Psalms 63

There is a twofold fruition, or enjoying of God; the one is in this life, the other in the life to come. First, an enjoying of God here in this life: the enjoying of God's presence; it is a great matter to enjoy God's ordinances (a mercy that some do envy us), but to enjoy God's…

Are we children, we love the presence of God in his ordinances? In prayer we speak to God, in the preaching of his Word he speaks to us: And how does every child of God delight to hear his Father's voice (Psalm 63:1-2)? My soul thirsts for you, to see your glory so as I have see…

Jacob loved Rachel, and he would endure the heat by day, and the frost by night that he might enjoy her. A soul that loves God will take any pains for the fruition of him (Psalm 63:8): "My soul follows hard after God." Love is Pondus animae, Aug.

Did Christ rise early to save us, and shall not we rise early to worship and glorify him? Psalm 63:1: "Early will I seek you." Can we be up early on other days?

What delight has a gracious soul in prayer (Isaiah 56:7): I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. While a Christian weeps there is joy drops with tears; while he is musing on God he has such illapses of the Spirit, and as it were such transfigurations of soul, that he thi…

How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! This drops as the honeycomb; it dulcifies and sweetens the waters of Marah; it is better than life (Psalm 63:3). It has a hyper-hyperbole in it; it passes knowledge (Ephesians 3:19).

A gracious heart diligently kept feeds many precious thoughts of God in a day (Psalm 139:17): 'How precious are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the sum of them! if I should count them, they are more in number than the sand; and when I awake, I am still with you.' And as…

(Psalm 116:16): O Lord, truly I am your servant. (Psalm 63:1): My soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs after you. (Psalm 73:25): Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside you.

What tongue though shaped out of all the Angels of that high kingdom, and watered with the milk and wine of that good land, can sufficiently praise this heart-ravishing flower of Angels, this heaven's wonder, the spotless and infinitely beautiful Prince, the crown, the garland,…

It is a saving and a pitying love (Isaiah 63:9); a love which the Lord rests in (Zephaniah 3:17); a love continuing to the end (John 13:1); a love that makes us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). It is a separating love that differences the loved of God from all others (Psalm 8…

And above all things else he seeks the honor of God, the coming of his Kingdom, and the doing of his will; and if these concur not in his way, he would rather lose them than dishonor Christ by having of them. He has a singleness of heart in seeking spiritual blessings; he seeks…

And so if God grant pardon of sin, and peace of conscience; you will find this an evident sign of pardon and peace together, and an evident effect of them both; a serious care, and a constant endeavor to maintain and keep that peace, that as you see God has been very gracious in…

2. Our prayers are doctrinal and instructive, rather than affectionate and warming. We get light by other duties, but we should get life by prayer, this duty is not to inform the judgment, but to raise the affections, that they may be all flame; other duties are feeding duties,…

I reject not their advice who say we should read; He has set walls and bulwarks for salvation: but in regard the Prophet's words being simply understood, contain in them a more ample and stable doctrine, what need is there to wrest in a constrained exposition, when the true and…

They may well seem to be full, while a vain conceit blindfolds them; but they shall be like those, who being swollen with wind, feel not their hunger. And yet it were much better for them to be so pinched with hunger and thirst, that they might thereby be provoked to cry earnest…

As the Heart panteth after the Water-brooks, so panteth my Soul after thee, O God; My Soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 63. 1, 2. My Soul thirsteth for thee; my Flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty Land, where no W…

Psalm 71:23. My lips shall greatly rejoice, when I sing unto Thee. Psalm 63:3[reconstructed: -7]. Because Thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. Thus will I bless Thee, while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name: My soul shall be satisfied as…

So it is with gracious Joys: They are hidden Manna, in this Respect, as well as others; Revelation 2:17. The Psalmist seems to speak of his sweetest Comforts, as those that were to be had in Secret; Psalm 63:5. 'My Soul shall be satisfied as with Marrow and Fatness, and my Mouth…

(1.) That the goodness and mercy of God is let out upon his people in his Providences about them: and this is the very root of praise. It is not so much the possession that Providence gives us of such or such comforts, as the goodness and kindness of God in the dispensing of the…

2. That the believer actually eats, and makes use of that food, he has teeth for that end, and should not only look on Christ, but feed on him. Secondly, meditation also may be here understood, that serving much to the feeding and filling of the soul, as (Psalm 63:6-7) My soul s…

1. See the right genius and temper of a gracious soul, [reconstructed: it] is ever drawing near to God; it loves to converse with him in private. A person truly regenerate is not able to stay away long from God (Psalm 63:8). My soul follows hard after God.

If you call the Sabbath your delights; or as Tremelius renders it, your delicate things. My soul (says David) shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness (Psalm 63:5). Or, lastly, if we consider the suitableness of this work, to a regenerate soul.

And this also with delight. Your loving kindness (says the psalmist) is better than life, therefore will I praise you (Psalm 63:3). Than life, before lives.

Go try, knock at his door, and take it not on our word, but on his own, it shall be opened to you, and once you shall have a happy life of it in the worst times. Faith has this privilege never to be ashamed, it takes sanctuary in God, and sits and sings under the shadow of his w…

If you would have God look down upon you from his holy habitation, you must look up with an eye of faith, and converse with God in heaven. (Psalm 63:4). I will lift up my hands in your name. If you would have God look upon you with an eye of compassion, you must look up, and see…

How oft do men build Castles in the Air? But the Thoughts of God will turn to a good account, they Augment Sanctification, and bring Satisfaction, Psalm 63:5. My Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, when I remember you on my bed, and meditate on you, etc. The Thou…

Will not a mans thoughts run upon his Portion? A gracious Soul has found Pleasure in thinking on God, Psalm 63:5, 6. He has had those Transfigurations on the Mount, those Illapses of the Spirit, those Incomes of Gods Love, those praelibations and foretastes of glory, that he can…

(2) It notes love, which is exercised herein, which puts upon sallies, and earnest egressions of soul, after the party loved. Psalm 63:8. My soul follows hard after you. It is grievous to those who love God to think of separation from him, or to forbear to seek after him.

It is set forth by the appetite which a hungry man has toward his meat after a long abstinence (Psalm 84:2), My soul longs, indeed even faints for the courts of the Lord. Or as a weary traveller and thirsty man longs after drink (Psalm 63:1), My soul thirsts for you, etc. Or as…

Eggs come to be quickened by brooding upon them. In a sanctified heart the seeds of comfort by meditation come to maturity; by constant meditation our affections are quickened, this turns the promises into marrow (Psalm 63:5-6): My soul shall be filled as with marrow and fatness…

1. Because they have a clearer understanding, and see more into the nature of things than those that are drowned in present delights and contentments. The loss of God's favor carnal men know not how to value; but the saints prefer it above life: the favor of God is better than l…

So when our strength is gone, and God withdrawn, we shall not find a like pregnancy and consistency of thoughts, a like readiness and vigor of affections in holy duties, but all will be out of order; the understanding is lean, dry and sapless, the heart averse and dead; and ther…

Fancy and imagination cannot awaken it so much as this taste. When you have tasted how good and sweet it is to live in a state of conformity, this will make you long for more (Psalm 63:1): My soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you. David had been acquainted with the pleasu…

Or for praising or blessing God (Psalm 134:2): Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. So (Psalm 63:4): Thus will I bless you while I live, I will lift up my hands in your name. 3. For swearing or vowing (Genesis 22:14): I have lift up my hand to the most high G…

It is their solace; and spiritual affections, and heroical grace must not be limited to the ordinary dull way of expressing duty to God. They have special affections and special dispensations (Psalm 63:6). "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, when I remember y…

What may be the reasons why the children of God so prize his favor? 1. The worth of the thing itself, Psalm 63:3. Your favor is better than life, better than all comforts, better in itself, for this is that which we are never weary of.

1. From the thing itself, from the object, and there first the value of this privilege compared with all that may be called life. Life is either natural, spiritual, or eternal: compare it with life natural, and there the Psalmist will tell you, (Psalm 63:3) your loving-kindness…

Outward comforts can no more fill the heart than a triangle can fill a circle. Spiritual joys are satisfying (Psalm 63:5): My heart shall be satisfied as with marrow, and I will praise you with joyful lips. David's heart was full, and the joy broke out at his lips.

But true desires are timely and seasonable; a gracious heart seeks first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). David's thirst after God was early (Psalm 63:1). The wise virgins got their oil beforehand before the bridegroom came.

Jeremiah 31:14: My people shall be satisfied with goodness. Psalm 63:5: My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow. Joseph first opened the mouths of the sacks, and then filled them with grain (Genesis 42:25).

Christ is a supreme good; put what you will in the balance with Christ, he infinitely outweighs. Is life sweet? Christ is better! He is the life of the soul (Colossians 3:4); his loving-kindness is better than life (Psalm 63:3). Are relationships sweet? Christ is better; he is t…

Thus Christianity is a race for labor; we must put forth all our strength in this race. My soul follows hard after God (Psalm 63:8); I reach forward (Philippians 2:13-14) — the word signifies I stretch my neck forward. The apostle says: I press toward the mark; as runners in a r…

It notes a godly submission that the soul dare not speak against God (Psalm 37:7): rest in the Lord — [reconstructed: be subject to] JEHOVAH; LXX: sub ditus esto Domino (Psalm 62:6); from which faith teaches us to submit and hold our peace and lay the mouth in the dust, as a spi…

If he be at home in his house, it is good, he praises (Psalm 30; Psalm 101). If he be banished in the wilderness, and chased from the house of God, it is good, he praises (Psalm 42; Psalm 63; Psalm 84). Nothing falls wrong to a mortified soul.

And if we see it not, we are yet in darkness; yes, though we say we see, we are blind like others. So David longed and prayed for it, when yet he could behold it only in types and shadows (Psalm 63:1-2): "O God, you are my God, early will I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my…

3. If we are prizers of Christ, then we shall not grudge at any pains to get him. He who prizes gold, will dig for it in the Mine, Psalm 63:8. My Soul follows hard after God.

Vanity of vanities: but in God is sweet satisfaction and contentment. My soul shall be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness, Psalm 63.5. Here is an Hive of sweetness, a mirror of beauty, a magazine of riches; here is the River of pleasure, where the soul bathes with infinite de…

The memory is the chest or cupboard to lock up a truth, meditation is the palate to feed on it; the memory is like the Ark in which the Manna was laid up, meditation is like Israel's eating of Manna. When David began to meditate on God, it was sweet to him as marrow, Psalm 63.5,…

But an upright heart has very high and pure aims in duty. 'The desire of their soul is to God' (Isaiah 26:8); their soul follows hard after God (Psalm 63:8). 'One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I might dwell in the house of the Lord all the days o…

Suppose a man have a willing mind, to pray in the power of God's Spirit, to confer fruitfully, etc., that he might build up his soul in his holy faith, now all that comes from him is a lively fruit of grace, be it otherwise never so weak (Psalm 103:14). God knows what we are mad…