Psalm 63

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Psalm 63
• Sermon
• Prayer

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Sermon Title: Earnest Longing and Satisfaction in God

Scripture: Psalm 63

I. Earnest Longing for God — Psalm 63:1

A. The Hebrew verb for "seek" carries a dual meaning: earnestly seeking or seeking early in the morning

1. Many modern translations (ESV) render it "earnestly I seek you"
2. Older translations (KJV) render it "early" — leading the early church to use Psalm 63 as a morning psalm
3. The Armenian Church still recites Psalm 63 liturgically every morning

B. The intensity of David's longing is the central point regardless of translation

C. James Montgomery Boice: the contemporary church's spiritual weakness reflects a failure to earnestly long after God

1. We bring great purpose to work, family, and friendships, but little zeal to the Lord
2. Psalm 63 is commended as a psalm to recite in preparation for corporate worship

II. Past, Present, and Future Reflections on God — Psalm 63:2–8

A. Past reflection — Psalm 63:2

1. Context: David is in the wilderness, likely fleeing Absalom, separated from Jerusalem and the sanctuary where God's special presence dwelt
2. He reflects on past occasions of worship in the sanctuary, recalling God's power and glory

B. Present meditation — Psalm 63:3, 6

1. In his current wilderness trial, David meditates on the Lord upon his bed in the night watches
2. The Psalter teaches us to take inventory of how God has been good in the past as an anchor for the soul in present suffering — not to think our way into God being good, but to remember objective past mercies

C. Future hope — Psalm 63:5

1. David anticipates future satisfaction and praise — "my soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food"
2. Every part of David — lips, tongue, hands, will, mouth, memory, intellect — is engaged in worship, reflecting that God made us body and soul to worship him entirely

D. The steadfast love of God is better than life — Psalm 63:3

1. Boice: the Hebrew word hesed (steadfast/covenant love) stresses the faithful, unchangeable continuance of God's love
2. Life itself can be lost, but God's covenant love can never be lost — Romans 8:38–39
3. Romans 8 serves as a New Testament application of Psalm 63

E. The shadow of God's wings and clinging to God — Psalm 63:7–8

1. John Donne: verse 7 is the spirit and soul of the entire Psalter contracted into one verse — finding satisfaction in the Lord causes the heart to sing
2. The Hebrew verb for "cling" (dabaq) is the strongest bond language in the Old Testament
   • Used in Genesis 2:24 of a man cleaving to his wife in one-flesh union
   • Used in Ruth 1:14 of Ruth clinging to Naomi — "your God will be my God"
3. David's relationship with God is an intense, stubborn cleaving — a willingness to give up life itself to hold fast to Yahweh
4. Augustine: "Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God" — Psalm 63 encapsulates this

III. Vindication of the King — Psalm 63:9–11

A. David declares that the enemies who aligned with Absalom will be destroyed and the God-appointed king will be vindicated

1. This is fulfilled historically in 2 Samuel — Absalom's army is defeated and Absalom himself is killed

B. The psalm points beyond David to David's greater Son, Jesus Christ

1. Psalm 63 would have been on the lips of Jesus — it describes the love Christ had for his Father
2. Before the cross, Jesus affirmed the Father's nearness: John 16:32 — "I am not alone, for the Father is with me"
3. Jesus knew the steadfast love of the Father was greater than life — this is why he went to the cross
4. Hebrews tells us he endured the cross for the joy set before him — vindication by the Father
5. Christ, who did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, cleaved to the Father and was exalted to his right hand

C. Application: Psalm 63 should be read in two ways

1. As a personal incentive to long after God — commended for recitation before Sunday worship
2. Through the lens of Christ — he fulfills Psalm 63 on our behalf, and through his Spirit pours out that same longing heart into his people