Psalm 63 New King James Version (2024)

FAQs

What is Psalms 63 talking about? ›

This prayer notes that our spiritual survival will not be long without being fed by our relationship with God. God's presence is as life-sustaining as water and food. Verse 2 is one of remembrance of God.

Psalm 63 1

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

“O God, you are my God, 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 . . .

It is attributed to King David, set when he was in the wilderness of Judah, and its theme concerns being stranded in the wilderness away from one's family.

In Psalm 63, David reminds us that through praise and worship we have the power to overcome whatever ails us. As spiritual beings, our souls long for God. It is a God-sized hole that is only satisfied when we meet the Lord through His son, Jesus.

Verse 4: When we lift our hands up to God, it means that we give the whole of ourselves to God. It shows people what we feel *like inside.

Context Summary. Psalm 63:1–4 expresses David's intense desire to experience God's presence and fellowship. David wrote these words while fleeing from enemies through a parched, uninhabited area (2 Samuel 16:14; 17:27–29). He compares his yearning for fellowship with God to his intense hunger and thirst.

Life without God's love is empty. It may overflow with material possessions, but they cannot bring joy to the soul. God made a visible example of His love to sinners by giving His Son as the perfect sacrifice for sin.

Psalms teaches us to neither ignore our pain nor let it determine our lives. God will fulfill his promises from the Torah and send the Messiah. This book is all about the lament, praise, faith, and hope of God's people.

8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. 8 I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. 8 I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post. 8 I follow close to You; Your right hand holds on to me.

What is the Psalm 63 2 sermon? ›

1O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

The psalmist longs to worship the Lord in the sanctuary in Jerusalem, but he cannot, because he is in the Wilderness of Judah fleeing from those seeking to kill him. His confidence is in the steadfast, covenant love (hesed) of God, because it is better than life itself.

Structure. Psalm 63 divides into two sections based upon the change of address. The first part, verses 1-8, is a prayer to God. The second part is addressed to the reader or listener of the psalm.

Here, David implies he is as gratified by praising the Lord as he would be from a banquet. David's practice of praising God joyfully despite harsh experiences reflects an important truth for all believers. It is good to praise God even in dire circ*mstances, and to do so joyfully.

Context Summary

David wrote these words while fleeing from enemies through a parched, uninhabited area (2 Samuel 16:14; 17:27–29). He compares his yearning for fellowship with God to his intense hunger and thirst. David vows to praise God forever because of the Lord's loyal love.

Through the Psalms, we learn about the importance of prayer and the acknowledgment of pain, as well as the power of praise and fulfillment of prophecy. This book has been designed as a prayer book for God's people as they wait for the arrival of the Messiah and the fulfillment of God's promises.

Life without God's love is empty. It may overflow with material possessions, but they cannot bring joy to the soul. God made a visible example of His love to sinners by giving His Son as the perfect sacrifice for sin.