DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 63 David, while exiled in the desert, thirsts, not for water, but for God. He prays for deliverance from his enemies and expresses his confidence that they will fall. David was king at the time (v. 11), so the exile in the wilderness to which the Psalm alludes probably took place during the rebellion of Absalom and his cohorts. Commentator's disagree about where, precisely, David was during this wilderness experience. However, the illustration above depicts the Wilderness of Engedi, to which David often resorted while he was persecuted by Saul, and to which he may have resorted, or aspired to resort, during the rebellion of Absalom.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Samuel 15 - 18. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 63 - #1. Psalm 63 - #2. Psalm 63 - #3. Psalm 63 - #4. Psalm 63 - #5. Psalm 63 - #6. Psalm 63 - #7. Psalm 63 - #8. Psalm 63 - #9. Psalm 63 - #10. ]

     In Psalm 63 David claims the almighty God as his God. He says that he will seek him early because his soul is thirsty for him as one who is in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. He longs to see God's power and his glory as he had seen him in the sanctuary (1-2). He expresses his assurance that he will praise and bless God, lifting up his hands in prayer, because of God's lovingkindness. His thirsty soul will be satisfied with marrow and fatness. His mouth will praise God with joyful lips when he remembers God on his bed and meditates on him in the night watches (3-6). God has been his help; therefore he will rejoice under the shadow of his wings. His soul will follow hard after God because God's right hand upholds him (7-8). But those who seek to destroy his soul will descend into the grave; they will fall by the sword; and foxes (or jackals) will eat them (9-10). But David, the King, will rejoice in God; and everyone who swears by him will glory; but the mouths of those who speak lies shall be stopped (11).

O God, thou art my God;
early will I seek thee:
my soul thirsteth for thee,
my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land,
where no water is;
² To see thy power and thy glory,
so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

³ Because thy lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips shall praise thee.
⁴ Thus will I bless thee while I live:
I will lift up my hands in thy name.
⁵ My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
⁶ When I remember thee upon my bed,
and meditate on thee in the night watches.

⁷ Because thou hast been my help,
therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
⁸ My soul followeth hard after thee:
thy right hand upholdeth me.

⁹ But those that seek my soul, to destroy it,
shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
¹⁰ They shall fall by the sword:
they shall be a portion for foxes.

¹¹ But the king shall rejoice in God;
every one that sweareth by him shall glory:
but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]