Psalms 63

fortresses or armies, but make him my confidence, on whom I rely for defence and protection against the strongest enemies. A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness ofJudah. This Psalm, the title informs us, represents the thoughts which David had when he was in the wilderness of Judali. But whether by that he meant the forest of Hareth, wherein, after other places, he secured himself when he fled from Saul; (1 Sam. xxii. 5.) or the wilderness he went through, when he fled from Absalom, (2Sam. xvii. 29.) may be questioned. Thcodoret takes it for the former; but 1 incline to the latter, for the same reason I gavq before; because he calls himself a king, (ver. 11.) which he would not have done, as I said, (upOnPsal. Ixi.) during the reign of Saul; because it would have given him too just cause to persecute him; and made the people look upon him as a traitor. Unless we say that he did not publish this Psalm, but reserved it for his own private use, till he came to the kingdom. When he delivered it to the chief musician, for the service of the tabernacle: where be longed very much to be, when he was in his banishment. As appears by this Psalm; in which he expresses exceeding great love to God (as Theodoret notes), and predicts the destruction of his enemies…

Psalms 63:1

\J GOD, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirstethfor thee, my flesh longethfor thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. God, the governor of the world, who hast ever been my gracious God, and art my only confidence; to thee I early direct my morning thoughts, most earnestly beseeching thee to take pity upon me, in this desolate condition: wherein I languish,- and ani ready to faint, as I travel through this dry and tiresome wilderness, (2 Sam. xvii. 29.) where there is no water to refresh me.

Psalms 63:2

To see thy power, and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. It is not so much some satisfaction to my hunger and thirst that I desire, as to be restored again to worship thee before the ark of thy presence; (2 Sam. xv. 25.) which is the token of thy power and majesty residing among lis: and there to enjoy thee, as I have done heretofore; when I had the liberty to go into thy sanctuary.

Psalms 63:3

Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. My lips shall then praise thee with the same devotion that I now pray unto thee: for * nothing is so dear unto me as thy favour and love; without which, life itself, and all the pleasures of my court, would be of little value.

Psalms 63:4

Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. The greatest pleasure of my life Shall be continually to bless thee for such a happy restoration; and with the most thankful acknowledgments for what thou hast done for me, to implore thy future kindness towards me.

Psalms 63:5

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. My hungry appetite would not now receive greater satisfaction, if the best cheer in the world was presented to me; than my soul shall be filled withal in that sweet em-i ployment: when, with the highest expressions of joy, my mouth shall, with a loud voice, sing thy praises.

Psalms 63:6

When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the" night-watches. Meantime, I comfort myself with the hope of that happiness; calling to mind,: as I lie upon my bed, and seriously considering, as oft as I awake, how gracious thou hast been unto me.

Psalms 63:7

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. From whence I con-f elude, that since thou hast relieved me in my greatest straits, I shall be safe under thy almighty protection; and at last triumph over all my enemies.

Psalms 63:8

Trust in him at all times; yepeople, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. And so I would advise all my people to do continually, in whatsoever condition you be, repose a pious confidence in him: be not fearful, nor too solicitous; but commit yourselves to God by earnest prayer, and implore his help; for he will never fail us. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.] Though thou scemest to cast me off, my soul notwithstanding cleaveth fast unto thee, and will not part with its hope in thee: and I feel the happy fruit of it; for by. thy mighty aid I am supported and preserved from sinking under these sore calamities that have lain upon me.

Psalms 63:9

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. But do not place any confidence in man; for as the multitude are vain, giddy, and unconstant, so the greater sort are false, deceitful, and treacherous: take them altogether, they are no more to be depended on than the vainest thing in the world; which, thrown into the balance against them, will prove more solid and ponderous.

Psalms 63:10

Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. 1 And do not by any means, when all human helps may fail you, betake yourselves to frauds, cheating, and calumnies, for support; much less endeavour to enrich yourselves by rapine, spoil, and robbery. Be not so vain as to trust to ill-gotten goods; for if your riches increase by honest means, they are not tilings wherein to place either your confidence and hope, or your love and joy.

Psalms 63:11

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God. For God hath frequently declared, in the course of his providence, as well as in his word; I myself have been witness of it more than once; that by his power ho disposes things quite otherways than menproject; dashing all their worldly confidences in pieces, and especially defeating the hopes of those that think to prosper in evil courses.

Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. And that thou, O Lord, art also exceeding gracious to those that piously trust in thee; preserving and providing for them, when they are destitute of human succour: for thou art not an idle spectator of men’s actions, nor acceptest any man’s person; but an exact dispenser of rewards and punishments, to every man according to his work.