A Meditation on Psalm 63
Psalm of David in the Judah Desert
one? Oh God, you are my strong God; I look for you with impatience; my soul thirsts for you; my body yearns for you, like arid land, exhausted, without water. two? That is why I contemplate you in the sanctuary, to see your strength and your glory. 3? Because your grace is better than life; my lips praise you. 4? Therefore, I must bless you while I live; for you I raise my hand. 5? My soul is full of butter and tallow; and with joy on my lips, does my mouth praise you, 6? in my bed, when I remember you, and in you I meditate, during the night vigil. 7? Because you have helped me; in the shadow of your wings, I sing with joy. 8? My soul clings to you; your right hand supports me. 9? However, those who seek my life to destroy it, will be amazed in the depths of the earth. ten? They will be returned to the power of the sword and grazed by jackals. eleven? The king, however, rejoices in God; Anyone who swears by her will boast, because the mouths of those who lie will be covered.
The author is David, when he was king (vv. 1, 11). The situation is that someone is trying to destroy your life (v. 9). This corresponds to the moment when Absalom, David’s own son, forced him out of Jerusalem (2 Sam 15:23). Put yourself in David’s place, your son is not only alienated, but he’s also hostile enough to have the desire to see him. dead father. Here’s a deadly danger mixed with a painful separation from your child.
Learn from David what to do in difficult and terrifying times. He prayed. The whole psalm is addressed to God, David asks for no protection or victory; Ask for only one thing: God Himself, to quench your soul, as the waters quench your thirst in a dry, depleted land. O God, you are my strong God; I can’t wait to see you. my soul thirsts for you; Does my body absorb you, like arid, depleted land without water?(V. 1). There are moments of pain, loss, sadness, and darkness, in which it is not worth asking for anything except God Himself. All other things are trivial, including life itself.
That is why David said, “For thy grace is better than life; Do they praise my lips?(V. 3). David could be killed overnight by a cunning traitor who had sold to Absalom. How do you sleep, that God’s love, in God’s presence, is better than being a victim of death at night. However, we do not easily feel this rest in God’s constant love. We say the words, but do we feel the reality? David didn’t feel it the way he wanted. Then he shouted, “I’m looking for you with concern; Is my soul thirsty for you?Did David desperately need God to respond to his cry to come and help him prove it?Not only to know, but also to feel that his grace is better than life.
Oh, that we know God this way, wouldn’t that be all for us?Wouldn’t it be more than wealth, fame, success and health?In reality, more than the world can offer, God Himself comes and makes our souls drink from his grace, until all things disappear from our vision and fear is swallowed by the unwavering security of eternal joy to the right of God!Oh, let’s get this place on our walk with God! When the salvation of his own life and the deliverance of his son cease to be David’s idols, and only God will envelop him in the firm enjoyment of his unwavering love, David will sing with joy in the pains of the night and, perhaps, God willing, will recover his son.
How did God come to David and awaken his spiritual taste, so that he could see God and be satisfied, as with lard and fat?(V. 5)? The answer is that David remembered the days of worship in the house of God: “Do I contemplate you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory?(V. 2). David had fled Jerusalem, the collective place of worship of God’s people. And in his anguish, David remembered what worship was like and what he contemplated in worship.
Is there a great desire I have of the collective worship of our churches?That when we gather, sing, pray, and hear the Word of God, He Himself is so present, in “strength and glory,” that in the years to come, if this immeasurable privilege is prevented, the same memory of having it will make it real for you.
Do you want to pray to God with me, praying that He will find us this way?Do you want to pray for pastors and leaders, pleading with God to give them songs, prayers, silence, scriptures, and sermons that are so full of truth and the Spirit of God that everyone will like and see this?Is God’s grace better than life?
And will you pray for yourself, praying that Saturday nights and Sunday mornings will become opportunities to prepare for the encounter with God?Pray with David: “O God, you are my strong God; I look forward to it. My soul thirsts for you; Does my body suck you, like an arid, exhausted land, without water?. If this prayer were on our lips on Saturday night and Sunday morning, God would not open the sources of heaven and show us that his “grace is better than life. “
Excerpt from the book: Penetrated by Palavra, by John Piper. Copyright: © FIEL Editor 2009 The reader is authorized to disseminate and distribute this text, provided that it does not change format, content and / or translation and report the credits of authorship, translation and copyright. If in doubt, please contact Editora Fiel.