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63. Psalm 63

1 You, God, are my God,
   earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
   my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched 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 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
   with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

    6 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 I cling to you;
   your right hand upholds me.

    9 Those who want to kill me 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 will glory in him,
   while the mouths of liars will be silenced.


5. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow, etc. In accordance with what was said in the foregoing verse, David expresses his assured persuasion of obtaining a rich and abundant measure of every blessing that could call for thanksgiving and praise. At the period of composing this psalm, he may have been already in the enjoyment of ease and plenty; but there is reason to believe that he cherished the persuasion referred to, even when wandering in the wilderness in a state of poverty and destitution. If we would evidence a strong faith, we must anticipate the divine favor before it has been actually manifested, and when there is no present appearance of its forthcoming. From the instance here set before us, we must learn to be on our guard against despondency, in circumstances when we may see the wicked wallowing and rioting in the abundance of the things of this world, while we ourselves are left to pine under the want of them. David, in the present pressure to which he was exposed, might have given way to despair, but he knew that God was able to fill the hungry soul, and that he could want for nothing so long as he possessed an interest in his favor. It is God’s will to try our patience in this life, by afflictions of various kinds. Let us bear the wrongs which may be done us with meekness, till the time come when all our desires shall be abundantly satisfied. It may be proper to observe, that David, when he speaks in figurative language of being filled with marrow and fatness, does not contemplate that intemperate and excessive indulgence to which ungodly men surrender themselves, and by which they brutify their minds. He looks forward to that moderate measure of enjoyment which would only quicken him to more alacrity in the praises of God.


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