Psalm 62: Concerns & Anguishes

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

[Preliminary Comments: Something to be noted about the psalms, especially those of David as this one is, is that there are often cries of the heart from the writer that are personal to his situation – which may not be to ours – but those things motivate the more general statements of faith and trust that we can take to ourselves.

In this psalm

• verses 1,2,5-8,11,12 are those more general statements of faith and trust,
• while v.3,4 are personal cries of David
• and v.9,10 apply to ungodly mankind, revealing the folly of ungodliness.]

v.1,2 The basic declaration of security

v.1 God is the source of rest and salvation

v.1 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

v.2 he is both our stability and security

v.2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

v.3,4 Personal concerns of David

v.3 David has the sense of being under pressure from others

v.3 How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

v.4 His enemies desire his fall as they share lies about him

v.4 Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.

v.5,6 The basic declaration of security reiterated with slight differences

v.5 Our testimony: He is both our rest and hope, provision now and for the future

v.5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

v.6 My stability, my deliverance, my security

v.6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

v.7,8 That declaration extended and thus a call to all people

v.7 I rely on Him for all these things

v.7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

v.8 A call to others to do the same

v.8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

v.9,10 The weaknesses & futility that exist in mankind

v.9 Whoever we are, we are nothing without Him

v.9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.

v.10 Wrong acquisitions are deceptive and folly

v.10 Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

v.11,12 Truths about God

v.11 God is All-Mighty

v.11 One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God,

v.12 He is also love, the one who blesses the righteous

v.12  and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.”

[Additional Comments: Go back through the psalm and distinguish the general principles or comments that can be applied to your life, from those things that were clearly specific to David at that time.]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: