Psalm 63:3-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 63:3-6

How soon are David's complaints and prayers turned into praises and thanksgivings! After Ps. 63:1, 2 that express his desire in seeking God, here are some that express his joy and satisfaction in having found him. Faithful prayers may quickly be turned into joyful praises, if it be not our own fault. Let the hearts of those rejoice that seek the Lord (Ps. 105:3), and let them praise him for working those desires in them, and giving them assurance that he will satisfy them. David was now in a... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 63:7-11

David, having expressed his desires towards God and his praises of him, here expresses his confidence in him and his joyful expectations from him (Ps. 63:7): In the shadow of thy wings I will rejoice, alluding either to the wings of the cherubim stretched out over the ark of the covenant, between which God is said to dwell (?I will rejoice in thy oracles, and in covenant and communion with thee?), or to the wings of a fowl, under which the helpless young ones have shelter, as the eagle's young... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 63:3

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life ,.... For life without the love of God is nothing else than death: a man that has no share in the love of God is dead while he lives; all the enjoyments of life, health, riches, honour, friends, &c.; are nothing without the love of God; the meanest temporal blessings with it are preferable to the greatest without it, Proverbs 15:17 ; it lasts longer than life, and therefore must be better than that; death cannot separate from it; it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 63:4

Thus will I bless thee while I live ,.... With his whole heart and soul, as he had sought after him, and as under a sense of his lovingkindness; and as he now praised him with his lips, so he determined to do as long as he had life and being; by proclaiming his blessedness, by ascribing blessing and honour to him, and by giving him the glory of all mercies temporal and spiritual; I will lift up my hands in thy name ; not against his enemies, against those that fought against him, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 63:5

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness ,.... When he should return to the house of the Lord, and partake of the provisions of it, called the fatness of his house; see Gill on Psalm 36:8 . The phrase denotes the abundance of spiritual refreshment and delight in the word and ordinances, and the great satisfaction had in them; and may have some regard to benefits arising from prayer, as well as other ordinances. Fat was not to be eaten under the legal dispensation, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 63:6

When I remember thee upon my bed ,.... Or "beds" F17 יצועי "stratis meis", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator, Cocceius; so Junius & Tremellius, Ainsworth. ; seeing he lay in many, as Kimchi observes, being obliged to flee from place to place. The sense is, that when he was on his bed in the night season, when alone, and free from worldly cares and fatigues, and called to mind the love of God to him, the past experience of his kindness, his promises to hits, and the fulfilment of them:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 63:7

Because thou hast been my help ,.... Or, "that thou hast been my help" F19 כי "quod", Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Ainsworth. ; and so the words may be considered as the subject of his meditation in the night watches, at least as a part of it; and as what gave him a great deal of pleasure to reflect upon, how the Lord had been in times past a present help to him in time of trouble; therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice ; meaning under the protecting power of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 63:3

Thy loving-kindness is better than life - This is the language of every regenerate soul. But O how few prefer the approbation of God to the blessings of life, or even to life itself in any circumstances! But the psalmist says, Thy loving-kindness, חסדך chasdecha , thy effusive mercy, is better מחיים mechaiyim , than Lives: it is better than, or good beyond, countless ages of human existence. My lips shall praise thee - Men praise, or speak well, of power, glory, honor, riches,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 63:4

I will lift up my hands in thy name - I will take God for my portion. I will dedicate myself to him, and will take him to witness that I am upright in what I profess and do. Pious Jews, in every place of their dispersion, in all their prayers, praises, contracts, etc., stretched out their hands towards Jerusalem, where the true God had his temple, and where he manifested his presence. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 63:5

My soul shall be satisfied - I shall have, in the true worshipping of thee, as complete a sensation of spiritual sufficiency and happiness, so that no desire shall be left unsatisfied, as any man can have who enjoys health of body, and a fullness of all the necessaries, conveniences, and comforts of life. read more

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