O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water. O God, You are my GodThe psalmist begins with a profound declaration of personal relationship and commitment. The Hebrew word for "God" here is "Elohim," a plural form that denotes majesty and power. This opening phrase emphasizes the psalmist's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and his personal devotion. The repetition of "my God" signifies an intimate and exclusive relationship, highlighting the covenantal bond between the believer and the Almighty. Historically, this reflects the deep-seated tradition of Israel's monotheistic faith, where God is not just a distant deity but a personal Lord and Savior. earnestly I seek You
The word "earnestly" is derived from the Hebrew root "shachar," which conveys the idea of seeking diligently or with great intensity. This suggests a proactive and passionate pursuit of God, akin to a hunter tracking his prey. The historical context of this psalm, traditionally attributed to David during his time in the wilderness, underscores the urgency and fervor of seeking God amidst trials and desolation. It is a call to prioritize God above all else, reflecting a heart that longs for divine presence and guidance. My soul thirsts for You
The imagery of thirst is powerful and evocative, drawing from the physical sensation of needing water to sustain life. The Hebrew word "nephesh," translated as "soul," encompasses the entirety of one's being—mind, will, and emotions. This phrase captures the deep spiritual longing and dependence on God, akin to a parched land yearning for rain. In the biblical context, thirst often symbolizes a deep spiritual need that only God can satisfy, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment found in a relationship with Him. my body longs for You
Here, the psalmist extends the metaphor of longing from the soul to the physical body, emphasizing the holistic nature of his desire for God. The Hebrew word "basar," meaning "flesh" or "body," indicates that this yearning is not just spiritual but also physical. This reflects the biblical understanding that humans are integrated beings, where spiritual needs impact physical well-being. The historical backdrop of David's physical hardships in the wilderness adds depth to this expression of longing, illustrating the believer's total reliance on God for sustenance and strength. in a dry and weary land without water
This phrase paints a vivid picture of desolation and need, using the harsh realities of the wilderness as a metaphor for spiritual barrenness. The "dry and weary land" symbolizes the trials and challenges of life that leave one feeling empty and exhausted. In the ancient Near Eastern context, water was a precious and scarce resource, essential for survival. This imagery underscores the psalmist's desperation and the futility of seeking satisfaction apart from God. It serves as a reminder of the believer's dependence on God's provision and the refreshment that His presence brings to the soul. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of this Psalm, traditionally believed to be King David, who wrote it during a time of distress, possibly when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 2. GodThe central figure whom David addresses, expressing his deep longing and dependence. 3. Wilderness of JudahThe likely setting for this Psalm, symbolizing a place of physical and spiritual desolation and need. Teaching Points Earnest SeekingDavid's use of "earnestly" (Hebrew: shachar) implies a diligent, early, and eager pursuit of God. Believers are encouraged to prioritize their relationship with God above all else. Spiritual ThirstThe imagery of thirst and longing in a "dry and weary land" reflects the soul's deep need for God. This teaches us to recognize our spiritual needs and seek fulfillment in God alone. Physical and Spiritual ConnectionDavid's mention of both soul and body longing for God suggests that our spiritual health impacts our physical well-being. We should strive for holistic devotion to God. Desolation as OpportunityThe wilderness setting symbolizes times of trial and desolation, which can become opportunities for deeper intimacy with God. Believers can find hope and strength in God during life's deserts. Bible Study Questions 1. How does David's expression of longing for God in Psalm 63:1 challenge your current spiritual priorities? 2. In what ways can you relate to the imagery of a "dry and weary land"? How can this Psalm guide you in those times? 3. Reflect on a time when you earnestly sought God. What were the circumstances, and how did God respond? 4. How do the additional scriptures (e.g., Matthew 5:6, John 4:13-14) deepen your understanding of spiritual thirst and fulfillment? 5. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a deeper thirst for God in your daily life? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 42:1-2Similar imagery of thirsting for God, highlighting a deep spiritual longing. Matthew 5:6Jesus speaks of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, promising they will be filled. John 4:13-14Jesus offers living water, which quenches spiritual thirst eternally. Isaiah 55:1An invitation to come to the waters, symbolizing God's provision and satisfaction for the thirsty soul. People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Body, Burning, David, Desert, Desire, Dry, Early, Earnestly, Faints, Flesh, Gt, Judah, Languisheth, Longed, Longeth, Longs, Lt, O, Psalm, Search, Seek, Soul, Thirsted, Thirsteth, Thirsts, Thirsty, Waste, Wasted, Waters, Weary, Wilderness, YearnsDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 63:1 1080 God, living
1670 symbols
4817 drought, spiritual
5015 heart, and Holy Spirit
5136 body
5341 hunger
5580 thirst
5840 eagerness
8150 revival, personal
8160 seeking God
8239 earnestness
8656 longing for God Psalm 63: 4230 desert
5088 David, character Psalm 63:1-5 5939 satisfaction Psalm 63:1-8 5832 desire
8618 prayerfulness 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 Scripture1877-1879. "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 63:1 NIVPsalm 63:1 NLTPsalm 63:1 ESVPsalm 63:1 NASBPsalm 63:1 KJV
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