6 When I remember H2142 thee upon my bed, H3326 and meditate H1897 on thee in the night watches. H821
Yet the LORD H3068 will command H6680 his lovingkindness H2617 in the daytime, H3119 and in the night H3915 his song H7892 shall be with me, and my prayer H8605 unto the God H410 of my life. H2416
Thou holdest H270 mine eyes H5869 waking: H8109 I am so troubled H6470 that I cannot speak. H1696 I have considered H2803 the days H3117 of old, H6924 the years H8141 of ancient times. H5769 I call to remembrance H2142 my song H5058 in the night: H3915 I commune H7878 with mine own heart: H3824 and my spirit H7307 made diligent search. H2664
I prevented H6923 the dawning of the morning, H5399 and cried: H7768 I hoped H3176 in thy word. H1697 Mine eyes H5869 prevent H6923 the night watches, H821 that I might meditate H7878 in thy word. H565
By night H3915 on my bed H4904 I sought H1245 him whom my soul H5315 loveth: H157 I sought H1245 him, but I found H4672 him not. I will rise H6965 now, and go about H5437 the city H5892 in the streets, H7784 and in the broad ways H7339 I will seek H1245 him whom my soul H5315 loveth: H157 I sought H1245 him, but I found H4672 him not.
I sleep, H3463 but my heart H3820 waketh: H5782 it is the voice H6963 of my beloved H1730 that knocketh, H1849 saying, Open H6605 to me, my sister, H269 my love, H7474 my dove, H3123 my undefiled: H8535 for my head H7218 is filled H4390 with dew, H2919 and my locks H6977 with the drops H7447 of the night. H3915
Arise, H6965 cry out H7442 in the night: H3915 in the beginning H7218 of the watches H821 pour out H8210 thine heart H3820 like water H4325 before H5227 the face H6440 of the Lord: H136 lift up H5375 thy hands H3709 toward him for the life H5315 of thy young children, H5768 that faint H5848 for hunger H7458 in the top H7218 of every street. H2351
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 63
Commentary on Psalms 63 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 63
This psalm has in it as much of warmth and lively devotion as any of David's psalms in so little a compass. As the sweetest of Paul's epistles were those that bore date out of a prison, so some of the sweetest of David's psalms were those that were penned, as this was, in a wilderness. That which grieved him most in his banishment was the want of public ordinances; these he here longs to be restored to the enjoyment of; and the present want did but whet his appetite. Yet it is not the ordinances, but the God of the ordinances, that his heart is upon. And here we have,
A devout and pious soul has little need of direction how to sing this psalm, so naturally does it speak its own genuine language; and an unsanctified soul, that is unacquainted and unaffected with divine things, is scarcely capable of singing it with understanding.
A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
Psa 63:1-2
The title tells us when the psalm was penned, when David was in the wilderness of Judah; that is, in the forest of Hareth (1 Sa. 22:5) or in the wilderness of Ziph, 1 Sa. 23:15.
David, in these verses, stirs up himself to take hold on God,
Psa 63:3-6
How soon are David's complaints and prayers turned into praises and thanksgivings! After two verses that express his desire in seeking God, here are some that express his joy and satisfaction in having found him. Faithful prayers may quickly be turned into joyful praises, if it be not our own fault. Let the hearts of those rejoice that seek the Lord (Ps. 105:3), and let them praise him for working those desires in them, and giving them assurance that he will satisfy them. David was now in a wilderness, and yet had his heart much enlarged in blessing God. Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise, if we have but a heart to it. Observe,
Psa 63:7-11
David, having expressed his desires towards God and his praises of him, here expresses his confidence in him and his joyful expectations from him (v. 7): In the shadow of thy wings I will rejoice, alluding either to the wings of the cherubim stretched out over the ark of the covenant, between which God is said to dwell ("I will rejoice in thy oracles, and in covenant and communion with thee'), or to the wings of a fowl, under which the helpless young ones have shelter, as the eagle's young ones (Ex. 19:4, Deu. 32:11), which speaks the divine power, and the young ones of the common hen (Mt. 23:37), which speaks more of divine tenderness. It is a phrase often used in the psalms (Ps. 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 91:4), and no where else in this sense, except Ruth 2:12, where Ruth, when she became a proselyte, is said to trust under the wings of the God of Israel. It is our duty to rejoice in the shadow of God's wings, which denotes our recourse to him by faith and prayer, as naturally as the chickens, when they are cold or frightened, run by instinct under the wings of the hen. It intimates also our reliance upon him as able and ready to help us and our refreshment and satisfaction in his care and protection. Having committed ourselves to God, we must be easy and pleased, and quiet from the fear of evil. Now let us see further,