Psalm 63

Written during a time away from home and in the wilderness area west of the Dead Sea, this is another psalm that has found it’s way into many contemporary songs. Even in translation, the words are powerful and moving. This is a mixture of lyrical images and profound, simple confession.

Jehovah is my only deity, says David. As soon as his eyes open, his heart cries out to renew the awareness of God’s Presence. The figure of speech for starting early implies an earnestness that runs throughout his waking hours. It is not possible to sate this burning desire; one would think God was water to a man lost in the desert. Keep in mind that this was well before any Temple was built, so David longs to present himself formally in the Tent of Meeting where the Ark of Covenant rests. If only he could simply stay there all day, as a mere retainer in the divine courts! God’s glory alone is all the reward he seeks.

God’s merciful favor in allowing David to enter His Presence is worth more than staying alive on this earth, for it comes from an ineffable heavenly level of existence. David could hardly restrain himself from offering up his voice in praise to the Lord for so long as his soul remains in his body. Assignment to God’s praise choir is far richer than the choicest things David could offer to God in return.

In the middle of the night, whatever it is that awakens him, his consciousness first turns to God. So precious are these quiet moments that David eagerly stays awake while the world sleeps just to enjoy this undistracted time of celebration. Every good thing in David’s life bears the fingerprints of God’s blessing. This is what it feels like to be a child of royalty who fears nothing because his royal Father is so powerful. Human boredom is a million miles away, even when God seems to pay him no mind as David shadows Him about His business.

With such an otherworldly orientation, it’s no surprise that David has worldly enemies. It’s also no surprise they have to be replaced so often, because God sees to it that they cannot long oppose him. Fortunate are the ones who have a proper burial, for many are those left for the carrion eaters. Yet we should not imagine that David wastes much time crowing over their demise. He’s too busy expressing his joy in Jehovah’s divine favor. David would much rather find folks interested in sharing this worship, instead of watching so many of them silenced for opposing God’s revelation.