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 THIRSTY SOULS - Like Psalm 42, the writer creates the sensation
of inner spiritual dryness through the use of evocative images-thirst, faints, a waterless
and desiccated land. But while the Psalm 42 writer can never completely get the plane off
the tarmac of his depressed soul, this writer has the thirsty soul peering into the
sanctuary through past recollections and thus builds on that vision.
PRAISING LIPS - Vv. 2-4 form a strophe of praise-praising lips, beholding God’s
power and glory, blessing, and the lifting up of awe-inspired hands. It is unclear whether
what follows is meant to be resultant to the act of the active worship of God, but many
worshipers have experienced the reality: in the act of worship one gains spiritual
nourishment and joy.
NOURISHING JOY- The joyfulness in vv. 5-8 is striking: this is no cheeriness, no, are
we happy yet? but rather a profound joy that endures ongoing life-threatening threats by
enemies. "The psalmist finds sustenance and life in God’s presence while the
enemies ‘go down’ to the realm devoid of God’s presence." [1]
 One possible scenario attached to this psalm is David in the Desert of Judah
being hunted by Saul and his military. It would be helpful to return to the David cycle (1
Samuel 23 / 24 / 26) and read those episodes with Psalm 63 in view.
What "desert" have you been through recently? What did you long for the most?
Did you find it?
Which verse of this psalm best fits your relationship with God? How might you deepen
your first love with God?
 What about this? The NIB commentator suggests a contrast of the two mouths:
joyful lips in v. 5 (NIV: singing lips)
vis-à-vis the mouths of liars (v. 11). While one set of mouths will be stopped, the other
is open in joyful praise. The joyful lips of the open-mouthed worshiper seem to reflect an
orientation toward God that symbolizes and openness to God and to life. Notice what other
doors open to the open-mouthed one: thirsting for God, hungering for God, praising God,
praying to God.
Contrast: mouths of the liars are closed. Closed as in locked out from the best that
God offers-fulfillment and satisfaction, wholeness, joy-filled life. Sort of like being
dead.
This psalm led me to another psalmist from the 17th century-George Herbert-who
captures the essence of the psalm:
Come my Way, my Truth, my Life,
Come my Light, my Feast, my Strength,
Come my Joy, my Love, my Heart.
Joyful lips and openness to God in the end "leads us in prayer to the point of
devotion to God alone that must be the goal of all true faith." [2]
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[1] The New Interpreter’s Bible IV (Abingdon Press, 1996), page 927.
[2] James L. Mays, Psalms: Interpretation (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1994), page
218.
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