I Have Looked Upon You – Psalm 63

As you may have guessed by now, the editor of Psalms has bunched together several psalms of David that were inspired by his time fleeing Saul, before he became king.  Much of this time was spent in the wilderness, away from civilization and plentiful food and water.  What was it that kept David sane and courageous and hopeful in this period of his life?

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

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.  Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.  So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.  But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.  (Psalm 63 ESV)

When David was fleeing Saul in the wilderness for so many years it must have seemed as though it would last forever.  But David’s focus was on the richness of knowing God.  His soul thirsted for deliverance but even more for God.  God’s love is better than life.  Meditating on God in the watches of the night brings praise to our lips.  Being in the shadow of His wings brings joy.  Yes, David believed that God would defeat David’s enemies, but his joy was in God Himself.