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

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

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