Bible Study PSALM 63 Seeking after God
Background
King David was a man who knew what it meant to live under pressure. As the king of Israel, he knew the pressures of leadership. The higher and more responsible the leadership position, the greater are the pressures. And David knew the pressure of problems. During his reign, his son Absalom led a rebellion against him. David and his loyal followers had to flee for their lives. During that time David spent a short while in the northeastern portion of the wilderness of Judah before he crossed over the Jordan river. In that barren land, fleeing for his life from his own son, feeling disgraced and rejected, with an uncertain future, David penned Psalm 63.
John Chrysostom (347-407) wrote about Psalm 63 “that it was decreed and ordained by the primitive (church) fathers that no day should pass without the public singing of this Psalm.” He also observed that “the spirit and soul of the whole book of Psalms is contracted into this Psalm.” In fact, the ancient church had the practice of beginning the singing of the Psalms each Sunday service with Psalm 63, called ‘the morning hymn’.
Verses 1-3
1a. Read verse 1 and write the different words that describe how David felt in his soul.
1b. How can you translate these images in to spiritual life?
2. Because of his longing for connection with God, David says he will seek God. What does it mean to seek God?
3a. How would you define prayer?
3b. How does prayer relate to our sense of desperation?
4. What happens in conversion, would that be considered an encounter with God? Why or why not?
Verses 3-5
5. Psalm 63:3-5 is set up like a ‘because…thus…’ sentence structure. What is the ‘because’? What results because of that one thing?
6. Verse 1 describes a soul which is thirsty, with no chance of finding water. In stark contrast, verse 5 describes a soul which is satisfied with the richest of foods. Why the words ‘marrow and fatness’ and what do these words describe?
Verses 6-8
7. What is David doing in verses 6-8? What are some things he might be thinking of?
8. What happens when David begins to think of Who God is and how He has worked in his life?
10a. Desperate times force us to pause at times. Does this mean we will meditate? Why or why not? How can we meditate in our regular routines of life?
10b. How could a person who lacks self-discipline improve his ability/willingness to meditate?
11. In verse 8 David says: ‘my soul followeth hard after thee’. In other words, David’s soul is clinging to God. Find other Bible references of this clinging to God.
Verses 9-11
12. What is David being threatened with in these verses?
11. How does David find faith to trust God for what might happen to him in the future?
12. What is the difference between fear and faith?
Personal reflection:
Review your past week and ask yourself: “did my schedule reflect that seeking God was my number one priority?”