Psalm 63 Wilderness “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63: 1)

King David Enthroned over 30 in Hebron Enthroned over 37 in Jerusalem Death (after 40 year 70 (971 BC)

Psalm 63 = Individual Lament Psalm  Background: the theme of trust that Psalms 61 & 62 stress now reaches a climax in Psalm 63.  Lament Psalms Structure/Components:  Problem stated  Complaint against enemies  Trust in God stated  Solution provided  Vow to praise once delivered

Psalm 63 = Individual Lament Psalm  Background  Superscription: “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.”  Why?  During David’s flight from Saul?  During David’s flight from Absalom?  Psalm 3 – clearly written during this time

Absalom (“my father is peace”)  Handsome son of David by Maacah in Hebron when David was about 35 years old  Brother of Tamar who was raped by Amnon, David’s oldest son  Slays Amnon & flees north to Geshur for 3 yrs.  Is permitted by David to return to Jerusalem (around age 24; David = 59)  Does not see David for two years  Begins conspiracy while David builds his palace and the tabernacle and then places the ark

Absalom  Absalom’s 4-year Conspiracy (2 Sam. 15:1-6):  Weapons & men procured (15:1)  Criticism of David (15:2-3)  Promises to be better than David (15:4)  Exercised personal charm & flattery (15:5-6)  “So Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel” (15:6)

Absalom & David  Absalom’s Rebellion & David’s Exile (15:7-23):  Absalom is now about 30; David 65  David has been king for 35 years  And David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise and let us flee, for otherwise none of us shall escape from Absalom. Go in haste, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”  “And David went up the Mount of Olives and wept as he went, and his head was covered and he walked barefoot.” (2 Samuel 15:14 & 30)

Psalm 63: Message Now separated from the tabernacle, the formal place of worship, by those who seek to kill him, David’s satisfies his soul’s yearnings for worship by praising God for His loyal-love even during his present duress, and confidently anticipates his future joy when his enemies are stopped.

Psalm 63 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary, to see Thy power and Thy glory. 3 Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise Thee. 4 So I will bless Thee as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Thy name. 5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. 6 When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on Thee in the night watches, 7 For Thou hast been my help, and in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to Thee; Thy right hand upholds me. 9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it, will go into the depths of the earth. 10 They will be delivered over to the power of the sword; They will be a prey for foxes. 11 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.

Psalm 63  Introduction: Contrasting his present parched experience with his recollections of God’s power and glory in the tabernacle, David yearns for God’s presence (1-2)  Body: David satisfies his soul by praising God for His loyal-love, for the riches of the spirit, and for the help (3-8)  Conclusion: David confidently anticipates the destruction of those that seek to kill him (9-11)

Psalm 63 Introduction: Contrasting his present parched experience with his recollections of God’s power and glory in the tabernacle, David yearns for God’s presence (1-2) A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 Thus I have beheld Thee in the sanctuary, to see Thy power and Thy glory.

Psalm 63 Introduction: Contrasting his present parched experience with his recollections of God’s power and glory in the tabernacle, David yearns for God’s presence (1-2)  Seek You earnestly (“in the morning”)  Soul/flesh – thirsts/yearn for You  Land = dry, weary, no water  David’s soul = dry, weary, no nourishment  Longing for the presence of God (Why?)

Psalm 63 Introduction: Contrasting his present parched experience with his recollections of God’s power and glory in the tabernacle, David yearns for God’s presence (1-2)  Longing for the presence of God (Why?)  Because David had “beheld You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory”  Sanctuary = “the place set apart”  Glory = “heavy” or “importance”

Psalm 63: David, the worshipper Singers and singing (1 Chronicles 15:16-27 & 25:1-7) Musicians and instruments (1 Chronicles 23:5, 25:1-7) Ministry of Levites before the Ark (1 Chronicles 16:6,6,37) Recording (1 Chronicles 16:4, 28:12, 19) Thanking the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:4, 8, 41) Praise (1 Chronicles 16:4, 36) Psalms (1 Chronicles 16:9, Psalm 98:6) Rejoicing and joy (1 Chronicles 16:10, 16, 25, 31) Clapping hands (Psalm 47:1, 98:8, Isaiah 55:12) Shouting (1 Chronicles 15:28, Psalm 47:1, 5; Isaiah 12:6) Dancing (1 Chronicles 15:29; 2 Samuel 6:14, Psalm 149:3; Psalm 150:4) Lifting up hands (Psalm 134: 141:2) (Lamentations 3:41) Worship (1 Chronicles 16:29, Psalm 29:1-2, 95:6) Seeking the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:10-11, 2 Chronicles 7:14) Spiritual sacrifices (Psalm 27:6, 1 Peter 2:3-5, Hebrews 13:15,16) Saying Amen (1 Chronicles 16:36)

Psalm 63  Introduction: (1-2)  Body: David satisfies his soul by praising God for His loyal-love, for the riches of the spirit, and for the help (3-8)  Praise for…  God’s superior loyal-love (3-4)  The satisfaction of his soul (5-6)  God’s sustaining of David (7-8)

Psalm 63  Praise for…God’s superior loyal-love (3-4)  Hebrew = “hesed” (loyal relational love)  Examples:  David’s hesed covenant with Jonathan  God’s hesed covenant with David  Because God is such a great and loyal covenant-keeper, David praises and blesses His “name” (full reputation)

Psalm 63  Praise for…The satisfaction of his soul (5-6)  What’s the order of events in 5-6?  Cause = remember & meditate  Effect = soul satisfaction & praise

Psalm 63  Praise for…God’s sustaining of David (7-8)  Cause  God’s “help” = form of the word for “helper” in Gen. 2 (completion & protection)  God’s “hand” which upholds and “wing” which protect  Effect  I sing for joy  My soul clings to You

Psalm 63  Introduction: (1-2)  Body: (3-8)  Conclusion: David confidently anticipates the destruction of those that seek to kill him (9-11) But those who seek my life, to destroy it, will go into the depths of the earth. They will be delivered over to the power of the sword; They will be a prey for foxes. 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.

Psalm 63: Application for today All worshippers who are “in the wilderness find that this is a psalm for them. For them the psalm reminds that the loyal-love of God is of surpassing worth, worth more than life itself. Their longing thirst for God can be satisfied by the recall and realization of Yahweh’s upholding power.

Psalm 63: Application for today Read and discuss… Psalm 73:25 Psalm 36:10 Psalm 16:5-6 Philippians 1:21-23; 3:12-20 Galatians 2:20 Ephesians 3:14-21

Psalm 63 Wilderness “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63: 1)

Psalms Bible Study: 7:00-8:45pm June 10Intro & Psalm1 June 17Psalm 2 June 24NO CLASS July 1Psalm 63 July 8Psalm 23 July 15Psalms of Ascent Hallel Psalms Psalm 150 Praise & Worship