3 Because thy lovingkindness H2617 is better H2896 than life, H2416 my lips H8193 shall praise H7623 thee.
Hear H6030 me, O LORD; H3068 for thy lovingkindness H2617 is good: H2896 turn H6437 unto me according to the multitude H7230 of thy tender mercies. H7356
O Lord, H136 open H6605 thou my lips; H8193 and my mouth H6310 shall shew forth H5046 thy praise. H8416
Even G2532 so G3779 the tongue G1100 is G2076 a little G3398 member, G3196 and G2532 boasteth great things. G3166 Behold, G2400 how great G2245 a matter G5208 a little G3641 fire G4442 kindleth! G381 And G2532 the tongue G1100 is a fire, G4442 a world G2889 of iniquity: G93 so G3779 is G2525 the tongue G1100 among G1722 our G2257 members, G3196 that it defileth G4695 the whole G3650 body, G4983 and G2532 setteth on fire G5394 the course G5164 of nature; G1078 and G2532 it is set on fire G5394 of G5259 hell. G1067 For G1063 every G3956 kind G5449 of beasts, G2342 and G5037 G2532 of birds, G4071 and G5037 of serpents, G2062 and G2532 of things in the sea, G1724 is tamed, G1150 and G2532 hath been tamed G1150 of mankind: G5449 G442 But G1161 the tongue G1100 can G1410 no G3762 man G444 tame; G1150 it is an unruly G183 evil, G2556 full G3324 of deadly G2287 poison. G2447 Therewith G1722 G846 bless we G2127 God, G2316 even G2532 the Father; G3962 and G2532 therewith G1722 G846 curse we G2672 men, G444 which G3588 are made G1096 after G2596 the similitude G3669 of God. G2316 Out of G1537 the same G846 mouth G4750 proceedeth G1831 blessing G2129 and G2532 cursing. G2671 My G3450 brethren, G80 these things G5023 ought G5534 not G3756 so G3779 to be. G1096
To the end that my glory H3519 may sing H2167 praise to thee, and not be silent. H1826 O LORD H3068 my God, H430 I will give thanks H3034 unto thee for ever. H5769
I speak G3004 after the manner of men G442 because G1223 of the infirmity G769 of your G5216 flesh: G4561 for G1063 as G5618 ye have yielded G3936 your G5216 members G3196 servants G1401 to uncleanness G167 and G2532 to iniquity G458 unto G1519 iniquity; G458 even so G3779 now G3568 yield G3936 your G5216 members G3196 servants G1401 to righteousness G1343 unto G1519 holiness. G38
By G1223 him G846 therefore G3767 let us offer G399 the sacrifice G2378 of praise G133 to God G2316 continually, G1275 that is, G5123 the fruit G2590 of our lips G5491 giving thanks G3670 to his G846 name. G3686
Beloved, G27 now G3568 are we G2070 the sons G5043 of God, G2316 and G2532 it doth G5319 not yet G3768 appear G5319 what G5101 we shall be: G2071 but G1161 we know G1492 that, G3754 when G1437 he shall appear, G5319 we shall be G2071 like G3664 him; G846 for G3754 we shall see G3700 him G846 as G2531 he is. G2076
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 63
Commentary on Psalms 63 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 63
This psalm has in it as much of warmth and lively devotion as any of David's psalms in so little a compass. As the sweetest of Paul's epistles were those that bore date out of a prison, so some of the sweetest of David's psalms were those that were penned, as this was, in a wilderness. That which grieved him most in his banishment was the want of public ordinances; these he here longs to be restored to the enjoyment of; and the present want did but whet his appetite. Yet it is not the ordinances, but the God of the ordinances, that his heart is upon. And here we have,
A devout and pious soul has little need of direction how to sing this psalm, so naturally does it speak its own genuine language; and an unsanctified soul, that is unacquainted and unaffected with divine things, is scarcely capable of singing it with understanding.
A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
Psa 63:1-2
The title tells us when the psalm was penned, when David was in the wilderness of Judah; that is, in the forest of Hareth (1 Sa. 22:5) or in the wilderness of Ziph, 1 Sa. 23:15.
David, in these verses, stirs up himself to take hold on God,
Psa 63:3-6
How soon are David's complaints and prayers turned into praises and thanksgivings! After two verses 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 wilderness, and yet had his heart much enlarged in blessing God. Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise, if we have but a heart to it. Observe,
Psa 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 (v. 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 ones (Ex. 19:4, Deu. 32:11), which speaks the divine power, and the young ones of the common hen (Mt. 23:37), which speaks more of divine tenderness. It is a phrase often used in the psalms (Ps. 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 91:4), and no where else in this sense, except Ruth 2:12, where Ruth, when she became a proselyte, is said to trust under the wings of the God of Israel. It is our duty to rejoice in the shadow of God's wings, which denotes our recourse to him by faith and prayer, as naturally as the chickens, when they are cold or frightened, run by instinct under the wings of the hen. It intimates also our reliance upon him as able and ready to help us and our refreshment and satisfaction in his care and protection. Having committed ourselves to God, we must be easy and pleased, and quiet from the fear of evil. Now let us see further,