This little poem may pass unnoticed in the shadow of some of the better known Psalms, but it is a genuine treasure of devotion to God. The author collects a dazzling array of images to speak of his relation to God. He is overcome by what God means to him and is exuberant in his affirmations of joyful fidelity to the Lord. Any reader could benefit by pondering these words and striving to make them his own expression of relation to God.
A superscription associates this psalm with a wilderness of experience of David, either the flight from Saul (1 Samuel. 23:14f.; 24:1) or from Absalom (2 Samuel 15:23, 28; 16:2). It is widely acknowledged that these headings are later scribal additions, with no necessary basis in fact. Yet it is fascinating to consider this verse a psalm for any whom life has placed “in the wilderness.”
He is overcome by what God means to him...
The psalm does depict a problem. The author has those who seek to destroy him. But they do not rise to dominance in the psalm. Indeed, they seem only gnat bites compared to the poet’s relation to God.
The occasion and authorship of the psalm have remained perplexing, in part because of attempts to fathom the meaning of the reference to the king in the last verse. But none of these puzzlements turn the reader away from the blazing message of trust in God.
The psalm may best be divided into three sections. Verses 1-4 bless God upon remembrance of his power, glory, and steadfast love. Verses 5-8 collect a series of images denoting the absolute satisfaction which God gives the author. Verses 9-11 speak of the defeat of the author’s enemies, in the context of a reference to the king.
The psalmist pictures himself in a desert waste, dry and weary, desperate for moisture and sustenance. This image of the most intense kind of desire describes his yearning for the relationship with God with its attendant blessings. This illustration at once alerts the reader that this is no ordinary desire, but one that consumes his total being (cf. Ps. 42:1). The dry and weary land forms a powerful parallel to the “depths of the earth” to which the evil go (vs. 9).
The sanctuary was a place where God’s presence was shown in significant ways. There were reminders of God’s past goodness; the presence of those who worshiped God; and a continuing sense of his dealings with his elect people. These and other things all shouted to the poet of God’s power and glory. The blessings of the sanctuary are most powerfully obvious to those like the author who have eyes to see.
What is more valuable than life itself? This is not a question to be answered lightly. For the poet it was God’s steadfast love — his covenant love, shown in so many ways. This sanctuary reflection leads the author to burst into praise, a praise which will be life long. The reading for the lifting of the hands is uncertain, but a most likely conjecture is that it was done in the expectation of receiving divine blessings.
The writer has spoken of his great desire, and now he addresses the great satisfaction that comes with the fulfillment of that desire. “Marrow and fat” may not appeal to many moderns, but to the author it indicated a sumptuous and plentiful banquet of the richest sort. The guest at this delightfully provisioned feast praises joyfully. This is the third consecutive verse in which the author has burst forth in praise.
Several experiences build upon the idea in verse five and lead to the powerful statement in verse eight. Beyond the experiences of daylight hours, that of the rich relation to God blesses the author in the retirement hours. God’s help has been so wonderful it is compared to the shelter implied by “shadow of thy wings.” It is not surprising the author “clings” to God, As he holds tenaciously to God, he is upheld by God’s right hand in return.
If one were to collect from verses 1-8 all the ways the psalmist has spoken of his relation to God it would provide an overwhelming expression of a person whose life was absolutely and joyfully centered in God.
Now the mood of the psalm becomes more somber. Even the joyful experience of God did not mean life was devoid of darker moments. There are those who would destroy the author’s life, but we know nothing beyond this of the nature of their evil intents. The help of God has delivered the writer. His foes will go down into the depths of the earth. This may not literally refer to their deaths, but clearly indicates that any power they might wield against the poet is brought to nothing. The thought is strengthened by the image of the sword — perhaps defeat in battle — and by describing their corpses, unburied, being ravaged by jackals. This was considered a terrible disgrace.
Now, previously unannounced, there is a reference to the king. It is possible those mentioned in verses nine and ten were his enemies. The reference to the king may also be a way of saying that the blessings indicated in the psalm were not just for the individual, but for the nation.
The swearing in the second line, though it may refer to an oath to the king, may more likely be an oath to God — or even to both.
Devotional Applications
God longs to draw us into a deep and satisfying relationship where we find that our most earnest yearnings are fulfilled in our relationship with this all-powerful and yet very near God.
It is good for us to think of all the ways that God has blessed, satisfied, sustained, redeemed, and saved us and then speak those to him in praise and prayer. Personal language, as well as community language, are important in our praise.
Even the most blessed life, a life full of God and worship, will sometimes be clouded by enemies of God and his people. During these times, or doing difficult times for whatever reason, praising God and remember his countless blessings brings us back to a deeper faith in our God who has repeatedly proved himself faithful.
Title: "Praise in the Wilderness"
Author: Dr. Tony Ash
Publication Date: February 3, 2002
Praise in the Wilderness
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