Psalms 63
Summary for Ps 63:1-11: Ps 63 a The king longs for God’s presence so vividly that he eats, drinks, and sees God’s goodness. Though worn out and harassed by the wicked, the king sees God, and this animates him with praise. God becomes his life (63:3 b), while the wicked perish (63:9 c). 63:1 d Together, soul and whole body refer to a person’s entire being.• parched and weary land: When David was living in the desert, he also found himself in a spiritual wasteland, separated from God’s people and the sanctuary.
63:2 e The psalmist remembers that he had found God to be present in his sanctuary (see 18:6 f; 61:4 g; 62:5 h, 11-12 i).
63:3 j better than life itself: The highest quality of life is found in relationship with God (see 4:7 k; 63:5 l; Prov 16:8 m).
Summary for Ps 63:6-8: 63:6-8 n The psalmist reflects and meditates on God’s presence through the night. In the absence of light, God is the light. The quietness of the night and the longing for dawn provide time to focus on the true significance of life with the Lord. 63:6 o Meditating on God requires focused awareness, concentration, thought, and reflection (see 1:2 p).
63:9 q The wicked were plotting to destroy the psalmist’s life through deception and lies, but they would meet their end.
• The depths of the earth refers to the place of the dead.
63:10 r Wild jackals are associated with desolation and abandonment (Isa 13:20-22 s; 34:10-15 t; Jer 9:11 u; 49:33 v; 51:37 w; Lam 5:18 x; Mal 1:3 y). The wicked will not receive honor in death; their bodies will be left to scavenging animals (Eccl 6:3 z; Jer 22:18-19 aa; 36:29-30 ab).
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