Biblical Principle #387: David Wrote Psalm 63 in the Desert of Ziph

Biblical Principles List

Principle

David wrote Psalm 63 while hiding from Saul in the Judean desert of Ziph.

Explanation

After David defeated the Philistines at the town of Keilah, he journeyed to the Desert of Ziph in southeast Judah so that he could escape Saul once more.

12 So David and his men, about four hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was announced to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition.

13 And David stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and remained in the mountain of Ziph, which was dry country. Saul sought him every day, but the Lord did not deliver him into his hands.

1 Kingdoms [1 Samuel] 23:12-13 OSB

Saul relentlessly searched for David, but GOD kept David safe.

It was at this time that David wrote Psalm 63.

1 A psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judea.

2 O God, my God, I rise early to be with You;
My soul thirsts for You.
How often my flesh thirsts for You
In a desolate, impassable, and waterless land.
3 So in the holy place I appear before You,
To see Your power and Your glory.
4 Because Your mercy is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
5 Thus I will bless You in my life;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
6 May my soul be filled, as if with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall sing praise to You with lips filled with rejoicing.
7 If I remembered You on my bed,
I meditated on You at daybreak;
8 For You are my helper,
And in the shelter of Your wings I will greatly rejoice.
9 My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand takes hold of me.
10 But they seek for my soul in vain;
They shall go into the lowest parts of the earth.
11 They shall be given over to the edge of the sword;
They shall be a portion for foxes.
12 But the king shall be glad in God;
All who swear by Him shall be praised,
For the mouth that speaks unrighteous things is stopped.

Psalm 62 [63]:1-12 OSB

Knowing the historical context for Psalm 63 helps us better appreciate its origin and meaning.

For example, when David says, “My soul thirsts for You,” he 100% meant that he was thirsty and only GOD could provide what his soul longed for.

When David mentions “[i]n a desolate, impassable, and waterless land,” David wrote this because … well … David was stuck dwelling in a desolate, impassable, waterless land!

David imagined himself being in a better place:

• In the holy place (which, mind you, as a non-Levite, David was unable to enter under the Law of Moses)
• To see GOD’s glory
• Being as satisfied in his soul as if having enjoyed a tasty piece of meat
• Walking closely behind GOD, holding GOD’s hand
• Taking shelter underneath GOD’s wing

No doubt David more deeply appreciated these things while he was so far from earthly comforts he once enjoyed, such as in King Saul’s palace.

Then David abruptly shifts his thoughts towards his persecutors, as if struck by an instant hunger pang.

• They seek me but they will not find me
• They will descend to the lowest parts of the earth (Hades)
• They shall be pierced by the sword
• Their mouths will be stopped

And again, an abrupt shift in David’s focus, as if remembering that GOD had promised him to be the next king over Israel, David said:

• The king shall be glad in GOD.
• All who swear by GOD will be praised.

So it would soon be. The king would return from the wilderness.

Biblical Principles List