Psalms62

New American Standard

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¹ My soul waits in silence for God alone; From Him comes my salvation.

² He alone is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I will not be greatly shaken.

³ How long will you attack a man, That you may murder him, all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

⁴ They have planned only to thrust him down from his high position; They delight in falsehood; They bless with their mouth, But inwardly they curse. Selah

⁵ My soul, wait in silence for God alone, For my hope is from Him.

⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation, My refuge; I will not be shaken.

⁷ My salvation and my glory rest on God; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

⁸ Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

⁹ People of low standing are only breath, and people of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up. Together they are lighter than breath.

¹⁰ Do not trust in oppression, And do not vainly rely on robbery; If wealth increases, do not set your heart on it.

¹¹ God has spoken once; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God;

¹² And faithfulness is Yours, Lord, For You reward a person according to his work.

Study

Psalms 62

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 62. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: David's confidence in God. (1–7). No trust to be put in worldly things. (8–12).

vv1-7

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.

vv8-12

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.

Key Words

choirmasterH5329Hebrew

נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent

JeduthunH3038Hebrew

יְדוּתוּן: Jeduthun, an Israelite

PsalmH4210Hebrew

מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes

DavidH1732Hebrew

דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse

GodH430Hebrew

אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

aloneH389Hebrew

אַךְ: a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only

soulH5315Hebrew

נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)

waitsH1747Hebrew

דּוּמִיָּה: stillness; adverbially, silently; abstractly quiet, trust

salvationH3444Hebrew

יְשׁוּעָה: something saved, i.e. (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity

rockH6697Hebrew

צוּר: properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous)

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