Psalms 63:11

Verse Psalms 63:11. But the king shall rejoice] David shall come to the kingdom according to the promise of God. Or, if it refer to the captivity, the blood royal shall be preserved in and by Zerubbabel till the Messiah come, who shall be David's spiritual successor in the kingdom for ever.

That sweareth by him] It was customary to swear by the life of the king. The Egyptians swore by the life of Pharaoh; and Joseph conforms to this custom, as may be seen in the book of Genesis, Genesis 42:15-1. See also 1 Samuel 1:26; 1 Samuel 17:55, and Judith 11:7. But here it may refer to GOD. He is THE KING, and swearing by his name signifies binding themselves by his authority, acknowledging his supremacy, and devoting themselves to his glory and service alone.

The Chaldee has: "And the King shall rejoice במימר אלהא bemeymar Eloha, in the WORD of God;" or, in the WORD GOD; Meymar, WORD, being taken here substantially, as in many other places, by the Targumist.

The mouth of them that speak lies] The mouth of those who acknowledge lying vanities, that worship false gods, shall be stopped. All false religions shall be destroyed by the prevalence of the truth. For he, CHRIST, shall reign till all his enemies are put under his feet. "Thy kingdom come, and hell's o'erpower: and to thy sceptre all subdue." Amen and Amen.

ANALYSIS OF THE SIXTY-THIRD PSALM

The contents are, -

I. David's ardent desire to be in the assembly of the saints, Psalms 63:1. And the reasons on which this desire was founded, Psalms 63:2.

II. That though absent from God's ordinances, yet he forgot not his Maker, Psalms 63:6.

III. A double prophecy. 1. What should befall his enemies, Psalms 63:9. And, 2. What should come to himself, Psalms 63:11.

I. 1. In the first part he states his confidence in God, as the foundation of his desires, contemplations, meditations, invocations, and consolations: "O God, thou art my God," Psalms 63:1.

2. Then he expresses his fervent desire and ardent affection. 1. "Early will I seek thee." THEE, not other things. 2. "My soul thirsteth for thee," c. There is no doubt that he wanted many things in this barren thirsty land but of this he does not complain, but of his want of God in the sanctuary.

And so he expresses himself in the following verse: He was about to see the power and glory of God in the sanctuary, as he had formerly done. He gives the reason of this: "Because thy loving-kindness is better than life," Psalms 63:3. To see thy goodness in the use of thy ordinances, I count far beyond all the blessings of life; and could I again be admitted there, these effects would follow: -

1. Praise: "My lips shall praise," c., Psalms 63:4.

2. Invocation and prayer: "I will lift up my hands," c., Psalms 63:4.

3. The satisfaction he should receive from these: "My mouth shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness," c., Psalms 63:5.

II. Though David is now in the wilderness, he does not forget his duty.

1. Even there he remembered God upon his bed and meditated, c., Psalms 63:6.

2. "Because thou hast been my help therefore," c., Psalms 63:7.

3. "My soul followeth hard after thee," c., Psalms 63:8. It is evident, therefore, that even here David was not without comfort for, 1. He meditates, and remembers what God had done for him. 2. He remembers that he had been his help and therefore he rejoices. 3. He still adheres to him, and follows hard after him for help still.

III. And now, being secure of God's protection, he foretells, 1. What would befall his enemies; and, 2. What would come to himself.

1. To his enemies, ruin: "Those who seek after my soul, they shall go (some) into the lower parts of the earth," the grave or hell.

Others should "fall by the sword," lie unburied, and be devoured by wild beasts.

-----------ελωρια τευχε κυνεσσιν

οιωνοισι τε πασι

Il., I. ver. 4.

"Whose limbs, unburied on the naked shore,

Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore."

POPE.

2. To himself, honour and a crown: "But the king (David) shall rejoice in God." The reason is, -

1. "Every one that swears by him," that is who worships and fears God, an oath being put by synecdoche for the whole worship of God. See the notes.

2. "The mouth of them that speak lies," utter blasphemies, curses, and perjuries, or pray and confess to strange gods, "shall be stopped;" they shall be ashamed and confounded, and an end be put to their iniquity by a sudden and violent death. The mouth of God's people shall glory; but the mouth of the wicked shall be stopped, and be silent in the dust.