Psalms 63

Psalms 63:1-11

the Longing Soul Abundantly Satisfied Psalms 63:1-11 Ever since the third century this has been the morning song of the Church. The superscription tells us that it was written in the wilderness of Judah, probably during the events recorded in 2 Samuel 15:23-28; 2 Samuel 16:2; 2 Samuel 17:16. Notice the many references to the life of the soul. These are the many considerations of our mortal pilgrimage! My soul thirsteth; my soul longeth; my soul shall be satisfied; my soul followeth hard after thee.The soul thirsting, Psalms 63:1-4 Let us be on the alert to see God’ s power and glory, not only in the sanctuary, but in dry and thirsty lands. How sad and weary, r.v., is life without God! The soul satisfied, Psalms 63:5-7 To desire God is to have Him. To long for Him is to be at the well-head. To remember Him on the bed rests us. To meditate on Him in the night is to have the dawn. The shadow of His wings is absolute safety. The soul in hot pursuit, Psalms 63:8-11 God is always in front of us. The Savior went before; we must follow in His steps, but there ought to be as little space as possible between us. Another turn of the road, and you will see Him!

My soul thirsteth! This is said to have been from the third century the morning song of the Church. The superscription tells us that it was written in the wilderness of Judah. But the word “king” (Psalms 63:11) forbids our supposing that the Psalm was penned during the Sauline persecution. It was probably written amid the events recorded in 2 Samuel 15:23-28; 2 Samuel 16:2; 2 Samuel 17:16. This “wilderness” stretched southwards from Jericho on the western shore of the Dead Sea. In the Psalm there are noticeable references to the life of the soul. My soul thirsteth; my soul Longeth; my soul shall be satisfied; my soul followeth hard after Thee (Psalms 63:1; Psalms 63:5; Psalms 63:8).

Psalms 63:1. Early will I seek Thee! This should be the cry of each of us in the dawn of life and of each day: “In a dry and weary land” (R.V.). How weary and sad is life without God! Though we have all, if He be not there, our soul is athirst and weary (John 4:13-14).

Psalms 63:2. To see as I have seen Thee! As the Psalmist trod sadly over the burning sand and crossed the dry torrent-beds, it seemed a picture of his state of soul. He contrasted the present with the happy past, when he had had similar desires, which were then slaked by the vision of the Divine power and glory.

Psalms 63:3. Thy loving-kindness is better than life Already a sense of the love of God breaks on his soul, as a tropical rain on the parched earth. He becomes assured of speedy satisfaction.

Psalms 63:5. As with marrow and fatness God not only gives us necessaries but dainties.

Psalms 63:6. In the night-watches Many of David’s most rapturous experiences of God seem to have been at night. In all these Psalms there is imagery borrowed from the night-watch in the camp.

Psalms 63:8. Thy right hand upholdeth The hand of God ever supports the soul in its pursuit of Him (Philippians 3:12).

Psalms 63:9. Those that seek my soul Perhaps there is an allusion here to Numbers 16:31-32.

Psalms 63:10. A portion for foxes Absalom’s army was badly routed. Many of the slain must have fed the jackals which roamed the forest (2 Samuel 18:6-8).

Psalms 63:11. Shall rejoice in God “By Him,” refers of course, not to the king, but to God.