Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you

 Psalm 63:1-11

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.

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.

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

David when he was in the Judean desert (as an outlaw hunted by King Saul). Having tasted the full joy and satisfaction of God's presence, who can bear to lose it?

Why?

Even in the desert, there is no water, but David knew the help is came from the Lord, so he said "my whole being longs for you".

God's love is better than life, for if there is not the love of God, will perish.

David has experienced the help of the Lord so he wrote this psalm and honor the name of God.

David believed that righteousness will come to him and his enemies.

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曠野沒有水，也沒有食物，在曠野中尋求什麼呢?身心俱疲，反而是求神

1.v1-3:尋求神:明顯有水、有食物是最需要的。為何要尋求神呢? 因為曾經在安全的地方尋求神的能力、榮耀，比找水更重要。神的慈愛比什麼都重要。即使有水若沒有神的愛又有什麼意義呢?我們如何看待神的慈愛呢?生活中只是點綴，心靈寄託一樣，還是看待如命一樣重要。因為曾經經歷過神的愛。例如我們和親人之間的愛深到一個程度，當親人過世，有人會說那麼我也不要活了。

2.v4-8 時刻思念，緊緊跟隨神：如情人一般天天思想、想念。不是相思之苦而是心中滿足、喜樂的思念，享受神的同在。進一步跟隨就不容易了，跟隨是以神的喜好為喜好，以神的心意為生活目標。要放下自己的想法。即要修理乾淨利落，才能跟隨。

3.v9-11 與神相近的人就與惡遠離：與神親近的人，還要想害怕惡人的攻擊嗎？還怕謊言嗎？

願我們與大衛一起尋求神，因神的慈愛比生命更好。

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How?

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you forever in my life.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

 Psalm 62:1-12

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down—this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: "Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.”

The psalmist commits his cause to God. Human beings are bent on destruction, but what are they? Power belongs to God, who wields it with love and justice.

Why?

this leaning wall, this tottering fence: means David is weak, he confessed before the Lord, He relies on the Lord.

David declared that Power belongs to God and with God, is unfailing love, one more thing is God rewards everyone according to what they have done. God is love and righteousness.

All men before the Lord are the same breath,  our life is easy passed away, nothing is forever on the world. Thrust in the Lord at all times. Do not set our hearts on our riches when it is increasing. All of these are the grace of the Lord.

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大衛的處境：遇到一些言語上攻擊他的人。原來是在身旁，稱讚他的人。私下卻想推倒他，說惡言的。

1.v1-4 敬默等候: 在這惡劣環境下，他默默無聲，沒有抗議，也沒有抱怨，沒有求神。他知道神知道，神一定會拯救他。“我必不很動搖”，經歷動搖，心中其實也是害怕的。

2.v5-8  實足有把握。“我必不動搖”，比前兩節更有把握，當我們願意繼續信靠，神讓我們更有把握。從救恩變成盼望，把結果寄託在神身上，把希望放在將來的盼望，而不是放在現在救他，得勝的時候，他順服就改變了。不僅自己勝過，而且可以勉勵別人

3.v9-12 依靠神的能力才是最實際的。上流人，下流人指的是不依靠神的人，依靠自己能力、勢力、財力，把別人擠掉，這些都是虛空的。不要把財寶放在心上，而是我們在乎的是什麼? 不要因我們有財產就比較放心。押撒龍與掃羅勢力都很大，照理應該會得勝，但是依靠自己的勢力，最後失敗。依靠神絕對不會吃虧、上當。

第一：求主幫助我們順服，不僅站立穩而且可以鼓勵別人。第二：我們是在乎的是什麼?

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How?

Honor the Holy Name of the Lord, God is my hope and my salvation. God is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings

 Psalm 61:1-8

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him. Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

Far from home (2:maybe on a campaign or fleeing from Absalon) and precarious on his throne, the king craves the safety and security only God can give.

Why?

The rock that is higher than I. is a more safe place than now. Take refuge in the shelter of your wings: it is in God's temple and under the cover of God's protection.

May he be enthroned in God's presence forever, maybe his son or David's throne could in God's presence forever. It is the Lord who has the right to let his loved man set on the throne.

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v1-2 禱告: 心中完全沒有力量，在極端困境中，心裏軟弱無力。憂慮煩躁的情形下，無法面對每天。更高的磐石：只有耶和華是磐石。

v3-6：禱告的基礎。做過我的避難所，所以過去的經歷，成為禱告的基礎。

v4-5信心的禱告：我要……是心願的禱告。永遠住在神的帳幕：有祭壇、金燈台，有神的光照、帶領，且有陳設餅，神的供應。有神的話語、安慰。

v6-8 信心的宣告: 你要……坐在神的面前，與神一同掌權，與神是家人關係，朋友關係。站在神面前是僕人身份。必成就到永遠。天天還我所許的願：天天有感恩的事。神所成就的事，多到我天天還都還不完。

大衛心境的轉變為什麼這麼快?

How?

Praise the Lord, every leader is under the authority of the Lord.

Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory

 Psalm 60:1-12

You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us; you have been angry—now restore us! But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow.

Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure of the Valley of Sukkoth.

Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God, we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

Associates the psalm with the campaign recorded in 2 Samuel 8, when the faith of verse 12 and God's word in verse 8 were realized in the eventual victory.

God proclaims the land and people of Israel as his own: Schechem, in the heart of the country, between Mts Ebal and Gerizim; Succoth, a city east of the Jordan' Gilead, Isealite land east of the Jordan'; Manasseh, Ephraim, Judah, the 'big three of the 12 tribes. He declares his power over Israel's traditional enemies; the Moabites, east of the Dead Sea; Edomites, to the south-east; and Philistines, on the Mediterranean coast.

Why?

Raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow: to those who fear the Lord, God's banner is raising. It is distinguished among nations.

parcel out Shechem and measure of the Valley of Sukkoth: means divide the conquered lands to his people.

Human help is worthless, with God we will gain the victory. It is we have to stay on God's side.

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危急不是出於敵人，而是出於神發怒。進退兩難，使他們打敗仗！此時只有禱告，悔改。

禱告中值得注意的是 你把旌旗賜給敬畏你的人，可以為真理揚起來。得勝不是為自己出口氣，不羞愧而已。最後的目的是為神的真理彰顯，神得榮耀。如我們在生活中復興、一切順利，而是神的真理揚起。

v6-8 是核心經文。神已經指著他的聖潔說（說：或譯應許我）。神指著他自己的名起誓，神是自有永有，說有就有。所說的一定成就。指著神的聖潔，是分別的，量身訂做的。此應許一定成就。

雖然不是應許之地，但是這些地方（基列是我的，瑪拿西也是我的）也是我的。以法蓮和猶大都是神所重用的器皿。重要到好像神的頭盔。神的榮耀要我們去彰顯。摩押、以東都是神的奴僕。神把地賜給這些人，我們只是管家，所有權在神手中，我們就有保障。

神何等的看重我們！大衛用詩歌來表達這樣的情感！

v9-12 如果沒有求神與我們同在，我們不能做什麼。求神幫助攻擊敵人。我們是否依靠神?

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How?

Go with the Lord, and the victory will be with us!

You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely

Psalm 59:1-17

They return at evening,  snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. See what they spew from their mouths— the words from their lips are sharp as swords, and they think, “Who can hear us?”

You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely. my God on whom I can rely. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

But do not kill them, Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might uproot them and bring them down.

For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, consume them in your wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob.

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.

Links the psalm to the incident in 1 Samuel 19:11-17 (where Saul sets watch on David to kill him), echoed in the refrain 'Each evening they come back...'. The psalmist addresses his very personal prayer to the Lord fo all the nations. All his confidence flows from the certainty that God loves him.

Why?

Surely evildoer who has power and their words sharps, the always despise others.

You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely. This is the faith in the Lord.

David doesn't the sinner be killed, but hope them be caught in their pride. Then let people known to the ends of the earth that rules over Jacob. It is not for personal honor, but for God's honor, God's holy name could be exalted.

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v1-6 大衛的求救: 大衛求神救他，這是個有計劃有組織的行動，但是我是無辜的，因為神是公義的，我們受到苦，無辜時，可以在神面前站立得住，可以向神求。他們的埋伏以為人不知道，神都知道，以為有堅甲利兵，在神眼中，都是不坎一擊。我們以為自己的想法，努力可以做一番事情，在神眼中都是微不足道的，我們有什麼可以誇口。我們有時候就是像那惡勢力，想要靠自己的方法，靠憂慮，使事情得解決。求神幫助我們看到自己的微不足道。不是不要自己擔重擔，放託給神

V7-15 神是我的力量、高臺，神以慈愛迎接我，好像貴賓。神一出手，讓他們如野繞行城，飢餓、流浪。

V16-17:歌頌讚美神，早晨對比前面幾節的晚上，他們是屬於黑暗的，我們屬於光明的。早晨是新的盼望開始。以黑暗開始，以光明、讚美結束。

How?

Give thanks to the Lord, and honor God's holy name in my life.

Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.

Psalm 58:1-11

Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity? No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth.

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions! Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short. May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.

Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns— whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away. 

The righteous will be glad when they are avenged when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then people will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”

From the time when he was in hiding from Saul. Circumstances may be black, but those who fill their minds with God can sing his praise, come what may. Paul and Silas also knew the truth of this.

Why?

The slug under the sun will melt away as it moves along. So as the evil men.

The rulers indeed speak justly? No, all of us knew they are no righteous. Unjustice and lie are full of this world for all men who are sinners.

We will see that the evildoer will vanish and go away. Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.

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v1-5:指出地上不義的法官，最後指出最後不義的人遭報

你們指的是地方法官、地方的政權，為何不按正直審判?因為所有的人，都是惡人。用什麼方法，他們都聽不見，不願意聽被欺壓者的聲音。地上政權是神設立的，目的要叫做惡的害怕。很多暴政怕基督徒，因為他們都是不義的人。不義的人掌權，神必使其倒下，受審判。所以民主制度就是不相信人。

v6-11:只有耶和華執行公義的審判。惡人完全沒有指望，如懷孕死去的胎。

不要把期望寄託在地上的政權，如果不按神的公義行事，必被神拔去。我們的盼望在神的主權上。地上果然有施行公義審判的神。

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How?

Do not frustrated, be strong for the Lord sees all men's heart and their deed, God will judge everyone depends on he has done.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.

Psalm 57:1-11

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves.

My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

David from the time when he was in hiding from Saul. Circumstances may be black, but those who fill their minds with God can sing his raise, come what may. Paul and Silas also knew the truth of this.

Why?

David praise the Lord when enemies were before him, for he trusts in the Lord, God will save him.

My heart is steadfast, it says to himself be strong and steadfast. Even he may sing and make music.

Faith to the Lord based on the experience of God's grace and love.

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大衛兩次在洞中，這次在隱基底或是亞杜蘭洞。如果洞只有一處出口，是很危險的。此時只有依靠神。如在獅子洞中。處境惡劣，好像人說話就傷人。

更多提到神的榮耀、這裏許多禱告、讚美。這首詩篇更多信心的禱告，宣告。滿心相信的禱告。成全諸事： 成就大事。慈愛和誠實：神的性情。慈愛是神行事態度，誠實是神行事的能力。信心的禱告

v7-11:更多信心的宣告。醒起，原來可能睡著，現在清醒了。要相信、要宣告，無路可走時，要醒起。因為神的慈愛達穹蒼、信實高及諸天。清楚神的行事目標就是神的榮耀。神的名、神的榮耀最重要。神的榮耀透過神的作為顯出來。按著神的慈愛、憐憫、公義。我們要求的當然是自己的困境，雖然要解決，若是彰顯神的榮耀就必成就。

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How?

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.