Psalms 63-65

Thoughts

Psalm 63

 My Soul Thirsts for You. A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

Most likely: During David’s flight from Absalom (2 Samuel 15–17)

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.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.

• David longs for God “thirsts” and “faints” 
• covenant love (חֶסֶד, ḥesed) “better than life” 

So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
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;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

• \Satisfaction in God is compared to “fat and rich food” or the best portion.
• “Meditate” = הָגָה (hagah)  murmuring
• God’s help in the past can help our present confidence.

My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

• David holds fast to 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.

• David contrasts his clinging with the enemies’ downfall.
• “Depths of the earth” suggests total defeat 
• “Portion for jackals” describes abandonment and/or disgrace

Psalm 64

 Hide Me From the Wicked. To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
from the throng of evildoers,
who whet their tongues like swords,
who aim bitter words like arrows,
shooting from ambush at the blameless,
shooting at him suddenly and without fear.

• David prays for protection not just from harm, but from dread 
• Their primary weapon is their speech  compared to swords and arrows.
• “Whet (sharpen) their tongues” 

They hold fast to their evil purpose;
they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, “Who can see them?”
They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

• The wicked “hold fast” to evil 
• They believe their schemes are invisible and clever.

But God shoots his arrow at them;
they are wounded suddenly.
They are brought to ruin,
with their own tongues turned against them;
all who see them will wag their heads.
Then all mankind fears;
they tell what God has brought about
and ponder what he has done.

• God responds with His arrows 
• Sudden judgment for their ambush.
• Their own words become the instrument of their ruin.
• “wag their heads” In Hebrew culture, shaking or wagging the head often means “wow”

Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD
and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult!

• True refuge is found in the LORD

Psalm 65

God of Abundant Blessing.To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
O you who hear prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.
When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!

• Praise “is due” indicates worship is THE response to God
• “All flesh” shows a universal coming of nations
• Satisfaction is found in God’s house.

By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth
are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening
to shout for joy.

• God answers prayer with “awesome deeds”
• He is the “hope of the ends of the earth,” 
• Calming the seas shows His mastery over all
• The “tumult of the peoples” parallels the chaotic sea 

You visit the earth and water it;
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,
for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.

• “Visit the earth” shows God’s active care, not passive observation.
• God prepares creation for fruitfulness.
• Creation is pictured as rejoicing

Questions

Application

Psalm 63 shows us that longing for God can be as real as physical thirst. God’s love is better than anything else. Psalm 64 shows that God cares not only about our safety but also about our dread. We can come to God when we are hurt and anxious.  Psalm 65 shows us that God doesn’t just sit in heaven looking at us, but walks with His creation. He calms the chaotic seas and brings life to even the most desolate places.