TRV
Translation
Complete Jewish Bible
Yes, I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
American Standard Version
So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
World English Bible Messianic
So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name.
In the KJVVerse 14,844 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 63 verses 3–6
3 ¶ Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
How soon are David's complaints and prayers turned into praises and thanksgivings! After two verses that express his desire in seeking God, here are some that express his joy and satisfaction in having found him. Faithful prayers may quickly be turned into joyful praises, if it be not our own fault. Let the hearts of those rejoice that seek the Lord (Psa 105:3), and let them praise him for working those desires in them, and giving them assurance that he will satisfy them. David was now in a wilderness, and yet had his heart much enlarged in blessing God. Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise, if we have but a heart to it. Observe,
I. What David will praise God for (Psa 63:3): Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, than lives, life and all the comforts of life, life in its best estate, long life and prosperity. God's lovingkindness is in itself, and in the account of all the saints, better than life. It is our spiritual life, and that is better than temporal life, Psa 30:5. It is better, a thousand times, to die in God's favour than to live under his wrath. David in the wilderness finds, by comfortable experience, that God's lovingkindness is better than life; and therefore (says he) my lips shall praise thee. Note, Those that have their hearts refreshed with the tokens of God's favour ought to have them enlarged in his praises. A great deal of reason we have to bless God that we have better provisions and better possessions than the wealth of this world can afford us, and that in the service of God, and in communion with him, we have better employments and better enjoyments than we can have in the business and converse of this world.
II. How he will praise God, and how long, Psa 63:4. He resolves to live a life of thankfulness to God and dependence on him. Observe, 1. His manner of blessing God: "Thus will I bless thee, thus as I have now begun; the present devout affections shall not pass away, like the morning cloud, but shine more and more, like the morning sun." Or, "I will bless thee with the same earnestness and fervency with which I have prayed to thee." 2. His continuance and perseverance therein: I will bless thee while I live. Note, Praising God must be the work of our whole lives; we must always retain a grateful sense of his former favours and repeat our thanksgivings for them. We must every day give thanks to him for the benefits with which we are daily loaded. We must in every thing give thanks, and not be put out of frame for this duty by any of the afflictions of this present time. Whatever days we live to see, how dark and cloudy soever, though the days come of which we say, We have no pleasure in them, yet still every day must be a thanksgiving-day, even to our dying-day. In this work we must spend our time because in this work we hope to spend a blessed eternity. 3. His constant regard to God upon all occasions, which should accompany his praises of him: I will lift up my hands in thy name. We must have an eye to God's name (to all that by which he has made himself known) in all our prayers and praises, which we are taught to begin with, - Hallowed be thy name, and to conclude with, - Thine is the glory. This we must have an eye to in our work and warfare; we must lift up our hands to our duty and against our special enemies in God's name, that is, in the strength of his Spirit and grace, Psa 71:16; Zac 10:12. We must make all our vows in God's name; to him we must engage ourselves and in a dependence upon his grace. And when we lift up the hands that hang down, in comfort and joy, it must be in God's name; from him our comforts must be fetched, and to him they must be devoted. In thee do we boast all the day long.
III. With what pleasure and delight he would praise God, Psa 63:5. 1. With inward complacency: My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, not only as with bread, which is nourishing, but as with marrow, which is pleasant and delicious, Isa 25:6. David hopes he shall return again to the enjoyment of God's ordinances, and then he shall thus be satisfied, and the more for his having been for a time under restraint. Or, if not, yet in God's loving kindness, and in conversing with him in solitude, he shall be thus satisfied. Note, There is that in a gracious God, and in communion with him, which gives abundant satisfaction to a gracious soul, Psa 36:8; Psa 65:4. And there is that in a gracious soul which takes abundant satisfaction in God and communion with him. The saints have a contentment with God; they desire no more than his favour to make them happy: and they have a transcendent complacency in God, in comparison with which all the delights of sense are sapless and without relish, as puddle-water in comparison with the wine of this consolation. 2. With outward expressions of this satisfaction; he will praise God with joyful lips. He will praise him, (1.) Openly. His mouth and lips shall praise God. When with the heart man believes and is thankful, with the mouth confession must be made of both, to the glory of God; not that the performances of the mouth are accepted without the heart (Mat 15:8), but out of the abundance of the heart the mouth must speak (Psa 45:1), both for the exciting of our own devout affections and for the edification of others. (2.) Cheerfully. We must praise God with joyful lips; we must address ourselves to that and other duties of religion with great cheerfulness, and speak forth the praises of God from a principle of holy joy. Praising lips must be joyful lips.
IV. How he would entertain himself with thoughts of God when he was most retired (Psa 63:6): I will praise thee when I remember thee upon my bed. We must praise God upon every remembrance of him. Now that David was shut out from public ordinances he abounded the more in secret communion with God, and so did something towards making up his loss. Observe here, 1. How David employed himself in thinking of God. God was in all his thoughts, which is the reverse of the wicked man's character, Psa 10:4. The thoughts of God were ready to him: "I remember thee; that is, when I go to think, I find thee at my right hand, present to my mind." This subject should first offer itself, as that which we cannot forget or overlook. And they were fixed in him: "I meditate on thee." Thoughts of God must not be transient thoughts, passing through the mind, but abiding thoughts, dwelling in the mind. 2. When David employed himself thus - upon his bed and in the night-watches. David was now wandering and unsettled, but, wherever he came, he brought his religion along with him. Upon my beds (so some); being hunted by Saul, he seldom lay two nights together in the same bed; but wherever he lay, if, as Jacob, upon the cold ground and with a stone for his pillow, good thoughts of God lay down with him. David was so full of business all day, shifting for his own safety, that he had scarcely leisure to apply himself solemnly to religious exercises, and therefore, rather than want time for them, he denied himself his necessary sleep. He was now in continual peril of his life, so that we may suppose care and fear many a time held his eyes waking and gave him wearisome nights; but then he entertained and comforted himself with thoughts of God. Sometimes we find David in tears upon his bed (Psa 6:6), but thus he wiped away his tears. When sleep departs from our eyes (through pain, or sickness of body, or any disturbance in the mind) our souls, by remembering God, may be at ease, and repose themselves. Perhaps an hour's pious meditation will do us more good than an hour's sleep would have done. See Psa 16:7; Psa 17:3; Psa 4:4; Psa 119:62. There were night-watches kept in the tabernacle for praising God (Psa 134:1), in which, probably, David, when he had liberty, joined with the Levites; and now that he could not keep place with them he kept time with them, and wished himself among them.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 3–6. Public domain.
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Maximus of TurinAD 465
SERMON 50A.4
Therefore God gave us a pattern of fasting in this deed, so that having a desert, as it were, at the time of fasting we may abstain from feasts, pleasure and women, and so that Eve may not be joined with us so as to subvert us from chaste observance by her alluring persuasion. For he who fasts and is chaste at the time of the 40-day fast seems somehow to dwell in the desert. Clearly, that certain desert is the body of a Christian when it is not filled with food or watered with drinks, but is neglected by the squalor of thirsty starvation. The desert, I say, is our body when the flesh begins to grow weaker by abstinence, when pallor is overcome by thirst, and the unadorned appearance of the whole human being becomes dirty by the contempt of material things. Then Christ the Lord dwells in the desert of our body, when he has discovered our land squalid in hunger and dry by thirst, just as that adage which the prophet David says, “Just like in a deserted land where there are neither roads nor water, so I appeared in your sanctuary.” For we are not able to appear to him in the sanctuary in any other way, unless the land of our body has been made desert from worldly delights and without the roads made by devilish desires and without the water from libidinous allurements. Then the Savior, dwelling in this desert of our body, conquers all the factions of the devil and makes our body his own dwelling, safe and secure from the thoughts of this age, so that we may be constituted in solitude within our very selves, as it were, and see nothing but heaven and earth. That is to say, we think about nothing other than the Lord of the heavenly kingdom and the author of the earthly resurrection.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 63:4 encapsulates David's unwavering commitment to perpetual worship and adoration of God, even amidst profound personal hardship in the wilderness. It is a heartfelt vow to continually bless the Lord and to express this devotion through the ancient posture of lifting hands, signifying surrender, dependence, and praise offered in recognition of God's holy character and sovereign authority. This verse stands as a powerful testament to the psalmist's deep spiritual thirst and his resolute response to God's unfailing love with unceasing gratitude and active reverence throughout his entire life.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 63:4 employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The verse functions as a Vow or Pledge, where David solemnly commits to a course of action—lifelong praise—in response to God's goodness. This vow is absolute and unconditional, underscored by the phrase "while I live," emphasizing its enduring nature. The act of "lifting up my hands" serves as potent Symbolism, representing not only a physical posture of prayer and worship but also an outward manifestation of inward surrender, dependence, and an open heart. It is a Synecdoche, where a part (hands) stands for the whole person, indicating that David's entire being, body and soul, is engaged in this act of devotion. Furthermore, the entire psalm, leading up to this verse, utilizes Metaphor extensively, particularly the comparison of spiritual longing to physical thirst in a dry land, which then gives profound context to the subsequent declaration of satisfaction and praise.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 63:4 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of true worship and the human response to divine grace. It underscores that worship is not merely an activity confined to certain times or places but a continuous, life-encompassing posture of the heart and body, born out of a deep and satisfying experience of God's lovingkindness. David's vow to "bless thee while I live" speaks to the concept of covenant faithfulness, where the believer commits to a lifelong relationship of adoration and obedience. This verse also highlights the holistic nature of worship, encompassing both internal devotion and outward, physical expression. To worship "in thy name" points to the essential truth that genuine worship must be directed towards and grounded in God's revealed character and authority, rather than human constructs or fleeting emotions. It is a worship that acknowledges God's sovereignty and finds its foundation in His unchanging identity, providing a powerful example for believers to cultivate a worship life that is both deeply personal and biblically informed.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 63:4 offers a timeless blueprint for a vibrant spiritual life, especially in seasons of hardship. David's commitment to bless God "while I live" challenges us to consider worship not as an isolated event, but as an integrated lifestyle—a continuous posture of gratitude and reverence that permeates every aspect of our existence, regardless of our circumstances. Even in the "wilderness" moments of life, when we feel dry, weary, or isolated, this verse calls us to intentionally turn our hearts and hands towards God. The physical act of "lifting up my hands" serves as a powerful reminder that our worship can be embodied, a tangible expression of surrender, dependence, and open receptivity to God's grace. It invites us to humbly acknowledge our need for Him and to offer ourselves fully in praise. Furthermore, to worship "in thy name" compels us to deepen our understanding of who God is—His character, His promises, His authority—so that our praise is rooted in truth and not merely in emotion. This verse encourages an authentic, holistic, and enduring devotion to the God who satisfies our deepest longings, reminding us that true worship is a lifelong journey of responding to His inexhaustible goodness.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of "lifting up hands" in ancient worship?
Answer: Lifting up hands was a common and highly significant gesture in ancient Near Eastern and biblical worship. It symbolized a variety of meanings, including surrender to God's will, supplication (pleading for help or mercy), dependence on divine provision, and an open posture to receive blessings or offer praise. It was an outward, physical expression of an inward spiritual state of humility, reverence, and adoration. For example, Lamentations 3:41 speaks of lifting up both heart and hands to God, emphasizing the holistic nature of this act of worship.
How can I "bless" God, since He is already blessed and all-sufficient?
Answer: When humans "bless" God, it is not in the sense of bestowing favor upon Him or adding to His inherent glory, for God is already perfectly blessed and self-sufficient. Instead, for humans, to "bless" God means to praise Him, adore Him, acknowledge His goodness, declare His greatness, and express gratitude for His character and actions. It is an act of recognizing His supreme worthiness and responding with honor and reverence. It is an act of worship that acknowledges His sovereignty and goodness, as seen in Psalm 103:1, where the psalmist calls his soul to bless the Lord and not forget His benefits.
What does it mean to worship "in thy name"?
Answer: In biblical understanding, God's "name" represents His entire revealed character, His authority, His presence, and His very essence. To worship "in thy name" means that our worship is directed towards and grounded in who God truly is—His power, holiness, love, justice, faithfulness, and all His attributes. It implies that our worship is not based on our own feelings or interpretations, but on the truth of His revealed nature. It also means we worship by His authority and in reliance upon His presence. Proverbs 18:10 illustrates the strength and refuge found in God's name, signifying that to worship "in His name" is to worship in the secure knowledge of His unchanging character and to find refuge in His divine identity.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 63:4, with its profound declaration of lifelong praise and active worship "in thy name," finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent Worshiper, whose entire life was a seamless act of blessing the Father "while I live." From His incarnation to His ascension, Jesus perfectly embodied the spirit of continuous devotion, always doing the will of the Father and bringing Him glory (John 8:29). The act of "lifting up my hands" finds its deepest resonance in Christ's ultimate act of surrender and sacrifice on the cross, where He literally stretched out His hands, offering Himself as the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 19:18 and John 1:29). This was the supreme act of dependence and obedience to the Father's will, fulfilling the posture of complete surrender. Furthermore, our ability to worship "in thy name" is now uniquely realized through Christ. It is through the name of Jesus that believers have access to the Father (John 14:6), and it is in His name that we are empowered to pray, worship, and live (Colossians 3:17). The "name" of God, fully revealed in Jesus, becomes the very foundation and means of our worship, for "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Thus, David's ancient vow becomes a living reality for all who worship God through the Son, Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate expression of God's character and the perfect object and means of our praise.