In this psalm, titled “A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah,” David reflects on the time he spent as a fugitive living in the wilderness. Despite his eventual ascent to the throne, his experiences in the wilderness, including a period of exile due to Absalom’s rebellion, were instrumental in teaching him that the love of God surpasses all worldly pursuits. This serves as a timeless lesson, as many today are consumed by the pursuit of worldly pleasures, whereas David found solace in the wilderness, embracing the love of God.
The Israelites were guided by God through the wilderness to impart the lesson that humans require more than mere sustenance for survival; they necessitate the divine guidance provided by God. In the wilderness, God demonstrated His affection for them by bestowing manna, an entirely unprecedented sustenance that their ancestors had never tasted. Similarly, God navigates us through challenging circumstances to reveal His love to us in manners that our forefathers could not have fathomed. Nonetheless, as we live in a world rife with deceit, we often neglect to perceive His innovative methods, clinging instead to age-old traditions established by our ancestors.
Dry And Parched Land
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
Psalm 63:1 (NIV)
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Jeremiah meticulously documented the prophecy concerning the blessings bestowed upon those who place their trust in God. They will resemble a tree firmly planted by the water, sending out its roots by the stream. Unaffected by the arrival of heat, its leaves remain evergreen, free from worry even in a year of drought, and consistently bearing fruit (Jeremiah 17:8). The assurances of God have been rigorously tested and confirmed in the lives of those who have relied on Him.
Despite being surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, we cling to false teachings propagated by the devil and his followers, consequently failing to cultivate a personal relationship with God. The Father of this universe is our Heavenly Father, and not only should we address Him as Abba, but should confidently embrace our connection with Him. The experience of the wilderness is inexplicable, as we yearn for His love, forsaking all else. Sadly, there are individuals consumed by sorrow, lamenting the absence of worldly solutions to their problems, yet they overlook the permanent solutions provided by God.
The Love Of God Is Better Than Life
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Psalm 63:2-5(NIV)
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
The Psalmist regularly experienced the power and glory of God in the sanctuaries he visited. Instead of longing to return to his old sanctuary, he prays for the opportunity to join their elderly congregation. Surprisingly, he began to feel God’s power, glory, and love amidst his struggles in the wilderness. In times of trouble, God is close to us and desires our touch (Acts 17:27). However, we often fail to seek His presence and only seek Him in the structural buildings on Sundays. Apart from Sundays, it is challenging for us to find Him, as we struggle to prioritize the time to seek Him.
The scriptures consistently teach us that God watches over us. However, it is noteworthy that Hagar, at one point, testified to having encountered the God who looks after her. In Genesis 16:13, she gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” It is a thought-provoking comparison that while people eagerly anticipate meeting their distant sponsors from foreign lands, they often fail to demonstrate the same level of interest in seeking God, who is near all of us having redeemed us from eternal death.
When abandoned by everyone, Job expressed his hope of encountering his Redeemer in the final days. Let us hold onto the same hope, longing to behold Him with our own eyes on a glorious day. Let us cleanse our hearts with the blood of Jesus, for blessed are the pure in heart, as they shall see God and immerse themselves in His love.
Inhaling more of His love, this earthly life will become nothing to us as we will be longing to be in His presence in His Kingdom. Once we are immersed in His love, praises will naturally overflow from our hearts. We will not depend on the examples of our predecessors to praise God but will glorify Him by sharing our personal experiences of communion with our Heavenly Father.
Watch Night Remembrance
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.
Psalms 63:6-8 (NIV)
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
People often fast in remembrance of God, take part in the Holy Communion to remember His grace, and seek His blessings when starting a business. However, few devote time to meditate on His words day and night. The Psalmist did not merely remember God before bedtime but rather meditated on His words throughout the night while in bed. Sometimes, people struggle to sleep due to stress, impure thoughts, or fear, yet fail to turn to God. Bedtime is an opportune moment for the devil to tempt, provoke anger, evoke feelings of despair, inspire envy, and encourage the contemplation of harmful schemes.
Many individuals have expressed dissatisfaction with their inability to sleep through the night. The psalmist, however, utilized his sleepless nights to reflect on God and His goodness. Rather than attempting to induce sleep by counting numbers, it is advised to reflect on God’s blessings throughout the night. It is suggested to cultivate the practice of acknowledging God and His goodness, setting aside thoughts of grievances about others. Let us hold fast to Him, as He is capable of safeguarding us and guiding us into His Kingdom.
Food For Jackals
Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
Psalms 63:9-10 (NIV)
Often, we consider ourselves as the chosen ones and dismiss others as destined for condemnation. We must rid ourselves of such ideas, for Jesus died on the cross to save all people, regardless of their worthiness. “Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The Psalmist may not have lived to comprehend this unconditional love of God, yet he too is encompassed by the grace that saved all mankind.
David, a seasoned warrior, had experienced numerous battlefields and witnessed his enemies being delivered to the sword by God. He must have encountered the sight of the fallen, mangled by nocturnal predators. This constant struggle for survival ingrained in his mind that victory was a matter of life and death, leaving no room for compromise.
In today’s context, the adversary, the devil, has already been defeated, and we are engaging in a battle that has already been won by God. It is not pleasing to our Savior, who saved even the most wretched among us, to hope for our human enemies to be consumed by wild beasts. However, aligning ourselves with Him to illuminate those dwelling in darkness will bring Him joy. Jesus Himself stated, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
Jesus did not dispatch us to be torn apart by wolves but to demonstrate His protective power, which may even lead the wolves to dwell peacefully with the sheep. To overcome the falsehoods of this world, we must be good at judging people and the situations in our dependence on Him while also maintaining a sense of calmness, allowing God to act against the devil.
The King Will Rejoice In God
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him,
Psalms 63:11 (NIV)
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.
Although King Saul was pursuing David’s life, David showed reverence for the anointed King. Despite the danger he faced, David refused to harm Saul or even entertain thoughts against him. This attitude of David, perhaps bestowed upon him by God, is remarkable. Instead of directing his doubts and suspicions towards Saul, David suspected Saul’s advisors of misleading him. As a result, he handed these traitors over to the Jackals, believing that this action would prevent them from further deceiving Saul. Ultimately, David held firm in his belief that King Saul would find joy in God without any further interference. In David’s view, the demise of these liars would bring about silence.
Practically speaking, the lies of this world will never come to an end. If one person perishes, another will carry on the job of lying and disheartening people. It is not the people, but the devil, the father of lies, who is working tirelessly to deceive believers. By developing a personal relationship with God and recognizing Him as our Father, we can distance ourselves from the liars and lies of this world, finding joy in His truth. When we know the truth, it will set us free from all the lies of this world.
Father God, help us to conquer the lies by standing on your truth.
The Jordan Valley 
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