Psalms Chapter 62 For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by David.
1 My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.
2 He alone is my rock, my salvation, and my fortress. I will never be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
4 They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honour is with God. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.
10 Don't trust in oppression. Don't become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don't set your heart on them.
11 God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.
12 Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.
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Psalms Chapter 62 For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by David. Guide
In this psalm the principle of the last is yet more emphatically expressed. It opens with the declaration: My soul waiteth only upon God, and then proceeds in three stanzas to set forth this fact.
The first opens with the words we have already quoted, and is an affirmation of confidence made in the presence of enemies. Indeed, it is addressed to them, declaring the relation of defence which God bears to him, and appealing to them against their malicious onslaught. The sense of his enemies is with him as is evidenced in his words:
I shall not be greatly moved.
In the second stanza he addresses, fist, his own soul, and then appeals to the people, most probably those over whom he rules. To himself he repeats what he has said to his enemies about the relation of God to him; and this time, with his eye fixed on God, he reaches a higher level of confidence, and says:
I shall not be moved.
Finally, he puts the false helps on which men depend, in contrast with the only Help of man, who is God Himself. The false helps are "men of low degree," "men of high degree," "oppression," "robbery," "riches," and the weakness and uselessness of all are declared.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Psalms Chapter 62 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- David's confidence in God. -- (1-7)
- No trust to be put in worldly things. -- (8-12)
Verses 1-7
We are in the way both of duty and comfort, when our souls wait upon God; when we cheerfully give up ourselves, and all our affairs, to his will and wisdom; when we leave ourselves to all the ways of his providence, and patiently expect the event, with full satisfaction in his goodness. See the ground and reason of this dependence. By his grace he has supported me, and by his providence delivered me. He only can be my Rock and my salvation; creatures are nothing without him, therefore I will look above them to him. Trusting in God, the heart is fixed. If God be for us, we need not fear what man can do against us. David having put his confidence in God, foresees the overthrow of his enemies. We have found it good to wait upon the Lord, and should charge our souls to have such constant dependence upon him, as may make us always easy. If God will save my soul, I may well leave every thing else to his disposal, knowing all shall turn to my salvation. And as David's faith in God advances to an unshaken stedfastness, so his joy in God improves into a holy triumph. Meditation and prayer are blessed means of strengthening faith and hope.
Verses 8-12
Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when in doubt, to protect us when in danger, to supply us when in want, to strengthen us for every good word and work. We must lay out wants and our wishes before him, and then patiently submit our wills to his: this is pouring out our hearts. God is a refuge for all, even for as many as will take shelter in him. The psalmist warns against trusting in men. The multitude, those of low degree, are changeable as the wind. The rich and noble seem to have much in their power, and lavish promises; but those that depend on them, are disappointed. Weighed in the balance of Scripture, all that man can do to make us happy is lighter than vanity itself. It is hard to have riches, and not to trust in them if they increase, though by lawful and honest means; but we must take heed, lest we set our affections unduly upon them. A smiling world is the most likely to draw the heart from God, on whom alone it should be set. The consistent believer receives all from God as a trust; and he seeks to use it to his glory, as a steward who must render an account. God hath spoken as it were once for all, that power belongs to him alone. He can punish and destroy. Mercy also belongs to him; and his recompensing the imperfect services of those that believe in him, blotting out their transgressions for the Redeemer's sake, is a proof of abundant mercy, and encourages us to trust in him. Let us trust in his mercy and grace, and abound in his work, expecting mercies from him alone.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.