Psalms 63

My soul thirsts for you

God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.a ²I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. ³Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!b

⁴I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.c ⁵You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.d ⁶I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.e

⁷Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.f ⁸I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.g ⁹But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth.

¹⁰They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals. ¹¹But the king will rejoice in God. All who swear to tell the truth will praise him, while liars will be silenced.h

Commentary

Psalm 63 is a psalm of David, composed while he was in the wilderness of Judah, likely during his flight from Absalom. It is a raw, intimate expression of desperate longing for God, set against the backdrop of physical thirst and spiritual desolation. David moves from a declaration

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Bible Dictionary· Psalms 63(8)

Body Feast Hand Right Shadow Soul Sword Water

References· Psalms 63

a: v.1 — Psalms 143:6, Psalms 84:2, Psalms 42:1-2, Matthew 6:33, Psalms 91:2, Revelation 7:16-17, Isaiah 41:18, Exodus 15:2, Psalms 5:3, John 7:37
b: v.3 — Philippians 1:23, Psalms 69:16, Psalms 51:15, Psalms 30:5, Hebrews 13:15, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Romans 12:1, Psalms 30:12, Romans 6:19, 1 John 3:2
c: v.4 — Psalms 104:33, Psalms 134:2, Psalms 28:2, 1 Kings 8:22-66, Psalms 145:1-3, Psalms 146:1-2, Habakkuk 3:10
d: v.5 — Psalms 36:7-9, Isaiah 25:6, Psalms 43:4, Psalms 17:15, Ezra 3:11-13, Psalms 118:14-15, Psalms 135:3, Revelation 19:5-7, Psalms 65:4, Psalms 71:23
e: v.6 — Psalms 42:8, Psalms 119:147-148, Psalms 149:5, Psalms 119:55, Lamentations 2:19, Psalms 77:4-6, Psalms 139:17-18, Song of Solomon 5:2, Song of Solomon 3:1-2
f: v.7 — 2 Corinthians 1:10, Psalms 61:4, Psalms 27:9, Psalms 54:3-4, Psalms 57:1, Psalms 17:8, Psalms 5:11, 1 Samuel 17:37, Psalms 21:1
g: v.8 — Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 18:35, Psalms 73:23, Song of Solomon 2:6, Psalms 37:24, Isaiah 42:1, Psalms 94:18, Psalms 73:25, Psalms 41:12, Philippians 2:12-13
h: v.11 — Deuteronomy 6:13, Psalms 21:1, Isaiah 65:16, Isaiah 45:23, Romans 3:19, Hebrews 6:13, 1 Samuel 24:20, Psalms 31:18, Job 5:16, 1 Samuel 23:17

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