Scripture Daily

Context No. 3707 of 4322 · Psalms

Context · Reflection

Psalms 62:1-12: in context

1My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him. 2He alone is my rock, my salvation, and my fortress. I will never be greatly shaken. 3How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? 4They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. 5My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him. 6He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. 7My salvation and my honor is with God. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah. 9Surely 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. 10Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them. 11God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God. 12Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.

This psalm is a great statement of trust in God alone. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation; he only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. The repeated word is alone: God alone is the psalmist's security, not people, not wealth, not his own strength.

And he counsels others: trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. In contrast, he says, people of both low and high degree are but a breath; and riches, if they increase, are not to be trusted or loved. And the psalm ends with a settled conviction: God has spoken; power belongs to God, and to him also belongs steadfast love. Here is the anchor of the soul: the God to whom power belongs is also the God of steadfast love. We can pour out our hearts to him and wait in trust, because the God who is strong enough to save is also loving enough to care for us.

Does my soul wait in trust for God alone as my rock and refuge, pouring out my heart to the God to whom both power and steadfast love belong, rather than resting my security on people or wealth?

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