Psalms 63

O God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you—soul thirsts, flesh faints, as in a dry land. Wesley: My God—in a special and peculiar manner. Early—with the first dawn; Thirsteth—after the enjoyment of thee in the sanctuary. Exile sharpens desire for God Himself, not merely for relief.

Shared piety—seek God first when the land is dry. Grace awakens thirst; the seeker must still come earnestly. Do not settle for lesser waters when the soul and flesh cry for the living God.

Calvin: David, driven into the wilderness, does not complain first of food and drink but of being shut out from God's house; his soul thirsted for God. The dry land images the want of God's felt presence more than mere geography.

Earnest seeking is the mark of true religion under pressure. God is already "my God" by covenant; the thirst is for enjoyment of what faith already claims. Providence that drives into wilderness can deepen desire.

So I have seen you in the sanctuary, watching your power and your glory. Wesley: Sanctuary—where thou art graciously present. Memory of worship feeds present faith when the body is far from Zion.

Behold power and glory in gathered worship, then carry that sight into drought. Past means of grace become present comfort. Love the sanctuary because you love the Presence there.

Calvin: he preferred the sight of God's power and glory in the sanctuary to all worldly pleasures. Looking upon God there is not curiosity but the soul's true feast.

Ordinary means matter. God reveals power and glory where He has set His name. Remembered sanctuary steadies the wilderness heart under the same God.

Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise you. Wesley: Better—more satisfying than the longest and happiest life; or than life itself. Hesed outranks survival; praise follows that valuation.

Shared ground—steadfast love is the supreme good. Choose praise over clinging to mere length of days. When kindness is better than life, lips learn to bless rather than only to beg.

Calvin: Because thy lovingkindness is better than life—he would rather die than live without the sense of God's favor. Life without God's love is no true life.

Rank God's hesed above breath itself. The comparison is not hyperbole for rhetoric's sake; it is the piety that prefers God to preservation on any other terms.

So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name. Wesley: Bless—praise and celebrate thy name. Lifelong resolve answers lifelong love; lifted hands are prayer and surrender.

He vows to praise God as long as he lives. Grace that shows steadfast love invites a life of blessing God, not a moment's enthusiasm. Lift hands in His name while life lasts.

Calvin notes the resolve to praise as long as he lives—gratitude is not postponed until circumstances improve. Wilderness does not void doxology.

Bless God now, in the dry land. The name in which hands are lifted is the covenant name already trusted. Persevering praise is fruit of known mercy.

My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise with joyful lips. Wesley: Soul—shall be satisfied with thy love and favour, as with the most delicious and plentiful feasts. God Himself is the banquet.

Satisfaction is spiritual feast, not denial of need. Joyful lips flow from a filled soul. Seek the rich food of God's favor more than the world's table.

Calvin: the soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness when God is enjoyed—spiritual delight outdoes bodily luxury. Praise is the natural speech of the satisfied.

God fills what the wilderness empties. Fat and rich food is metaphor for abundance of divine favor. Mouth and soul agree in joy.

When I remember you on my bed, and think about you in the night watches of the night. Wesley: Watches—the night is divided into several watches. Sleepless hours become holy hours by remembrance and meditation.

Redeem the night watches. Anxiety on the bed can be turned to meditation. Practice remembering God when the mind would otherwise race.

Calvin stresses night remembrance as the mark of a heart occupied with God when outward helps are removed. Meditation fills the silence of exile.

Bed and watches belong to God. Insomnia under trial need not be wasted; the Spirit can turn it into communion. Remember, then meditate.

For you have been my help; I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings. Wesley: Help—when I was ready to perish. Past help grounds present song under the wings.

Shared comfort—sheltering wings and joyful song. Grace that helped before invites trust and singing now. Hide under His wings and let joy answer fear.

Calvin: experience of past help teaches the psalmist to sing under God's wings—protection imaged as a bird sheltering its young. Joy is reasonable where help has been proven.

Both note: Rehearse deliverances. The shadow of wings is not escape from reality but safety in God amid reality. Sing because He has been help.

My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me. Wesley: Followeth hard—is close to me, and supports me. Clinging and upholding meet: the soul's adhesion and God's strong hand.

The believer must cling—grace enables a holding fast that can be neglected or pursued. Yet the same verse names God's upholding right hand; perseverance is never bare self-effort.

Calvin: he clings to God and is upheld by God's right hand—perseverance is ascribed both to our following hard after God and to God's upholding. Neither side of the verse cancels the other.

Shared double agency—cling, and know you are held. The right hand is almighty; the clinging is sincere. Comfort rests finally on the upholder, while duty still says cling.

But those who seek my soul to destroy it shall go into the lower parts of the earth. Wesley: Shall go—into the grave, and into hell. The thirst for God does not deny judgment on destroyers.

God will deal with those who hunt the godly. Hope for justice without taking vengeance into your own hand. Depths await those who seek my soul to destroy the life God shelters.

Calvin: the destruction of the wicked closes the contrast—God will not leave His servant to the will of destroyers. Depths of the earth mark their appointed end.

He leaves his enemies to God’s judgment. The wilderness exile is temporary; the end of the violent is sure. Leave the depths to God's verdict.

They shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be food for jackals. Wesley: Portion—they shall be slain, and left unburied. Shameful end answers murderous intent.

Shared sobriety—do not envy the wicked's present power. The sword and the scavengers image a disgraceful finish. Fear God more than those who wield the sword for a time.

Calvin reads the sword and jackals as the shameful overthrow of those who plotted the king's ruin—divine recompense in history and beyond.

God's providence includes judicial ends. Portion for jackals is poetic justice against those who would make the righteous a prey.

But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced. Wesley: The king—David. Swear—that worship and serve him. Stopped—shall be put to silence. Royal joy and truthful worship stand when lies fall silent.

Shared hope—rejoice in God, not merely in restored circumstance. Those who swear by Him (true allegiance) will exult. Liars' mouths stop under God's vindication; keep speaking truth until then.

Calvin: the joy of the king and of those who swear by God closes the psalm—God will vindicate His servant and stop liars' mouths. The king's rejoicing is in God Himself.

Final joy is theocentric. Allegiance sworn to God will be publicly honored. Wait for the silencing of lies by the God who hears the wilderness cry.