Psalm 63:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

NIV: On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

NASB: When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,

CSB: When I think of you as I lie on my bed, I meditate on you during the night watches

NLT: I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.

KJV: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

NKJV: When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

Instead of tossing and turning in bed, David turned to the Lord in confidence (Psalm 62:1–2). He desired to know God as much as a man traveling in the desert wishes for food and water (Psalm 63:1–4). For David, worship was as gratifying as an extravagant meal (Psalm 63:5). Moments of quiet, such as at night in bed, offered David further opportunity to consider all God had done. Those were additional moments to remember the Lord's goodness and celebrate it (Psalm 63:7).

This psalm was inspired by a strained, dangerous evacuation through rough terrain (2 Samuel 15:13–14; 17:2, 27–29). And yet, David didn't "only" mourn over his circumstances. In other psalms, he expresses grief over difficult times (Psalm 3:1; 22:1). Yet David used hard times as motivation: to become ever closer to the Lord. As David remembered God, and what He had accomplished in David's life, it brought focus. To recall what God has said and done is an excellent practice for every believer. It keeps the mind on God's promises and gracious deeds instead of on negative circumstances.

To "meditate" on God, as David did, is to reflect on the Lord's nature, and actions, and words. This takes time and effort; it implies more than an occasional thought being spared for Him and His goodness.

Nighttime was often divided into "watches," which were shifts where men would rotate through being alert while others rested. The watches of the night, in David's context, were sunset to 10 a.m., 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., and 2 a.m. to sunrise. For David to consider God during those moments, in this context, suggests he saw this as a source of rest and peace.

In Psalm 63:5–8, David exults in the Lord. The prior verses compared David's desire to know God with physical thirst and hunger. Now, he makes a comparison between the satisfaction of good food and the joy of worship. David looks to the past and sees the Lord's powerful work in his life. As a result, he confidently trusts in God and expresses delighted praise.

David longs to know God the same way a man wishes for water and rest when wandering in the desert. Praise to God is as satisfying as eating rich foods. David trusts entirely in the Lord and His protection. The enemies who seek David's throne will be defeated; in his confidence David plans to rejoice when this occurs. This psalm was inspired by David's hasty retreat from Absalom's rebellion, through the wilderness (2 Samuel 17:27–29).

This song was inspired by David's experiences during the rebellion of his son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15:13–14). Other writings associated with this event include Psalms 3, 4, 5, 8, 41, and 62. When David evacuated Jerusalem, his traveling group made a difficult journey through dry, uninhabited wilderness areas (2 Samuel 16:14; 17:2, 27–29). The song creates a parallel between David's physical needs and his desire to reconnect with the Lord.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.