7 Because thou hast been my help, H5833 therefore in the shadow H6738 of thy wings H3671 will I rejoice. H7442
I will abide H1481 in thy tabernacle H168 for ever: H5769 I will trust H2620 in the covert H5643 of thy wings. H3671 Selah. H5542
David H1732 said H559 moreover, The LORD H3068 that delivered H5337 me out of the paw H3027 of the lion, H738 and out of the paw H3027 of the bear, H1677 he will deliver H5337 me out of the hand H3027 of this Philistine. H6430 And Saul H7586 said H559 unto David, H1732 Go, H3212 and the LORD H3068 be with thee.
Keep H8104 me as the apple H380 of the eye, H1323 H5869 hide H5641 me under the shadow H6738 of thy wings, H3671
For strangers H2114 are risen up H6965 against me, and oppressors H6184 seek H1245 after my soul: H5315 they have not set H7760 God H430 before them. Selah. H5542 Behold, God H430 is mine helper: H5826 the Lord H136 is with them that uphold H5564 my soul. H5315
[[To the chief Musician, H5329 Altaschith, H516 Michtam H4387 of David, H1732 when he fled H1272 from H6440 Saul H7586 in the cave.]] H4631 Be merciful H2603 unto me, O God, H430 be merciful H2603 unto me: for my soul H5315 trusteth H2620 in thee: yea, in the shadow H6738 of thy wings H3671 will I make my refuge, H2620 until these calamities H1942 be overpast. H5674
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,