Thread: Psalm 63

Psalm 63
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
This psalm was penned by David, while he hid himself from the fury of Saul, in the wilderness of Judah, 1 Sam. 22:5; or 23:14, 24-25; or 24:1; or, when he fled from Absalom, 2 Sam. 25-26. We have, (1.) His strong faith, working in ardent desires after the most familiar fellowship with God in public ordinances, ver. 1-2. (2.) His superlative estimation of God, issuing in hearty resolutions to be for ever employed in his praise, ver. 3-4. (3.) His heart-ravishing satisfaction in God, amidst secret and fixed meditation on his excellencies and love, ver. 5-6. (4.) His joyful dependence on God, as his Saviour and portion, ver. 7-8. (5.) His holy triumph in God, as his preserver, and the destroyer of his enemies, ver. 9-11.

While I sing these high praises of God, let my soul be strong in the faith, giving glory to God; embracing the promise of himself, and calling all the fulness of the Godhead my own. Let me be all in raptures of divine love, and holy delight; let no guile, no corruption, no carnal care, enervate or damp my inward powers: but let all be opened, be wide stretched to grasp my infinite all Â* the great I Am.

1 Lord, thee my God, I'll early seek:
my soul doth thirst for thee;
My flesh longs in a dry parch'd land,
wherein no waters be:

2 That I thy power may behold,
and brightness of thy face,
As I have seen thee heretofore
within thy holy place.

3 Since better is thy love than life,
my lips thee praise shall give.

4 I in thy name will lift my hands,
and bless thee while I live.

5 Ev'n as with marrow and with fat
my soul shall filled be;
Then shall my mouth with joyful lips
sing praises unto thee:

6 When I do thee upon my bed
remember with delight,
And when on thee I meditate
in watches of the night.

7 In shadow of thy wings I'll joy;
for thou mine help hast been.
8 My soul thee follows hard; and me
thy right hand doth sustain.

9 Who seek my soul to spill shall sink
down to earth's lowest room.
10 They by the sword shall be cut off,
and foxes' prey become.

11 Yet shall the king in God rejoice,
and each one glory shall
That swear by him: but stopp'd shall be
the mouth of liars all.

The Comprehensive Psalter sets Psalm 63:1-11 to the tune WETHERBY (CM, SAMUEL SEBASTIAN WESLEY). Text below is as it is in the CP. Download tune below text.

Psalm 63:1-11

A Psalm of David,
when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

mp 1 Lord, thee my God, I´ll early seek: my soul doth thirst for thee;
My flesh longs in a dry parch´d land, wherein no waters be:
m 2 That I thy power may behold, and brightness of thy face,
As I have seen thee heretofore within thy holy place.

mf 3 Since better is thy love than life, my lips thee praise shall give.
4 I in thy name will lift my hands, and bless thee while I live.
5 Ev´n as with marrow and with fat my soul shall filled be;
f Then shall my mouth with joyful lips sing praises unto thee:

6 When I do thee upon my bed remember with delight,
And when on thee I meditate in watches of the night.
mf 7 In shadow of thy wings I´ll joy; for thou mine help hast been.
8 My soul thee follows hard; and me thy right hand doth sustain.

m 9 Who seek my soul to spill shall sink down to earth´s lowest room.
10 They by the sword shall be cut off, and foxes´ prey become.
mf 11 Yet shall the king in God rejoice, and each one glory shall
That swear by him: but stopp´d shall be the mouth of liars all.