Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 63
The lxiii. PSALM.
David being in the wilderness of Ziph void of outward comforts, and in some desertion of soul, prayes for to be delivered out of his spiritual wilderness, by the shedding abroad of the love of God in his heart, which would comfort him beyond all his sorrows: and from former experiences, strengthens his …aith, and clears up his heart touching future dispensations, not doubting, but affirming the destruction of his enemies, and his own advancement to the Kingdom,Psalm lxiii. A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. for the good of the Church.
A Psalm made by David when he was in the wilderness of Ziph, belonging to the tribe of Judah, hiding himself from Saul.
1 O God,1O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth after thee my flesh longeth for thee in a a dry and thirsty land where no water is. though I am in this solitarie condition, am exile from amongst men, and a companion for wild beasts, yet is not my faith staggered, nor my proprietie in thee impaired, but still thou art the same God in relation to me, and I have the same interest in thee, that ever I had, no trouble shall make me forget my dependencie, nor cause me neglect mine addresses to thee, whose favour and assistance I prefer before all things, and will seek to thee for it in the first and principal place, as undervalluing all things to it. My soul and inward man is extreamly impatient of some sweet spiritual communion with thee, which would infinitely refresh and animate both soul and body, in this uncomfortable condition, and barren wilderness, where I have accommodations for neither.
2 To be here immediately supplied from thee (in default of those helps I had in thy Sanctuarie whence I am now driven)2To see thy power and thy glory: so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary. with those heart-ravishing aprrehensions of thine almighty power and glorious grace, as heretofore I have had in the celebration of them, in thy Worship and Ordinances at thy Tabernacle, by those emblematical representations, and types of thy saving mercies, so comfortably exhibited therein in their lively signals.
3Because thy loveing-kindness is better than life: my lips shall praise thee.3 The memory whereof, though at distance, mind me of thine unspeakable love in Christ, which to a hungry soul, and a believing sinner, is of higher price, and more desirable, than life it self, which without it, is but death; and however in outward respects my condition is so sad, yet, whensoever thou wilt let the taste of that thy love break in upon my spirit, I know the power and virtue of it so well, that I am sure mine inward refreshings will bear down the sense of mine outward wants and sufferings, and I shall be able to praise thee, whatsoever be my pressures.
4Thus will I bless thee, while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.4 If I might be but alwaies thus made happy, I should never be miserable, but shall have cause enough to bless God, for thus blessing me? If I had no other happiness but this all my life long, I should have no cause to complain, but of perpetual rejoycing and confidence in God, his goodness and mercy to me?
5My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth shall praise thee with joyfull lips.5 Then shall my soul be as full as it can hold, feasted with the bread of life, and heavenly dainties, far surpassing all creature-comforts, even so full as to make me break out in thy praises, uttered as in a rapture, or extasie.
6When I remember thee upon my bed: and meditate on thee in the night watches.6 Especially, when in this sort I can call thee to mind in the night season, in my retired thoughts, and can express my mind when I lay awaking, after this manner upon thee. O how sweet is it.
7Because thou hast been my help: therefore in the shaddow of thy wing will I rejoyce.7 How low soever be my condition either for soul, or body in respect of outward means; yet, in regard of my former experiences of thy goodness, and faithfullness in all essays, I will not be discouraged, but in the faith of thee, and thy tender respects to me, I will clear up my heart.
8 I am sorely pursued,8My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. and my soul in this my sad condition, pursueth after thee, as fast as mine enemies do after me, for I know that still thine heart is towards me; and that by thy power and grace I am, and shall be upheld.
9 Yea,9But those that seek my soul to destroy it: shall go into the lower parts of the earth. I shall stand, when by thy justice executed upon mine enemies, they shall fall; and live, when they are dead and rotten, however it be ebbe water with me now.
10 I know they have not long to live,10They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for Foxes. their destruction is not far to; and that they shall die a violent death, when they do die; as they have been cruel and bloudy-minded in their life, so shall they die a bloudy death, and shall fall by the sword of their enmies, who shall expose their dead bodies, to open disgrace, and inconvenience for Foxes, and vermin to prey upon, not affording them the common courtesie of burial.
11 But I that am appointed,11But the King shall rejoyce in God, every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. and anoynted of God to be their King, shall live to rejoyce in his wondrous preservation, and preferment of me to that office, whereof he shall give me possession, as far remote as I seem to be from it now, and that not onelyonly to my joy, but to the rejoycing of all his faithfull people, who in sincerity of heart profess and serve him, they shall joy and glory in me, as the type of the Messiah, his rule and governance over his Church, who shall come as hardly by it, and in the eyes of the world shall seem as unlike for it, as I to be King of Israel. And when its their turn and mine to rejoyce, on the contrary, those that now make no conscience of any thing they do, or say, shall hang their heads, and not have a word to speak in excuse, or justification of themselves, because of despondencie of spirit, and their self-accusing consciencies, as also shall Christs enemies at last.