For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 62:1-8

1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I shall never be shaken.

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

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honour depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.

A. Find Out:    

1. How does the psalmist first describe God? v.1,2
2. What were men trying to do? v.3
3. How were they two-faced? v.4
4. What did he see as the answer to this? v.5
5. How would this work out in practice? v.6,7
6. What did he counsel others to do? v.8

B. Think:

1. What problem with people was the psalmist having?
2. How was the Lord the answer to this problem?

C. Comment:

Observe first of all what this psalm shows us about man. The psalmist himself sees himself as a leaning wall, a tottering fence i.e. one who is easily pushed over (v.3). He is first of all aware of his own weakness and vulnerability. Next he describes those who are against him, trying to get him down with lies (v.4), who speak nicely face to face but who inwardly hate him.

Thus we see the frailty of the righteous and the hypocrisy and evil of the unrighteous. Second, see how the psalmist views the Lord. His knowledge of the Lord leads him to be able to describe Him as one who is the support of his very life (my rock) and that support saves him from going down (my salvation) (v.5,6). Even more the Lord protects him (my fortress) from the attacks of the enemy.

Third, we see the consequences of this experience and this knowledge. The psalmist is able to rest in this knowledge of the Lord, knowing that though the enemy may come against him, the Lord will support, save and protect him. Thus there IS hope for the future, the enemy will not overcome. Yet there is one further thing: “pour out your hearts to him” (v.8) comes the psalmist’s advice that was later echoed by the apostle Paul (Philippians 4:6,7). When you receive opposition, pour your heart out to the Lord, trust in Him; let Him be your rock & fortress.

D. Application?

1. Feel frail? Run to the Lord. Let Him become your rock.
2. Resting in His support, salvation and protection?

Passage: Psalm 62:9-12

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

11 One thing God has spoken,
    two things I have heard:
‘Power belongs to you, God,
12     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love’;
and, ‘You reward everyone
    according to what they have done.’

A. Find Out:

1. Who does he contrast & with what conclusion? v.9
2. What three things does he say not to do? v.10
3. How much did God speak & how much do he hear? v.11a
4. What was the first thing? v.11b
5. What was the second thing? v.12a
6. What does he conclude? v.12

B. Think:

1. Why does he write off contrasting stations in life?
2. What also does he decline?
3. How does verse 12 respond to that?

C. Comment:

In the first part of the psalm David referred again and again to God as his rock or fortress, a place of stability and security. Now he looks at the things he will not rely upon. He considers first the different stations in life that men hold (v.9). There are the lowly who are like a breath, they come and go with little effect. But then there are those from so-called noble families, yet all their affluence merely covers up what they’re really like. Both of them really account for little.

But then you might be attracted by the wealth of the rich man. Get rich quick is the worlds’ dictum, often by illegal means (v.10). No, he says, even if you do make money, don’t put your trust in it. Then he testifies. God spoke one thing – that he is great and powerful – hence he trusts Him to be his fortress. (v.11)

But he’s also heard in himself that God is a loving God (v.12). It’s not what he’s been told, but it’s what he’s learnt. What an amazing testimony from an Old Testament saint! And because God is loving, David doesn’t need to worry about getting riches. If he just trusts in God and commits his way to Him, the Lord will look after him, the Lord will provide for him, the Lord will reward him.

D. Application:

1. The world’s values are false and worth little.
2. Being esteemed by God, as His child is worth everything, and knowing that sonship means we can trust Him to provide.