Happy Friday y’all! I’m so thankful for a great week. I am loving our Summer of Psalms and if you haven’t read the posts from earlier this week by Abby and Courtney, I challenge you to take a few minutes and do so. Be sure you are also using the FREE Psalms weekly reading guide that is posted on Sunday’s for the next few weeks, to follow along with us in the book of Psalms.
This week I am going to break down Psalm 63, which is a Psalm written by David, and I had a lot of good thoughts to bring you!
Let’s dive in!
63- Title
Probably when he was in the Desert of Judah. We have to look in 2 Samuel 15 and 17. This was when David had to flee due to Absalom. “Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom.” (2 Samuel 15:14)
63:1- How does a soul thirst?
I think this is really David using physical thirst as a metaphor for spiritual desire, much like someone physically wanting a drink our soul desires God. Both are caused by a felt need. And both, if not quenched can lead to death, either physically or spiritually. In this verse David’s spiritual thirst was satisfied by God’s presence in the sanctuary, by praising God, and by reflecting on God, later in the Psalm.
63: 3- A Sam favorite
I really love verse 3, especially when it says, “your love is better than life”. To me it shows such hope that can be found only in the Lord. When we have God’s love it’s better than any earthly thing we could possess and better than any life we would have here on earth!
63:4- Why do people lift their hands in worship to God?
Throughout history, upraised hands have revealed both praise and petition. The Hebrews would use their hands to express both their dependence on God and their respect for him. Lifting their hands would symbolize an anticipative attitude and trust in God, that he would fill their empty hands with his blessings. One of the Hebrew words for “praise”, is actually derived from the word for “hand”, and could be translated to mean “holding out hands in worship”. It’s funny how something people did so long ago to show praise and trust, is something that we do even today during worship.
63:7 How is a shadow protection?
I think to understand how a shadow can be protection we have to look to Psalm 57:1 which says, “I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings”. I think that this shows God’s protection. The shadow can provide relief and be a place of comfort, comfort enough to sing.
Credits:
Quest study bible
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