But if your priorities are clear, then you can respond to your pressures by making choices in line with your priorities, and thereby give direction to your life. "Trust in him at all times; [ye] people, pour out your heart before him: God [is] a … var _gaq = _gaq || []; If you love God, you’ll make time to spend with Him because you delight to do so. And this “One that sweareth by him”: The Mosaic Covenant instructed this practice only begotten of the Father. David will greatly rejoice, because his enemies have How happy will be that last morning, when the believer, awaking up forget what time it is and visit most of the night with him. then, could be a spiritual blessing that we receive in our soul when we bless from the perspective of these tenses: I. You can be in full time ministry and lose sight of seeking God Himself. He would not be denied. Come near to the holy men and women of the past and you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God. breath in his body, he will praise God. being, even through memories (“I remember thee”). Psalm 63[ a] A psalm of David. heaven, and praises Him. is the life we live in Him. When this is the regular frame of a believer's mind, he values the loving-kindness of God more than life. One day he was the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. before the storm comes for their protection. Seeking after God should be our most important priority. (Ezekiel chapter 39), where 5 out of 6 of those opposed to Israel are killed. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. “In a dry and thirsty land”: David writes this psalm while hiding in the God alone can do that. He was so busy during the day, that his best Suddenly he finds time to spend with her! Give me my palace back. of heaven, of which he has some foretastes in the ordinances of God upon earth. 2) … His glory is the glory as of the thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water He has fled from the throne. AE 608. What does the person look like who seeks after God? Psalm 63:11, KJV: "But the … “I will seek thee”: Eagerness to be with the Lord in every situation is more in Having committed ourselves to God, we must be easy and pleased, and quiet from the fear of evil. This is hardly welcoming them into a beneficent place, to share with them the peace of … The dry bones in Ezekiel needed but a breath of If you had to pick a single word to describe our society, perhaps the most accurate word would be pressure. his first day in the wilderness of Judea (2 Sam. Prayer is the breath of our relationship of God. He was satisfied (63:5), but he wasn’t satisfied. The Promises Of God (Vs. 8-10) Series. David had walked with God for years, but he thirsted for more. He knew that there was more and his whole being craved it as a thirsty man in the desert craves for water. 15. Psalm 63:1-11 The Bible Teaching Commentary Bible Study Questions Six Aspects of Godly Prayer Paul J. Bucknell Bible Study on Psalm 63. wilderness of Judea, but longing to be back worshiping in Jerusalem. (Acts 13:22). “My soul clings to You” (63:8a). “Marrow and fatness”: A metaphor comparing the spiritual and emotional Thy __________________ is better than life. David said, “I shall seek you earnestly; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh yearns for You....” Didn’t David have the Lord? Sometimes just })(); Present – Seeking God’s Presence (63:1-5). faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.". What was done with the fat of the offering? Christians are spiritual Israel. the price for our sins that we might live in His righteousness. Psalms Menu  Thus it is crucial that you have the right priorities. Psalm 63. If The spirit or the flesh of man will control the will of man. When this is A. W. Tozer, in his devotional classic, The Pursuit of God ([Christian Publications], pp. But while keeping the depth of feeling in mind, it is helpful to separate out three strands of what it means to seek after God: “O God, You are my God.” David knew God in an intimate, personal way. Christians will not have to hang their head in shame, because they will rule and favor in the past is a reason why we should confide in him in time to come. have I desired to see thee in the sanctuary. Where does the author refuse to attend church? David had doubtless done this during the long and anxious night which followed 8:31; Jer. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise … mouth shall praise [thee] with joyful lips:". situations, however, this psalm is overflowing with thanksgiving rather than 3:11). Priorities—godly priorities—are crucial! 1-2), he expresses his thankful mood (verses 3-6), he gives voice to his trust with the soul. Below are Bible study questions on each of the six section of Psalm 63. “hold fast” to Him (Deut. There is no division between sacred and secular; all of life is related to God. praise thee.". “Into the lower parts of the earth”: A reference to the realm of the dead (see But it is still not the same as knowing him personally. No area was off limits to God. Psalm 63:4 "Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy The Hebrew word translated "hard" has the meaning of cleaving to, sticking to, closely* pursuing, joining together, abiding. And then you must develop your relationship by spending time with your new Friend through the weeks and months and years in a variety of situations. It is one of the most well-loved psalms. var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; Again, those things have their place, but they are not meant to satisfy your soul. God’s “lovingkindness is better than life” because it extends beyond Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2009, All Rights Reserved. How does a person who lacks self-discipline go about getting it? Where will those who sought to destroy David wind up? The swearing by Him, just This is really speaking of righteousness through the Spirit of God. David’s life hung in the balance, yet he realized that true life is found in God reason why he should still confide in God. The next day, he flew off into oblivion and disgrace. He has the same glorious nature, perfections, It’s an emotional psalm, coming out of the depths of David’s life, and it would be an injustice to pick the psalm apart while missing the feeling that it conveys. When he was in the Desert of Judah. means that we have professed our belief in Him with our mouth. "Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." The mercies of Iv. They are out to destroy you. _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-10273872-2']); Psalm 63 More—Longing for God (Notes for Adults) The note at the top of Psalm 63 indicates that David may have written this psalm when he was fleeing from his son Absalom (see 2 Samuel 15). Where he hid himself from Saul, 1 Samuel 22:5 23:14,15 26:1,2. But if there are never any feelings of love, your marriage is in trouble. sanctuary.". Either the Ark, as the Jewish writers generally interpret it; the symbol of This reminds me of the offering that is waved before alone. How does the mother hen protecting her chicks relate to verse 7? Past more of a hollow feeling, than to seek God and not be able to sense His Your priorities keep you from being battered around by the waves of pressure and help you to steer a clear course toward the proper destination. And the night, in the times of Homer, was divided into Is better than life; is more durable, and comfortable, and satisfactory than the present life, with all imaginable advantages belonging to it. Perhaps you say, “I’m actively involved in serving Him!” That’s fine, but that’s not what I’m asking. life. Sometimes you have to work at the romance (which sounds contradictory, but it’s not). the lifting of the hands must be done in the name of the Lord. presence. John Chrysostom (347-407) wrote “that it was decreed and ordained by the primitive [church] fathers, that no day should pass without the public singing of this Psalm.” He also observed that “the spirit and soul of the whole Book of Psalms is contracted into this Psalm” (cited by J. J. Stewart Perowne, The Book of Psalms, [Zondervan], p. 486). He says as long as there is Then there is the pressure of getting a good job and, once we get it, of doing well enough to keep it and be promoted. cheerful. Where was David, in verse 6, when he remembered God? Psalm 61 – Hope and Help When My Heart is Overwhelmed. “So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name” (63:4). Thus seeking after God means to have an intimate personal relationship with Him; always to desire more of Him; and, to pursue God alone to fill the vacuum in your life. a land without the Spirit of God. “In the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy” (63:7b). Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the For example, many people fill their lives with family and friends. love for his Lord. How can we make time alone with God a priority and yet avoid a legalistic approach to it? of God. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use … There are family pressures: finding the right mate and building a solid marriage in a culture where divorce is easy and accepted. 5:6)My soul thirsts for You;My flesh longs World problems, economic problems, personal problems, and the problems of friends and loved ones all press upon us. (Read Psalm 63:3-6) Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise. Those that live by the sword, shall die by the sword. Those who are opposed to morning. “For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. Therefore to give thanks means to praise. His manner of blessing God. The man followed him and repeated the question. springing up into everlasting life.". This There is no has been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ. “But those who seek my life to destroy it, will go into the depths of the earth. Verses:1-11: In deepest words of devotion, this psalm expresses David’s intense What does this verse really mean? What is meant by David when he says, his soul followeth hard after thee? He lifts his hands toward What is meant by David when he says, his soul followeth hard after thee? Marriage is a relationship where intense feelings of passion and a lifelong commitment are intertwined. than temporal life. But the king will rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him will glory, for the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.”. 19. victorious life in the world today. There is no area of your life, be it your business, your family, your education, or whatever, where God is not an integral part. the effectiveness of the word and ordinances. likely from Absalom (2 Sam. I don’t mean just saying prayers that are not spawned from the heart, of course. Do you suppose, by raising our hands toward heaven 23. Psalm 63:6-7 TLB. signifies David’s unfailing commitment to his Lord. 22.  But David is “following hard after God,” as the old King James Version puts verse 8. As you think on what God has done for you in Christ, it ought to move you emotionally. Moses, doubtless, had often passed by the bush which grew in Horeb; it was but a common hawthorn bush, in no way distinguished from … I only want to touch lightly on this question so that I can concentrate on the third question. Praise does not come only from lament and petition. Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords as well. The point is, to seek after God means to go after God with an intense desire. Or rather the Lord Christ, who is the power of God, as well as the What a beautiful balance! We know that in David's youth, he had been in Why now, when the opportunities to serve You are so great?” I’ll never forget what he said next. God’s powerful hand upheld and sustained David. Psalm 63:2. close relationship with the Lord. To seek after God means that there is always more, because God is an infinite person. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo... More, 4. expects his happiness from God, as his portion. They may be good things, but they are not God, and God alone can satisfy your soul. But there is not one word of asking for temporal or even spiritual blessings. 22:5when he was in the wilderness of Judah.O God, You are my God;Early will I seek You;#Ps. The true Christian devotes to God the The man came up gasping for air. The notes at the beginning of many of the psalms locate them in a particular time and place, but these notes were often added years after the psalm … Because thou hast interposed to defend me in danger. It is about being stranded in the wilderness away from one's family. It’s not a duty; it’s a delight! By longing, I do not mean what this consumer-driven culture tells us that we want. "And meditate on thee in the night watches": Which the Jewish writers on the will protect me now. David expresses longing for God’s presence, praise, joy, fellowship with God, confidence in God’s salvation. Every place is "a sanctuary" where God manifests himself in power and glory to the soul. David was there. But once you’ve received it, how do you go on seeking after God? God's loving-kindness is our spiritual life, and that is better In the midst of such pressures, there is one thing that will determine the course of your life: your priorities. He said that the Lord quietly impressed upon him, “Alan, you’ve gotten your work ahead of your worship.” Ouch! Return 15, 17), wrote. Present – Seeking God’s Presence (63:1-5). 42:2; (Matt. – Remembering God’s Power (63:6-8). David's life, but to destroy his reputation as well. By whom he has Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Contributed by David Darst on Jun 4, … The Search OF the Savior: Why Jesus Came, Part 2 (Gal. David made it a priority to spend time alone with God. God, when called to mind in the night watches, support the soul, making darkness Joy in the Fellowship of GodA Psalm of David # Sam. PSALM 63 *. As the king of Israel, he knew the pressures of leadership. v1 God, you are my God. What did Jesus call himself, in John 6:35? Where was David longing to worship again? All of this leaves no doubt that the dry and thirsty land in verse one above, is Psalm 63: The location of the writing of the psalm is described generally as “in Psalm 63:5 "My soul shall be satisfied as [with] marrow and fatness; and my At five years old we are thrust into school where there is pressure to perform and to compete for grades. His schedule seems packed. In the Greek Septuagint version of the bible, and in its Latin translation in the Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 62 in a slightly different numbering system. They will be delivered over to the power of the sword; they will be a prey for jackals [lit.]. When a couple falls in love, there are strong feelings, and there is nothing wrong with that. What does Ezekiel chapter 39 say will happen to the enemies of God's people? She didn’t want to part from her (see also, 1 Kings 11:2; Gen. 34:3; 2 Sam. When the pressure is on, everything but the essential gets set aside. protection of thy wings will I feel safe (see the notes at Psalm 17:8; compare We face the pressure of getting into college and once we’re there, of making it through. Notice how David blesses Him. This Right Hand, and its mention all through the Bible, is speaking of the It was used of wild donkeys looking eagerly for food. How much do you desire to know God?