Psalms 63

David wandering in the wilderness, complaineth very bitterly to God, that he was banishing out of the house of God, and from the outward exercise of Gods public worship, highly extolled by him. Comforteth himself nevertheless in Gods favour and protection, and foretelleth the ruine and destruction of his blood-thirsty persecuters, and of his joy to come.

1. A Psalm of David; as he was in the wilderness of Juda. [Fled before Saul, see the story, 1 Sam.22.5. and 23.14,15.]

2. O God, thou art my God, I seek thee [For to call upon thee] in the dawning, [i.e. early, fervently, and zealously, with a singular desire. See Job 7.on verse 21. And Psalms 78:34. Prov.1.28. HOs.5.15. Luke 21:38.] My soul thirsteth after thee: [Oth. Is withered, dried, viz. For thirst: some are opinion, that the Hebrew word (onely here extant) doth signify to be hot, hungry after meat, as in the former words was spoken of being thirsty] in a land dry, [as the Deserts are commonly and destitute of water. Exod.17.1. Num.20.1,2. Psalms 107:33,35. Jer.2.6.] and faint, [or, tired, wearied out; i.e. thirsty: as a land is called or said to be, when it wanteth water, whereupon thirst followeth: Some do take it, as if David spake of himself; that he was like a faint and tired man; (See Prov.25.25.) very dry and thirsty, wanting water, applying his outward lack to the spiritual; as followeth, comp. Psalms 143:6.] without water:

3. Indeed I have beheld thee in the Sanctuary; [In thy pure solemn worship, wherein thou dost reveal these thy attributes or properties, and wherein the Messiahs is variously figured out, and represented unto us.] seeing thy strength and thine honour.] oth. Thus; for to see thy strength and thine honour; so as I beheld thee in the sanctuary; the words being a little transposed.]

4. For thy kindness is better then the life: My lips should praise thee. [Namely, when this might happen unto me; or, shall praise thee, and so on in the sequel.]

5. Thus should I praise thee [Heb. Bless thee, understand, when thou shalt have been so gracious to me, that I may freely again repair and appear in thine house, as in former times] in my life: [i.e. during all my life, as Psalm 104.verse 33. And 146.2.] In thy name should I lift up my hands. [Hebrew Psalms. See Psalm 28.on v.2.]

6. My soul should be satisified as with grease and fatness: [This he opposeth to the spiritual hunger and thirst after the public and solemn worship of God and the assemblies and communion of Saints; whereof v.2,3. See Psa.36.on v.9.] and my mouth should celebrate with joyful singing lips. [Heb. Lips of cheerful songs, or, of shoutings.]

7. When I remember thee upon my couches, I meditate of thee in the night-watches. [Of the four parts of the night, called night-watches by the Jews, See Exod.14.24. 1 Sam.11.11. Lam.2.19. Mat.14.25. and 24.43. Mark 6:48. and compare further, Psa.1.on v.2.]

8. For thou hast been a help to me: [oth. A perfect help, of the addition of the word perfect, see Psalm 44.on v.27. and compare Psalm 3.on v.3.] and in the shadow of thy wings shall I sing cheerfully. [i.e. under thy protection. See Ruth 2.on v.12.]

9. My soul cleaveth on thee behind: [Willing to follow and loth to leave or part from thee] thy right hand underprops me.

10. But those (that) seek my soul to desolation, [i.e. those that go about to take away my life: (See Exod.4.on v.8.) with such fury and violence, that all the land is in uproar and trouble for it: See Psalm 35.on ver.8.] shall come in the nethermost places of the earth. [i.e. They shall be cast down on the ground, die and perish in the earth and hell.]

11. They shall be overthrown [Hebr. They shall overthrow him; i.e. Every one of them shall be thrown; that is, destroyed in that manner, that their blood, lives and faculties, shall be power out, fleet and vanish away like water: compare 2 Sam.11.14.] through the force of the sword: [Heb. The hands; see Job 5.on v.20.] they shall become a portion to the Foxes. [that shall devour their dead carcases. These beasts did mightily abound in those countries. See Jud.15.on verse 4. Compare further, Rev.19.21.]

12. But the king shall rejoice in God; [I David namely, when God shall have exalted me once to the kingdom which they do seek to let, Psalms 62:5.] every one that sweareth by him [God namely] shall glory: [i.e. he that truely honoureth and serveth him, shall joyfully count himself happy in God, and his work of grace, that shall have shewed to me and to his people, so also Psa.64.11.] for the mouth of the lies-tellers [i.e. those which now so boldly and impudently bely me and other godly people, inventing abroad, what-ever they list.] shall be stopped.