Psalms 63
A PSALM OF DAVID WHEN HE WAS IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDAH.
[Psalms 63:1] 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;
The Midrash on Psalms points out that in Proverbs a similar expression is found,
I LOVE THEM THAT LOVE ME; AND THOSE THAT SEEK ME EARLY SHALL FIND ME [Proverbs
8:17].
The Midrash Tehillim says:
<<Because David loved me I loved him. Because he searched for me, I searched for
him and was found by him, as it says, O GOD, THOU ART MY GOD; EARLY WILL I SEEK
THEE>>.
<<LONGETH>>: Hebrew "CaMaH" meaning "strive towards" perhaps giving us the
English "came" and "come". Incidentally we have here "come" present tense and
"came" past tense. In Hebrew it would be "com" present tense and "cam" past
tense i.e. almost the same.
[Psalms 63:2] TO SEE THY POWER AND THY GLORY, SO AS I HAVE SEEN THEE IN THE
SANCTUARY.
This can also be translated from the Hebrew as saying,
<<VERILY, IN HOLY MATTERS I HAVE SEEN YOU [FOR SO IS THE WAY TO] TO SEE YOUR
POWER AND GLORY>>.
[Psalms 63:3] BECAUSE THY LOVINGKINDNESS IS BETTER THAN LIFE, MY LIPS SHALL
PRAISE THEE.
[Psalms 63:4] THUS WILL I BLESS THEE WHILE I LIVE: I WILL LIFT UP MY HANDS IN
THY NAME.
<<WHILE I LIVE>> This can alternately be rendered, "I WILL BLESS YOU WITH MY
LIFE".
<<MY HANDS>>: Hebrew "CAPI", "caph" means the palm of the hand. This could be
where the English word "cup" comes from. The Dictionary says that "cup" is Old
English and before that from the Latin. The Latin we know however is much less
like the Hebrew than English. Even English words said to be derived from Latin
often sound closer to a word of the same meaning in Hebrew.
The word "calf" meaning the fleshy back part of the leg may also be derived from
the Hebrew "caph".
[Psalms 63:5] MY SOUL SHALL BE SATISFIED AS WITH MARROW AND FATNESS; AND MY
MOUTH SHALL PRAISE THEE WITH JOYFUL LIPS:
Just like you eat a good meal with an exceptionally tasty piece of meat from
which you such the bones (they don't seem to make meat like that anymore) and
are satisfied afterwards so too will it be with my longing for the
Almighty.
[Psalms 63:6] WHEN I REMEMBER THEE UPON MY BED, AND MEDITATE ON THEE IN THE
NIGHT WATCHES.
<<NIGHT WATCHES>>: The Hebrew says "ashmorot" which connotes "watches" in
general, i.e. it can also mean the early morning hours. When we go to sleep or
are in some intermediate dtage then we are vulnerable to all kinds of
visitations from our subconscious or from our weaker side that normally we put
aside. We should try to remember the Almighty in these moments and meditate on
Him.
[Psalms 63:7] BECAUSE THOU HAST BEEN MY HELP, THEREFORE IN THE SHADOW OF THY
WINGS WILL I REJOICE.
God will help us. Sooner or later God will answer you. You will never loose by
cleaving to Him.
[Psalms 63:8] MY SOUL FOLLOWETH HARD AFTER THEE: THY RIGHT HAND UPHOLDETH
ME.
[Psalms 63:9] BUT THOSE THAT SEEK MY SOUL, TO DESTROY IT, SHALL GO INTO THE
LOWER PARTS OF THE EARTH.
My enemies will be destroyed and brought under.
[Psalms 63:10] THEY SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD: THEY SHALL BE A PORTION FOR
FOXES.
[Psalms 63:11] 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.
<<THE KING>>: According to some David is the future Messiah or David will reign
along side the Messiah or the Messiah will be a descendant and embodiment of
David.
AND I WILL SET UP ONE SHEPHERD OVER THEM, AND HE SHALL FEED THEM, EVEN MY
SERVANT DAVID; HE SHALL FEED THEM, AND HE SHALL BE THEIR
SHEPHERD.
AND I THE LORD WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND MY SERVANT DAVID A PRINCE AMONG THEM; I
THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT [Ezekiel 34:23-24].
AND DAVID MY SERVANT SHALL BE KING OVER THEM; AND THEY ALL SHALL HAVE ONE
SHEPHERD: THEY SHALL ALSO WALK IN MY JUDGMENTS, AND OBSERVE MY STATUTES, AND DO
THEM [Ezekiel 37:24].
David is our king, the king.
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