Psalms 63

Psalms 63THEME: Thirst for the Water of LifeThis is “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.” This is a special psalm. It is an ointment that is poured out upon all kinds of sores. It is a bandage for bruises. It is a balm to put upon wounds to help them heal. It has been a marvelous psalm for the church. It speaks of the thirst for the Water of Life. Chrysostom said that it was ordained and agreed upon by the primitive fathers that no day should pass without the public singing of this psalm, and in the primitive church this psalm was sung every morning or every time there was a public gathering. They always began the morning service with it. This psalm is the expression of wonderful thoughts.

Psalms 63:1

These two verses were translated by Dr. Gaebelein thus: “O God, Thou art my God; early do I seek Thee; my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh pineth for Thee, in a dry, thirsty land without water; as I gazed upon Thee in the Sanctuary, to see Thy power and glory” (The Book of Psalms, p. 251). It is faith, and faith alone, that can speak like this. God, the Eternal One, transcends all human thinking. He is the Creator. He is the Redeemer.

He is my Father. It was He whom David sought. He knew what it was to be thirsty. He had hidden in caves down by the Dead Sea, and it is some of the driest land I have ever seen. California, Arizona, and New Mexico haven’t anything that can touch that dry land around Engedi. It is a place where you can get thirsty!

If you are ever over there, make sure that you have water with you. David’s soul thirsted for God. Do you feel that way about Him? Do you have a love for Him, or has He become a burden to you? Oh, that we might thirst for Him!

Psalms 63:4

David is saying that he would rather have fellowship with God than have a gourmet dinner.

Psalms 63:6

David thought about Godmeditated upon Himduring the night when he couldn’t sleep. My friend, meditating upon God’s goodness is a lot better than counting sheep!

Psalms 63:8

Oh, that our souls might follow hard after Him! This is a great psalm. Remember, it is the psalm of the morning and was sung at every service of the early church. Maybe we can’t sing it in our dayI don’t know.