Psalms Reading – 2.28.2022
Psalm 63
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.
1 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.
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
9 Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
David spent much time in the desert of Judah fleeing Saul, but the reference to “the king” implies that his flight from Jerusalem, after his son Absalom’s coup, is being spoken of here.
Even though David is still facing enemies who want to kill him, his tone is quite different in this psalm. He does not ask why. He does not cry out except to say that he earnestly seeks, thirsts, and longs for God in his current circumstances. He does make several declarations of God’s faithfulness which give him confidence that God will once again take care of his enemies.
The key to such assurance is, “You, God, are my God.” Underline “my.” God was not some impersonal force or being whom he believed in from a distance. God was his God. It speaks of a close dynamic relationship. David intimately knew God’s nature which nurtured him through all of life.
In his current circumstances, he confidently seeks God. Because he has beheld God’s power and glory and knows God’s love is better than life itself, he promises to praise God as long as he lives.
Even throughout the night, he thinks of God and knows God is his help. He envisions himself to be in the protective cover of God’s wings where he can confidently sing and cling. God’s power sustains King David, and he knows he will taste victory and will rejoice in God.
As we look back over our life with Jesus, we can find him to be equally faithful which encourages and empowers us for our current situation where faith may be needed once again.
Memory Verse: Psalm 63:7, Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
Question(s) to Consider: What evidence do you have of God’s faithfulness in your life? How will you use such evidence to give you confidence for your life today?