Psalm 63

2020 has been a year in the wilderness of pain and loss and death, for many. Reading 2 Samuel 15 gives us a sense of the scene of Psalm 63. "Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel." And yet David continued to love his son. We know this from what David said when Absalom died (2 Sam 18: 33). It is almost certain that Psalm 63 was penned when David was in hiding from Absalom. The king is in the wilderness and his son is determined to hunt him down and murder him. David had a heart for God. This psalm is a help to us in our wilderness experiences. This is what we see of David's response to his.  |||||||

Vs 1 HE THIRSTS FOR GOD

O 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.  |||||||

In this dark and difficult day, You are still my God, David said. In this parched land, David is crying to God for spiritual water. He is far from Jerusalem and the house of God, and he longs for the nearness of His God. A sure sign of being a child of God is our continual thirst for the presence of God, like the deer pants for water as described in Psalm 42.  |||||||

Vs 2   HE REMEMBERS TIMES WITH GOD

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.  |||||||

David reminds himself of his past times with God in the house of God, the times of worship and praise, when he could see beyond the types and shadows. He is comforted even thinking about that means of grace. I was glad when they said unto me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." This is also proof that you are a child of God that you long to spend time in the house of God with the people of God.  |||||||

Vs 3 & 4 HIS TREASURE WAS IN GOD

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.  |||||||

His treasure is in His God. Your love for me outweighs everything in life. When David meditates on God's love, everything else pales into insignificance. It causes David to worship. When we think of the cross, are we moved to worship as we realise that His love for us is better than life itself.   |||||||

Vs 5 & 6 HIS TOTAL SATISFACTION WAS IN GOD

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;  |||||||

King David had so much of this world's goods, but like with Paul, it was nothing in comparison with God. All the pleasure of the world and possessions and even our families fall short. They will not bring the satisfaction that fellowship with God brings. "Now none but Christ can satisfy." Do you remember Him in bed, as David does, lying under the stars.   |||||||

Vs 7 & 8 HE HAS A TESTIMONY ABOUT HIS GOD

for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.  |||||||

David can look back and testify to the kindness of God. God's love is not just a theory to them. David would remember the many times, even from the time he fought the giant Goliath, he had been under the shadow of God's wings.  |||||||

Vs 9 - 11 HIS TRUST WAS IN HIS GOD

But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.  |||||||

Like Paul said, If God be for us who can be against us. David knows that he is on the Victory side. It is only a matter of time. God will work out His own plan, and He will work it out for His glory. It is not necessary to be rich. It is not necessary to escape troubles. But God will carry you through them all, and in the end you will rejoice in Him, as Psalm 30:5 says: 'weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.' The child of God knows that God has been faithful in the past, and so we can trust His sovereignty and kindness for the future. We praise Him for the past and trust Him for what is to come.  |||||||

A wonderful saviour is Jesus my Lord / A wonderful Saviour to me / He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock / Where rivers of pleasure I see / He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock / That shadows a dry, thirsty land / He hideth my life in the depths of his love / And covers me there with his hand.