By Adam Winn, Ph. D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University
THE BENEFITS OF WORSHIP
Psalm 63:1–11
When we come to God in worship, we find satisfaction. (1–5)
We are told in the superscription of this psalm that it is a psalm of David. We are also told that it comes from a time when David was in the wilderness. While the psalm does not specify which wilderness experience this is, clues suggest it is the time when David was fleeing from Absalom, who was seeking to take David’s throne.
The psalm opens by expressing the psalmist’s deep longing for God. The imagery draws a parallel between David’s current physical location and condition — thirsting in the wilderness — and his spiritual condition — longing and thirsting for God’s presence.
We must remember that while David and Israel certainly knew the God of Israel was present everywhere, they understood His unique and powerful presence to exist in the temple. He was present in the temple in the same way He was once fully present in creation and the Garden of Eden.
Verse 2 suggests that it is this powerful presence that David longs for, but because he is on the run and away from Jerusalem, he does not have access to it.
However, remembering that presence and the love of God experienced through it, he declares that such love is better than life itself and that he will praise God because of it. This experience of God, David declares, will result in lifelong praise and calling on God’s name.
When we come to God in worship, we find the help and assurance we need. (6–8)
David goes on to describe the specific blessings of this presence of God. It satisfies his soul the way a great feast satisfies the stomach, a satisfaction that results in praise. It leads him to lie awake at night thinking about the powerful presence of God he has encountered.
He then recalls the way God and His powerful presence have been his help and protection. Again, this leads David to praise God. As a result of David’s encounter with the powerful presence of God, he clings to the God who upholds him.
When we come to God in worship, we find confidence in the One who conquers. (9–11)
In these closing verses, David turns his attention to the enemies who are currently separating him from the powerful presence of God — those who are currently seeking to destroy his very life. He expresses his trust in God that they will be utterly defeated.
The final line of the psalm envisions the restored king rejoicing again in the presence of God with all those who support him rejoicing with him, while the lies of those who opposed the king are silenced.
While the unique and powerful presence of God was understood to be located in the temple alone during the time of David, the death and resurrection of Jesus brought about a radical new reality. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, God’s presence that had been present in the Garden of Eden and later in the temple now dwells in us!
This is why Paul declares that we are the temple of God and the new creation. We live in this world as the evidence of the presence of God in the world. In us, people should see a glimpse of the future when God will again dwell fully in a new and restored creation. May we value this reality in the same way David does in this Psalm!
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
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