* A map of the empires of King David and Solomon is now in public domain.
>1. Where is the Desert of Judah? When might be the circumstances behind this psalm? (2 Samuel 15:23-28, 16:2,14, 17:16, 29) What sanctuary did see? Why bring this up? Consider where he was and why he was there.
* Psalm 63:1-5 "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."
* The title of the psalm is "A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah."
* "desert" -Areas with little rainfall to the east and south of Palestine and inhabited by nomads with flocks and herds. Three major deserts figure in biblical events: the plateau east of the mountains to the east of Jordan River; the area south of Edom, and the triangle bordered by Gaza, the Dead Sea, and the Red Sea. The Bible pictures raiders from the desert-Amalekites, Midianites, Ishmaelites-threatening Palestine farmers. Saul relieved some of this pressure (1 Sam. 14:48).
Palestine's desert areas received brief if hard rains in March and April. At times they blossomed briefly, but long dry spells returned its normal desert characteristics. The Hebrew language distinguishes with several words what English describes as desert or wilderness. (Holman Bible Dictionary)
* "sanctuary" -The temple was not built. So this would have been the tent of meeting which housed the Ark of the Covenant.
* The title of this short implicit prayer (like 62) states that King David (11) wrote this psalm in the Desert of Judah, a vast north-south desert east of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, south of Jericho, and west of the Jordan River and the Salt Sea. After leaving Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives is a desert stretching through Jericho to the Jordan River. Perhaps David wanted to appear to make his way to the Transjordan, east of the Jordan before heading south into the Desert of Judah.
The occasion therefore would have been when Absalom, his eldest son at that time tried to take the throne from David. (2 Samuel 15:23-28, 16:2,14, 17:16, 29) The trip through the desert would have been hard and slow, especially for the children, and especially since the exit out of Jerusalem was too quick to prepare water, food, and clothing. David purposely left the Ark of the Covenant where he visited with God in Jerusalem (2, 2 Samuel 15:25)
David compares his desire for God to his thirst for water in a dry and weary land where there is no water (1). David exclaims that God's love is better than life (3). David is not stating that he wanted to die nor that he didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead. Rather, he thirsts for God because of God's loving kindness. God's love is more durable, comfortable, and satisfying than the present life. What better reason to hope for the future because God with his unending love is in it? David was hungry physically and in his soul (5). Yet, he knew that God would satisfy his soul with the richest of food (5).
Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 63:1-5.
>2. What time of day is it when he remembers his God? (6) For how long does his thoughts continue? Is this usually what people think about when sudden hardships and troubles come?
* Psalm 63:6-8 "On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."
* "On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night."
* "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings."
* "My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."
* David was in a desiccated barren land because his son was attempting to take not only the throne the Lord God set him on but also his life. (2 Samuel 15:23-28, 16:2,14, 17:16, 29) What thoughts consume as dusk chilled arid winds float desert beast's howls? What inhabits a dusted desert mind? Self-pity, fear, and doubt? Perhaps, woe for the accompanying family and friends? Or anger and bewilderment towards the Lord? Not so with David.
David remembered the Lord through the watches of the night? His mind's sky twinkled with what he had seen and experienced in the sanctuary (2)., the power and glory of the Lord God showed brilliant a thousand million ways. David sang in the shadows of the Lord's wings as desert owls housed their chirping chicks. His soul clings to the Lord tighter than dowel feathers to their parents' mighty wings. He was too young to fly and just old enough to stand. So the Lord propped David up.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 63:6-8.
>3. What confidence does David have concerning his enemies? (9-10) Concerning himself? (11) How can he have this confidence?
* Psalm 63:9-11 "They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced."
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* David states that those seeking his life will get what they deserve. He knows this because the Lord God is a just God. David quickly fled Jerusalem to the desert of Judah, and those who supported him fled, too. The wicked used their mouths to spread lies, while all who love and fear God used their mouths to spread God's glory and honor. God judges the hearts of men. From the heart, the mouth speaks.
Speaking of his authority to Jesus said, "For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." (John 5:20-30)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 63:9-11.
II. Protect My Life From the Enemy (64:1-10)
* The engraving titled "The Shade: Until It Cooled Off" is from "Beschouwing der wereld : bestaande in hondert konstige figuuren, met godlyke spreuken en stichtelyke verzen / door Jan Luiken."
The attendant scripture is Psalm 17:8 and Psalm 63:8. Two travelers rest in the shade of a mountain in order to escape the heat of the sun. The Dutch artist and poet Jan Luiken (1649-1712) was responsible for drawing this emblem and composed the poem that accompanies it. The etching was executed by Jan Luiken or his son Casper Luiken (1672-1708), who had used this image in an earlier work.
Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu.
>4. What is David not afraid to do? (1) How does he start his complaint? What is his complaint? What are they doing?
* Psalm 64:1-4 "Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear."
* The title of the psalm is "For the director of music. A psalm of David."
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* With so many physical battles that David fought against enemy nations and enemies within Israel, I would think that David would have written Psalms about physical battles. Perhaps he would write about the fear of the battle or the fear of losing the battle. Perhaps he would write about his anger toward God for allowing the enemy to attack with swords and arrows again and again. Perhaps he would brag about victories as so many other rulers of his age. Yet, very few Davidic psalms concern physical battles. No, David does not write many psalms about physical battles.
Instead, the majority of Davidic Psalms are about asking God for salvation from noisy crowds with lying tongues and wicked mouths (2). Battles with sharp tongues and whispered conspiracies are what many of David's psalms concern (2-3). Behind the conspiracy plots and ambush shots at an innocent are hearts that hate and envy (4). Those who want more with unsettled minds and hearts invent reasons to destroy and kill with poisonous words. Others are just angry. Hate and anger shoot off their mouths without fear (4). Jesus experienced the exact same use of clever false words to impair the Truth.
I have been the victim and portrayer of a wicked tongue. Jesus warns me, "Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." (John 5:14) Jesus said this to the man he healed by the Bethesda pool in Jerusalem. The healed man's mouth was getting him in trouble. Lord, cleanse my heart's tongue and make me new with strength to fight the tongue within.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 64:1-4.
>5. Why do people verbally encourage each other? What question does David's enemies ask and what are they saying in doing do? (5-6) What are they convinced of? (6) Why is David saying this is cumming? Where does it come from?
* Psalm 64:5-6 "They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, "Who will see them?"
6 They plot injustice and say, "We have devised a perfect plan!" Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning."
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* David examines his enemies' contemptuous self-confidence while he prays to God for deliverance. and in doing so he defines many who are against Jesus and many in my age. Verse 5, "They encourage each other in an evil plan; they talk about hiding traps and say, 'Who will see them (and us)?'" (HCSB) In Psalm 35:7 he wrote, "They hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me," In Psalm 140:5 and 141:9 David wrote, "Proud men have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path." "Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers."
Verse 6 David wrote, "They devise crimes and say, 'We have perfected a secret plan.' The inner man and the heart are mysterious." (HCSB) In Psalm 83:3 he wrote, "With cunning, they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish." "Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed," (Psalm 21:11)
The gospel writers were quick to comment so the readers would understand that David was prophesying about Jesus's day's religious and social leaders. Jesus said, "They do this to me, so they will do it to you." Yet, he did not say, "Strike back at them." Instead, he said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:43-45)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 64:5-6.
>6. What is David sure will happen? How are tongues arrows and how are they turned against them? What will all mankind do? (9) What does it mean to ponder? What will be the righteous response when they ponder what David knows will happen? (10)
* Psalm 64:7-10 "But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done.
10 Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!"
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* David's account of God's judgment is in the future tense: "God will shoot... suddenly they will be... He will turn... He will bring them... will shake their heads... All mankind will fear... They will proclaim... and ponder." This is true for every psalm -9:8, 72:2, 96:10, 13, 98:9, 110:6 to name a few. Judgment is sure to come, but when? It could be in this life, but this is not a guarantee. A final judgement is coming and Jesus will be the judge.
Jesus said to those who continued in their unbelief, "There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day." (John 12:37, 48) Apostle Paul said to the men of Athens, "For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31)
Jesus explained the Parable of the Weeds to his apostles, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." (Matthew 13:37-43)
Like a faint rainbow in the sky is not seen by everyone, so the judgment to come exists if one looks for it.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 64:7-10.
III. A Psalm, A Song (65:1-13)
* The drawing citing Psalm 65:13 by unknown author is not in public domain.
>7. What is the title? What is the difference between a psalm and a song? What is a vow? Is making a vow good or bad?
* Psalm 65:1 "Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled."
* The title is "For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.
* "psalm" -The original Hebrew word is "mizmor" which is always translated into English as "psalm". A psalm is meter which may or may not have melody. It could be a poem without melody. Most if not all psalms later had melody via vocal and/or instruments. However, no one can usually say for sure since psalms were written so long ago. Some titles indicate instruments were originally meant to be used.
* "song" -The original Hebrew word is "shir" translated into English either as "song", "music" or "singing" meaning melody and meter. A song will have either or both vocal and instruments.
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>What is sin? What is a transgression? What does it mean for God to forgive? How is that possible?
* Psalm 65:2-3 "O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions."
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>What does verse 4 imply about how a person comes into a relationship with God? What happens when he does so? (4)
* Psalm 65:4 "Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple."
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>8. How does God answer us? Who does he answer? Who fears God? (8) What does God call forth?
* Psalm 65:5-8 "You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,
6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength,
7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.
8 Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy."
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>9. What has God ordained? Why? Is the author talking about physical water? Or something else?
* Psalm 65:9-10 "You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops."
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>10. What does "you crown the year with your bounty" mean? What does God bless the land with? Why?
* Psalm 65:11-13 "You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing."
