Psalms 63:2
To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
Psalms 63:2
In this verse, David longs to “see thy power and thy glory,” echoing the early verse’s hunger but shifting from personal thirst to a longing to witness God’s mighty works. The setting—David’s wilderness flight—frames power and glory as not only cosmic phenomena but attributes experienced in deliverance and presence. “As I have seen thee in the sanctuary” recalls prior seasons when God’s presence was manifest in the tabernacle or temple. The sanctuary symbolizes gathered worship and divine accessibility. Yet the psalmist declares a desire to witness God’s power beyond the sanctuary, indicating that God’s glory should move from a place to a person’s everyday life, especially in danger. The verse invites readers to anticipate encounters with God’s majesty in trustworthy moments of peril, recognizing God’s strength in weakness. It also foreshadows the Psalter’s broader arc: God’s glory is most vividly displayed in rescue, mercy, and steadfast love.
This line anchors God’s power and glory as fundamental to who He is and what He does. It reframes power not as domination but as deliverance, rescue, and faithful presence. The sanctuary motif underscores the biblical principle that worship fuels experiencing God’s character; what God does in the sanctuary reveals who He is in the world. The verse also circles back to the biblical drama of heighted revelation: seeing God’s power points toward trust in His redemptive purposes. For readers, it emphasizes that worship is not confined to a location but is nourished by God’s acts in history and in personal life. Theologically, it invites a robust anthropology: God’s power is a resource for human flourishing, especially in danger.
Look for God’s power in practical moments: a successful outcome after prayer, a restored relationship, or unexpected protection. When fear presses in, remind yourself that the God who was seen in the sanctuary is the same God who acts in your daily environments. Create reminders of God’s faithfulness—verse cards, stories, or testimonies—to “see” His power during ordinary days and extraordinary trials. In times of isolation or threat, recount God’s past deliverances as a lens for present trust. Worship can be a posture of thankfulness even before outcomes are visible, aligning with a posture of expectancy that God is at work.
Cross-References: Exodus 33:17-19; Psalm 27:4; Habakkuk 3:2; 2 Chronicles 20:6; Isaiah 40:9-10