READ IT! - Introduction to Psalms 62-68

Readings for this week

Monday: Psalm 62

Tuesday: Psalm 63

Wednesday: Psalm 64

Thursday: Psalm 65

Friday: Psalm 66

Saturday: Psalm 67

Sunday: Psalm 68

Introduction to Psalms 62-68

Psalm 62

The note at the beginning of this Davidic psalm states that it is for “Jeduthun.” He was a Levite of the family of Merari, and one of the three masters of music appointed by David. His office was generally to preside over the music of the temple service.

David says, “My soul waits for God alone. He alone is my rock and my salvation. Trust in him at all times, O people. Power and love belong to God.”

Psalm 63

The introduction to Psalm 63 says that this is a psalm of David written when he was in the Desert of Judea.

He writes:

"You, God, are my God,

    earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

    my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land

    where there is no water."

And:

"Your love is better than life.... My lips will sing your praise.... Liars will be silenced."

This was a difficult time in David’s life. He was on the run from Saul who was out to kill him over his own jealousy of David’s success.

And so David fled to the desert for safety. But the desert is a dangerous place on its own. There’s snakes and scorpions… and of course, there’s no food or water.

So where did David go to survive?

The scripture says that David went to a place in the Desert of Judea called En Gedi.

The area of En Gedi is one of the most beautiful places in all of Palestine. It has many trees, and waterfalls, and pools, and caves… and hyraxes (Google them, they’re cute). And this is where King David and his men hid when they were being pursued by Saul.

En Gedi is an Oasis in the desert, fed by many springs that bubble up out of the ground. And the water from these springs is pure – it’s referred to as “living water.”

“Living water” is also the way in which God refers to himself. He tells his people to come to Him, the spring of living water, and he will also make springs of living water flow out of them. You see, he wants us to share the life and hope that he’s given to us with others.

And so when David wrote Psalm 63, he was in the desert, both figuratively as he was on the run from Saul, as well as literally. And David learns that in the desert, he has nothing. He has absolutely nothing going for him but God. And he learns to rely of God for everything. He learns to thirst for God in the painful desert of his life. Because without God, what else does he have?

Psalm 64

David says, “Hear me, O God! Hide me from the plots of the wicked, who ambush the blameless. God will bring them to ruin. Let the upright be glad!”

Psalm 65

David says, “Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion. By awesome deeds you answer us. You silence the roaring seas. You crown the year with abundance.”

God stilling the turmoil of the nations is compared to his taming of the turbulence of the primeval waters of chaos.

Psalm 66

The anonymous author of this psalm says, “Shout for joy to God! Come and see what he has done. He has not let our feet slip. I will make an offering. God has heard my prayer.”

Psalm 67

The note at the beginning of this anonymous psalm states that it is to be played with “stringed instruments.” The language of this psalm is similar to that found in the priestly blessing from the Book of Numbers.

The writer says, “May God be gracious to us, and make his face to shine upon us. Let the peoples praise you, O God! The earth has yielded its increase.”

Psalm 68

David says, “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered! Kings and armies flee. Our God is a God who saves. Sing to him, O kingdoms of the earth!”

Canaanite literature describes Baal (the Canaanite weather god) as riding on the clouds. Here the point is made that the Lord (Yahweh, not Baal) is the exalted One who truly makes the storm clouds his chariot.