Psalm 63:5
My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.
My soul is satisfied
The Hebrew word for "satisfied" here is "שָׂבַע" (saba), which conveys a sense of being filled to the brim, much like a feast that leaves no desire unmet. In the ancient Near Eastern context, where food scarcity was common, the imagery of a soul being satisfied is profound. It suggests a deep, spiritual fulfillment that transcends physical needs, pointing to a relationship with God that nourishes the innermost being.

as with the richest of foods
The phrase "richest of foods" translates from the Hebrew "מֵחֵלֶב וָדָשֶׁן" (mechelev vadasen), literally meaning "with fat and abundance." In biblical times, fat was considered the best part of the meat, symbolizing prosperity and blessing. This metaphor indicates that the satisfaction found in God is akin to enjoying the choicest, most luxurious sustenance available, emphasizing the abundance and richness of God's provision.

with joyful lips
The expression "joyful lips" reflects a heart overflowing with gratitude and delight. In Hebrew culture, the lips were often seen as the instruments of expression for the heart's deepest emotions. The joy here is not merely an external display but a genuine, heartfelt response to the satisfaction found in God. It underscores the transformation that occurs when one's soul is truly content in the Lord.

my mouth will praise You
The act of praising with the mouth is a deliberate and conscious choice, signifying an outward declaration of God's goodness. The Hebrew root "הָלַל" (halal) for "praise" implies a sense of boasting or celebrating. This phrase captures the essence of worship as an active, vocal proclamation of God's worthiness, stemming from a personal experience of His sufficiency and grace.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of Psalm 63, traditionally believed to be King David, who wrote this psalm during a time of distress, possibly while in the wilderness of Judah.

2. Wilderness of Judah
A barren and desolate region where David sought refuge, symbolizing spiritual dryness and physical need.

3. God
The central figure whom David seeks and praises, representing the source of spiritual nourishment and satisfaction.
Teaching Points
Spiritual Satisfaction
Just as physical hunger is satisfied with rich foods, our souls find true satisfaction in God. This satisfaction surpasses any earthly pleasure or material wealth.

Praise as a Response
When we experience God's provision and satisfaction, our natural response should be praise. Joyful lips are a testament to a heart filled with gratitude.

Seeking God in Desolation
Even in times of spiritual dryness or physical hardship, like David in the wilderness, we can find fulfillment in God. Our circumstances do not dictate our spiritual satisfaction.

The Richness of God's Presence
The Hebrew word for "richest of foods" (deshen) implies abundance and fatness, symbolizing the lavishness of God's provision. We are invited to feast on His presence.

Joyful Expression
Our relationship with God should be evident in our expressions of joy and praise, reflecting the inner satisfaction we experience through Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David's experience in the wilderness relate to times of spiritual dryness in our own lives, and how can we seek satisfaction in God during these times?

2. In what ways can we cultivate a heart of praise and gratitude, as David did, in response to God's provision and satisfaction?

3. How does the concept of God as the "bread of life" in John 6:35 enhance our understanding of spiritual satisfaction in Psalm 63:5?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's provision in a significant way. How did it impact your relationship with Him and your expression of praise?

5. How can we encourage others who are experiencing spiritual hunger to find satisfaction in God, and what practical steps can we take to support them in their journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 23
This psalm also speaks of God as a provider and sustainer, likening Him to a shepherd who leads to green pastures and still waters, offering spiritual nourishment and satisfaction.

John 6:35
Jesus refers to Himself as the "bread of life," connecting to the theme of spiritual satisfaction found in God alone, as expressed in Psalm 63:5.

Isaiah 55:1-2
This passage invites those who are thirsty to come to the waters and those without money to buy and eat, emphasizing the spiritual fulfillment that God provides, similar to the satisfaction described in Psalm 63:5.
Sublime ThingsC. Short Psalm 63:1-8
A Wilderness CryPsalm 63:1-11
Ancient PietyJames Sutcliffe, M. A.Psalm 63:1-11
David's Desire for God's PresenceR. Glover.Psalm 63:1-11
David's Owning Of, and Application To, GodT. Horton, D. D.Psalm 63:1-11
God and the SoulCanon Liddon.Psalm 63:1-11
Passionate DevotionJ. Cranbrook.Psalm 63:1-11
Seeking GodW. W. Wythe.Psalm 63:1-11
Soul ThirstW. Forsyth Psalm 63:1-11
Soul-ThirstA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 63:1-11
The Christian's LongingR. J. Rowton, M. A.Psalm 63:1-11
The Greatest Things of the SoulHomilistPsalm 63:1-11
The Paramount NeedEdwin Hatch, D. D.Psalm 63:1-11
The Saint Claiming God as His GodA. Shanks.Psalm 63:1-11
The Saint Resolving to Seek His GodA. Shanks.Psalm 63:1-11
The Saint Thirsting for GodA. Shanks.Psalm 63:1-11
The Soul's Thirst and SatisfactionA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 63:1-11
David Blessing God and Praying to HimT. Horton, D. D.Psalm 63:4-7
Praising God While We CanPsalm 63:4-7
A Taste for DevotionJas. Saurin.Psalm 63:5-6
Praising God with Joyful LipsT. Horton, D. D.Psalm 63:5-6
Satisfaction Found in GodA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 63:5-6
The Saint Assuring Himself of Satisfaction in GodA. Shanks.Psalm 63:5-6
The Saint Delighting in PraiseA. Shanks.Psalm 63:5-6
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Comforted, Fat, Fatness, Feasted, Foods, Joy, Joyful, Lips, Marrow, Milk, Mouth, Offers, Praise, Praises, Richest, Satisfied, Singing, Songs, Soul
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 63:5

     5164   lips
     5167   mouth
     5341   hunger
     9150   Messianic banquet

Psalm 63:1-5

     5939   satisfaction

Psalm 63:1-8

     5832   desire
     8618   prayerfulness

Psalm 63:2-5

     8632   adoration

Psalm 63:5-6

     8662   meditation

Library
Thirst and Satisfaction
'My soul thirsteth for Thee.... 5. My soul shall be satisfied.... 8. My soul followeth hard after Thee.'--PSALM lxiii. 1, 5, 8. It is a wise advice which bids us regard rather what is said than who says it, and there are few regions in which the counsel is more salutary than at present in the study of the Old Testament, and especially the Psalms. This authorship has become a burning question which is only too apt to shut out far more important things. Whoever poured out this sweet meditation in the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

1877-1879. "They Helped Every one his Neighbour" --Miss Child, a Fellow-Labourer --The Work in Ratcliff Highway --Strangers' Rest for Sailors --"Welcome Home" --"Bridge of Hope" --Miss
"They helped every one his neighbour"--Miss Child, a fellow-labourer --The work in Ratcliff Highway--Strangers' Rest for Sailors--"Welcome Home"--"Bridge of Hope"--Miss Macpherson's twenty-first voyage to Canada--Explosion on board the "Sardinian"--Child life in the Galt Home--The Galt Home now devoted to children from London, Knowlton to those from Liverpool, and Marchmont to Scottish Emigrants. "They helped every one his neighbour, and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage" (margin,
Clara M. S. Lowe—God's Answers

Whether Oaths are Desirable and to be Used Frequently as Something Useful and Good?
Objection 1: It would seem that oaths are desirable and to be used frequently as something useful and good. Just as a vow is an act of religion, so is an oath. Now it is commendable and more meritorious to do a thing by vow, because a vow is an act of religion, as stated above ([3078]Q[88], A[5]). Therefore for the same reason, to do or say a thing with an oath is more commendable, and consequently oaths are desirable as being good essentially. Objection 2: Further, Jerome, commenting on Mat. 5:34,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Out of the Deep of Death.
My heart is disquieted within me, and the fear of death has fallen upon me.--Ps. iv. 4. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart.--Ps. lxiii. 25. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.--Ps. xxiii. 4. Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.--Ps. cxvi. 8. What will become of us after we die? What will the next world be like? What is heaven like? Shall I be able
Charles Kingsley—Out of the Deep

How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance.
The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness, occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and "the fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is better than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their life," Ps. xxx. 5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be rife enough, concerning which we shall, 1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, whereby the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The Joint Heirs and their Divine Portion
I would invite you, my brethren in Christ Jesus, this morning, to do three things; first, let us consider the terms of the will--"joint heirs with Christ;" secondly, let us go forth and view the estates--what it is of which we are joint heirs; and when we have done so, let us proceed at once to administer, for God hath made his children administrators as web as heirs. I. First, then, there is A LEGAL TERM IN THE WILL UPON WHICH THE WHOLE MATTER WILL HINGE. We are called "joint heirs with Christ"--what
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

By all Things' is Meant the Redemptive Attributes and Power of Christ.
Thus, then, we may understand all things to have been delivered to the Saviour, and, if it be necessary to follow up understanding by explanation, that hath been delivered unto Him which He did not previously possess. For He was not man previously, but became man for the sake of saving man. And the Word was not in the beginning flesh, but has been made flesh subsequently (cf. Joh. i. 1 sqq.), in which Flesh, as the Apostle says, He reconciled the enmity which was against us (Col. i. 20, ii. 14, Eph.
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Spiritual Hunger Shall be Satisfied
They shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 I proceed now to the second part of the text. A promise annexed. They shall be filled'. A Christian fighting with sin is not like one that beats the air' (1 Corinthians 9:26), and his hungering after righteousness is not like one that sucks in only air, Blessed are they that hunger, for they shall be filled.' Those that hunger after righteousness shall be filled. God never bids us seek him in vain' (Isaiah 45:19). Here is an honeycomb dropping into the mouths of
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
St. Hilary of Poitiers is one of the greatest, yet least studied, of the Fathers of the Western Church. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. He learnt his theology, as we shall see, from Eastern authorities, and was not content to carry on and develop the traditional teaching of the West; and the disciple
St. Hilary of Poitiers—The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers

The Secret Walk with God (ii).
He that would to others give Let him take from Jesus still; They who deepest in Him live Flow furthest at His will. I resume the rich subject of Secret Devotion, Secret Communion with God. Not that I wish to enter in detail on either the theory or the practice of prayer in secret; as I have attempted to do already in a little book which I may venture here to mention, Secret Prayer. My aim at present, as I talk to my younger Brethren in the Ministry, is far rather to lay all possible stress on
Handley C. G. Moule—To My Younger Brethren

Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
Massecheth Berachoth, or Tractate on Benedictions [76] Mishnah--From what time is the "Shema" said in the evening? From the hour that the priests entered to eat of their therumah [77] until the end of the first night watch. [78] These are the words of Rabbi Eliezer. But the sages say: Till midnight. Rabban Gamaliel says: Until the column of the morning (the dawn) rises. It happened, that his sons came back from a banquet. They said to him: "We have not said the Shema.'" He said to them, "If the column
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Covenanting Confers Obligation.
As it has been shown that all duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant, it is manifest that what is lawfully engaged to in swearing by the name of God is enjoined in the moral law, and, because of the authority of that law, ought to be performed as a duty. But it is now to be proved that what is promised to God by vow or oath, ought to be performed also because of the act of Covenanting. The performance of that exercise is commanded, and the same law which enjoins that the duties
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Marks of the New Birth
"So is every one that is born of the Spirit." John 3:8. 1. How is every one that is "born of the Spirit," -- that is, born again, -- born of God? What is meant by the being born again, the being born of God, or being born of the Spirit? What is implied in the being a son or a child of God, or having the Spirit of adoption? That these privileges, by the free mercy of God, are ordinarily annexed to baptism (which is thence termed by our Lord in a preceding verse, the being "born of water and of the
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C.
Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &c. [1273] Seeing the chief end of all religion is to redeem men from the spirit and vain conversation of this world and to lead into inward communion with God, before whom if we fear always we are accounted happy; therefore all the vain customs and habits thereof, both in word and deed, are to be rejected and forsaken by those who come to this fear; such as taking off the hat to a man, the bowings and cringings of the body, and such other salutations of that
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Psalm 63:5 NIV
Psalm 63:5 NLT
Psalm 63:5 ESV
Psalm 63:5 NASB
Psalm 63:5 KJV

Psalm 63:5 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Psalm 63:4
Top of Page
Top of Page