Your input please (Psalm 63)

This is an asiignment I have for Sunday school. Please feel free to give your opinion. Does it flow well? Did I miss anything? Also, I only have a 3-5 minute window to orally present this material. Thank you in advance for your consideration, participation and input.

Q: What were David’s circumstances at the time he wrote Psalm 63?

A: At the time David wrote Psalm 63 he was in the wilderness of Judea, hiding from his son Absalom.

In this Psalm, we can see David understands that he brought this situation upon himself. The sins he committed with Bathsheeba and the killing of Uriah caused Nathan to prophesy in 2 Samuel 12:10-12 “Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.' "This is what the LORD says: `Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.'" (NIV)

David may not have known the details but he did know the prophecy would be fulfilled. He holds no grudges against God for the consequences of his actions. Even in the wilderness David knows that only God can satisfy the thirst of his immortal soul. His desperate circumstances increase his yearning to be in God’s presence and worship Him. David is not pleading for food, water, rest or for God to DO anything for him. He is simply wanting with all his heart, mind, soul and body to once again be in the presence of God.

When all earthly things are stripped away then we find out what is really in the depths of our hearts. For example, if you lost your home, spouse, children, job and friends all at the same time what would your response be? David’s response was nothing but a pure burning desire to see the face of God!

He goes on to praise God and express his confidence that God will restore him and that his enemies will be defeated. David’s hope comes from knowing that he is God’s anointed king and that God has never before and will not now abandon him.


In His Service,

Sandy

~~~Revised 9/12/02~~~


Q: What were David’s circumstances at the time he wrote Psalm 63?

A: At the time David wrote Psalm 63 he was in the wilderness of Judea, hiding from his son Absalom. He had been forced to leave his home and many possessions behind. He had been driven from his throne by his own son and was now the object of insults from the subjects who once adored him.

In this Psalm, we can see David understands that he brought this situation upon himself. The sins he committed with Bathsheeba and the killing of Uriah brought a punishment from the Lord. In 2 Samuel 12:10-12 Nathan prophesied,“Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.' "This is what the LORD says: `Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' "

David may not have known the details but he did know the prophecy would be fulfilled. God did indeed do it in broad daylight before all of Israel. Absalom publicly usurped David’s authority and ran him out of Jerusalem. David had been kind enough to let him return to Jerusalem after he killed Amnon , another of David’s sons. Absalom was even given an audience with the king at his request. I am sure when David was betrayed once again by his own son that he must have felt foolish for trusting him and at the same time been very hurt by his son’s actions.

It is very clear that David does not blame God nor hold any grudges against Him for the consequences of his actions. Even in the wilderness David knows that only God can satisfy the thirst of his immortal soul. His dire circumstances increase his yearning to be in God’s presence and worship Him. He is so desperate for God that it has effects on his physical body yet he does not seek physical refreshment but only spiritual nourishment. He is not pleading for money, food, water, rest, better accommodations or for God to DO anything for him. David is not even interested in revenge against his enemies. He is simply wanting with all his heart, mind, soul and body to once again be in the presence of the living God.

When all earthly things are stripped away then we find out what is really in the depths of our hearts. For example, if you lost your home, spouse, children, job, money, possessions and friends all at the same time what would your response be? Would you be angry with God or long to get closer to Him? David’s response was nothing but a pure burning desire to see the face of God!

David recognizes and gives thanks for the protection and blessings of the past that God has provided. He goes on to continually praise God and express his confidence that God will restore him and that his enemies will be defeated. In verse 11 David refers to himself in the third person as “the king” making the point that his hope comes from knowing that he is God’s anointed king and that God has never before and will not now abandon him.