‏ Psalms 63

* David's desire toward God. (1,2) His satisfaction in God.

(3-6) His dependence upon God, and assurance of safety. (7-11)1,2 Early will I seek thee. The true Christian devotes to God

the morning hour. He opens the eyes of his understanding with

those of his body, and awakes each morning to righteousness. He

arises with a thirst after those comforts which the world cannot

give, and has immediate recourse by prayer to the Fountain of

the water of life. The true believer is convinced, that nothing

in this sinful world can satisfy the wants and desires of his

immortal soul; he expects his happiness from God, as his

portion. When faith and hope are most in exercise, the world

appears a weary desert, and the believer longs for the joys of

heaven, of which he has some foretastes in the ordinances of God

upon earth. 3-6 Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise. When

this is the regular frame of a believer's mind, he values the

loving-kindness of God more than life. God's loving-kindness is

our spiritual life, and that is better than temporal life. We

must praise God with joyful lips; we must address ourselves to

the duties of religion with cheerfulness, and speak forth the

praises of God from a principle of holy joy. Praising lips must

be joyful lips. David was in continual danger; care and fear

held his eyes waking, and gave him wearisome nights; but he

comforted himself with thoughts of God. The mercies of God, when

called to mind in the night watches, support the soul, making

darkness cheerful. How happy will be that last morning, when the

believer, awaking up after the Divine likeness, shall be

satisfied with all the fulness of God, and praise him with

joyful lips, where there is no night, and where sorrow and

sighing flee away! 7-11 True Christians can, in some measure, and at some times,

make use of the strong language of David, but too commonly our

souls cleave to the dust. Having committed ourselves to God, we

must be easy and pleased, and quiet from the fear of evil. Those

that follow hard after God, would soon fail, if God's right hand

did not uphold them. It is he that strengthens us and comforts

us. The psalmist doubts not but that though now sowing in tears,

he should reap in joy. Messiah the Prince shall rejoice in God;

he is already entered into the joy set before him, and his glory

will be completed at his second coming. Blessed Lord, let our

desire towards thee increase every hour; let our love be always

upon thee; let all our enjoyment be in thee, and all our

satisfaction from thee. Be thou all in all to us while we remain

in the present wilderness state, and bring us home to the

everlasting enjoyment of thee for ever