Better Than Life
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
Psalm 63:3
The superscription to Psalm 63 provides the author and setting: “A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.” In verse 11, David refers to himself as “the king,” so we know it was not written when King Saul was pursuing him. Instead, it was likely to have been written later during the events of 2 Samuel 15 when David’s son Absalom conspired against his father to gain the throne, gathered supporters, and even enlisted David’s close friend and counsellor Ahithophel (v 10–12). These events drove David in haste from Jerusalem into the desert (v 14, 23).
Although King David, was in a less than desirable—even desperate—situation in the desert, he did not despair because he hoped in God. “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you . . . in a dry and parched land where there is no water” (v 1).
Perhaps today, you have found yourself in a place of difficulty, without clear direction or adequate resources. Uncomfortable situations can confuse us, but they need not derail us when we cling to the One who loves us (v 3), satisfies us (v 5), helps us (v 7), and whose right hand upholds us (v 8). Because God’s love is better than life, and like David, we can express our satisfaction with lips that praise and honour God (v 3–5).
Bible Reading
Psalm 136:1-9.
Prayer
Great God of lovingkindness, I praise You for Your steadfast love to me! Even when I am faithless, You are faithful. Thank You, Father God. In Christ Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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