Psalm 62:1-7

The composer of Psalm 62 has vicious enemies who are determined to "bring him down" (verse 4). They use "falsehood" or deceit to accomplish their purpose; their mouths say one thing (they bless), but their hearts another (they curse) (verse 4; see James 3:9). Caught in the middle of this conspiracy against him or her, the psalmist trusts in God "alone" (verses 1-2, 5-6), and calls on his faith community to do the same (verse 7). The first unit of this psalm is verses 1-7, which contains a recurring refrain or chorus in verses 1-2 and 5-6.

"For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall never be shaken.
How long will you assault a person,
will you batter your victim, all of you,
as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence.
They take pleasure in falsehood;
they bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse.
For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honor;
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God."

1. There is a striking contrast in Psalm 62 between the "ONLY" plan of the psalmist's enemies [to bring down the psalmist] (verse 4) and the author's trust in God "ALONE" (verses 1-2, 5-6). While many who face distress turn to friends, counselors, inner determination, strategy, and the like, this singer turns to God alone.
2. Because the psalmist trusts in God alone, she or he can be calm ("wait in silence"--verses 1, 5) and rest assured she or he "shall never be shaken" (verses 2, 6; see Psalms 15:5; 16:8; 21:7; 46:5; 112:6). Her or his enemies keep "battering" the psalmist while she or he is down and out, as one would tear down a leaning wall or a tottering fence (verse 3), but the psalmist stands firm because of Yahweh's protection and power (see Philippians 4:13).
3. The author of Psalm 68 refers to Yahweh as his "salvation" (verses 1, 2, 6), "rock" (verses 2, 6, 7), "fortress" (verses 2, 6), and "refuge" (verses 7, 8), all terms of protection which appear often in the Psalter (see for example, Psalms 18:2, 46; 31:1-3; 94:22).
4. Strikingly, the psalmist addresses his or her enemies in verses 3-4, charging them with merciless cruelty (verse 3) and blatant deceit (verse 4). A major ploy of the wicked is to SAY positive things toward others while PLOTTING negative things against them (see Jeremiah 12:2; Titus 1:16). This is the way many professed "religious" leaders attain the positions and realize the aspirations that they have in life. But, as the psalmist declares in verse 12: "God repays to all according to their work."
May God help us to be genuine, and to trust in him alone.

John Willis