Seeing in the Dark
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, whatever I may face today, I thank You that Your loving presence will be with me.
Read Psalm 63:1-11
[1] A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah. O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. [2] I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. [3] Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. [4] I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. [5] My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. [6] On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. [7] Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. [8] My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. [9] They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. [10] They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. [11] But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God’s name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How would you describe the dominant theme of this psalm?This psalm really reflects the trust that David had in God. I can imagine David hiding from his enemies and crying out for God’s presence. In this desperate situation, David is able to find sustenance and satisfaction in God, so much so that he begins to sing for joy (7).
What causes that massive leap from desperate seeking to joyful praise? The clue is in v. 2. The only thing that will make you rejoice when you’ve been seeking is finding what you were looking for. David found God. It’s not that he hadn’t known him before, but that; now he finds a fresh revelation of God’s power and glory. Now, everything is put into perspective. David knows that he is safe so long as he hides himself in God (7,8).
The other thing David does is to remember (6). He remembers the good times when he walked in God’s blessing. He remembers the ways God has protected him previously. As he lies awake at night, instead of mentally rehearsing the might of his enemy, David meditates on the greatness of his God.
Apply
Recall some of God’s most recent blessings on you and “sing” your praises to God using some of the words of this psalm.
Closing prayer
O Lord, may I never forget your many blessing and always be ready to praise You with my heart and lips.
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