stream 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). 352-53.] 10But those who seek my life will come to ruin; they shall go down to the depths of the netherworld! Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Verse 1. Derek Kidner (Psalms 1-72 [IVP], pp. 2. 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. Reflecting on his God bolstered the kings confidence that the Lord would preserve him in his present situation. 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. Gods powerful hand upheld and sustained David. But those who seek my life to destroy it, will go into the depths of the earth. God isnt just a spoke in the wheel; Hes the hub. [Notice the contrasts: Davids mouth is full of praise, their lies. If we did, the song would probably contain a lot of urgent requests: Help, God! Again David pictured himself as a bird under the wing of its mother and as a dependent infant held by its parent. Scripture: Psalm 63. He remembers that this is a God who can take care of him, even in his life-threatening situation. ii. i. (At this time he and those loyal to him went into the wilderness 2 Samuel 15:23; 28. Psalm 1. May I ask a question of every professed Christian? An older translation put it more graphically; "Jesus set his face to . "[12], Kidner noted that, "The jackals are the final scavengers, consuming the remains of the kill rejected by larger beasts. And also all those who are loyal to him will exult. 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. Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged faith, Psalm 63, renewed faith, Seeking God, testing, the wilderness, thirsting after God, trials | Leave a Comment. When a couple falls in love, there are strong feelings, and there is nothing wrong with that. * [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). Yet that is not what David sang of here. One day he was the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. The commitment carries you through the hard times when the feelings may fade. He has enemies v. 10, 11. Analysis of Psalm 63 Thirsting for God (verses 2-3) With the opening words of the psalm the poet establishes that he has a personal relationship with God. John Piper Aug 12, 1999. But knowing that God will faithfully and loving watch over him is better than all that he lost his former life of good things. And the mouths of liars would then mean those who had sworn by David before, but now have rebelled against him, breaking their word.). . They are the final scavengers, consuming the remains of the kill rejected by the larger beasts. (Kidner). That something is God! B. Hes the Lord of every relationship you have. 15, 17), wrote. 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. Because You have been my help: Many of Davids psalms are simple cries for help. Seeking after God should be our most important priority. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. This Psalm is filled with metaphors and creative imagery that is best understood through contextual knowledge. He has fled from the throne. Psalm 63 - Devotion. When this is the regular frame of a believer's mind, he values the loving-kindness of God more than life. Therefore, David says, My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me (63:8). David was a prophet and speaks this way here (Acts 2:30). RZKw >v|enw3o%7.i2.W(s^))~hvmZ/^=sxMK9pV;Z8/. And yet he did not neglect earnestly seeking God in this trying situation. But it is still not the same as knowing him personally. That is, those who had sworn allegiance to him but rebelled against him, that is broke their oath and lied will be stopped. David knew God would deliver him because God had elected him and had blessed him for his submission to the Lords will. But the king will rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him will glory, for the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.. For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. 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. My lips will praise You (63:3b). You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. It was the kind of thing every pastor prays and longs for. 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. RTCH 500-D. 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.. I only want to touch lightly on this question so that I can concentrate on the third question. Keep your areas of struggle in mind as we work our way through this psalm. A. 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).
exegesis on psalm 63
апр. 9, 2023