Verse 7
"When I remember You on my bed, in the night watches I meditate on You."
"My bed" is where he lies down; "the night watches" are the hours into which the night is divided. Even at night, lying alone in the dark, David remembers God and meditates on Him. The quiet hours of the night become hours of closeness.
Verse 8
"For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy."
"You have been my help" — You were the help I needed. "The shadow of Your wings" is an image of shelter and protection, like a bird covering its young with its wings. "I sing for joy" means I sing with gladness. Out of the feeling of protection, the song itself is born.
Verse 9
"My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me."
"My soul clings" — my soul holds fast to You with all its strength, without letting go. "Your right hand upholds me" — Your right hand supports me so that I do not fall. The more a person clings to God, the more upheld and secure he feels.
Verse 10
"But those who seek to destroy my soul shall go down to the depths of the earth."
"Those" are the enemies. "Seek to destroy my soul" means they seek to end my life. "The depths of the earth" is the deep, the place of falling. David is sure that whoever pursues him for evil will himself fall into the depth he planned for others.
Verse 11
"They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for foxes."
"They shall fall by the sword" — their blood shall be poured out by the sword. "A portion for foxes" means prey for the foxes of the field. This is a hard picture of the downfall of those who chose the way of violence and wickedness.
Verse 12
"But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by Him shall glory, for the mouths of liars shall be stopped."
"The king" is David himself. "Shall rejoice in God" — his joy is not in victory alone but in God. "All who swear by Him" — all who are faithful to God shall glory and be strengthened. "The mouths of liars shall be stopped" — the mouths of the liars will be shut and silenced. Truth wins, and joy overcomes all.
Psalm 63, Part 2, teaches that true clinging to God gives three things together: closeness in the night, security in the face of danger, and a joy that does not depend on circumstances. Whoever's soul clings to God knows that there is One who upholds him, and that truth will win in the end — and so he can sing even in the dark. This is the beautiful movement of the whole chapter: from thirst in the wilderness, through clinging in the night, to a joy that overcomes fear. Whoever holds on to God, God holds on to him.