Psalm 62:8-12

The hearer learns from the second half of Psalm 62 (verses 8-12) that the psalmist's purpose is to teach his pupils or students by his own example, which he describes in the first part of the psalm (verses 1-7), that the only way to live for God is to trust in him alone (see verses 1-2, 5-6) in all of life's situations. Thus the author encourages his students in verses 8-12:

"Trust in him [Yahweh] at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Those of low estate are but a breath,
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
Put no confidence in extortion,
and set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
Once God has spoken;
twice I have heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord.
For your repay to all according to their work."

1. Human beings incline to put their confidence in their own devices, and to set their hopes on their own strategies, whether they are good (of low estate) or wicked (of high estate) (verses 9-10). The composer of Psalm 62 declares that the best human efforts and achievements are but a "breath" in the eyes of God (verse 9). Instead, he calls on his pupils to "trust in" Yahweh "at all times," under all circumstances, good or bad (verse 8; see Psalms 4:5; 9:10; Jeremiah 17:7-8).
2. To "pour out one's heart before Yahweh" (verse 8b) means to pray to him, especially in critical situations (see 1 Samuel 1:15; Lamentations 2:19). Because Yahweh is our "refuge" (verse 8c), he can protect us from all dangers (see verses 2, 6; Psalms 18:2; 46:1, 7, 11).
3. The source of all "power" and "steadfast love" is Yahweh (verses 11-12). Yahweh manifested these great characteristics in a definitive way when he delivered his people Israel from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 15:2, 13; see also Psalms 29:1, 11; 93:1; 98:1-3).
4. The last line in verse 12 does not mean that one "earns" salvation or divine blessings by living a godly life, but rather that one's destiny is inseparably connected to that person's manner of life. See 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12).
May God give us the wisdom and strength to trust in him alone under all circumstances.

John Willis