GOD'S LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE

Passage: Psalms 63:1-11

Key verse: 5

NIV

Psalm 63[a]
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

1 You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,(A)
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.(B)

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary(C)
    and beheld your power and your glory.(D)
3 Because your love is better than life,(E)
    my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,(F)
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.(G)
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;(H)
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.(I)
7 Because you are my help,(J)
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.(K)
8 I cling to you;(L)
    your right hand upholds me.(M)

9 Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;(N)
    they will go down to the depths of the earth.(O)
10 They will be given over to the sword(P)
    and become food for jackals.(Q)

11 But the king will rejoice in God;
    all who swear by God will glory in him,(R)
    while the mouths of liars will be silenced.(S)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Psalm 63:1 In Hebrew texts 63:1-11 is numbered 63:2-12.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David, (A)when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

63 O God, you are my God; (B)earnestly I seek you;
    (C)my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in (D)a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
    beholding (E)your power and glory.
3 Because your (F)steadfast love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you (G)as long as I live;
    in your (H)name I will (I)lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be (J)satisfied as with fat and rich food,
    and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you (K)upon my bed,
    and meditate on you in (L)the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
    and in (M)the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul (N)clings to you;
    your right hand (O)upholds me.

9 But those who seek to destroy my life
    (P)shall go down into (Q)the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
    they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But (R)the king shall rejoice in God;
    all who (S)swear by him shall exult,
    (T)for the mouths of (U)liars will be stopped.

Read full chapter
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Your love is better than life (1-5)

This is a love song. David was a fugitive, hiding in the desert. But he did not long for the palace or for human comfort or human love. He was thirsty for God. 'O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.' God's love is better than life. Human glory and success without God can never satisfy the soul. God's love satisfies my deepest need.

2. I remember you on my bed (6-11)

Some people have nightmares. Others watch T.V. all night. But those who remember God and think of him and talk with him through the watches of the night, find peace and joy and freedom from fear. He puts a song in our hearts.

Prayer: Lord, I cannot satisfy my soul on the husks of the world. I seek you. My soul and body long for you alone. Your love is better than life. My lips glorify you.

One Word: God's love is better than life