Psalm 62 gives praise to God by drawing a strong contrast between 1) God, who is strong, stable, and substantial, and 2) man, who is weak, unstable, and insubstantial. By men David means a) evil men (v.3-4), b) all men (v.9), and c) himself (v.3) who he describes as a “leaning wall” and “tottering fence”. And yet, because he “waits…for God only” (v.1, 5), that is he trusts in God rather than men (v.9) or things (v.10), he “shall not be greatly shaken.” (v.2)
This is indeed the theme of the psalm: Trust God rather than man or things. Matthew Henry wrote, “We are both in the way of duty and comfort when our souls wait upon God…” I wait for His timing, His way, His provision, His defense, His wisdom, His understanding, His justice, and ultimately His salvation. The basis of our trust is twofold: 1) His Word wherein His attributes, works, and promises are recorded, and 2) our experience of Him wherein He proves His Word in our walk before Him. The latter can never inform the former, but our experience does fortify and deepen our trust. The result is as follows: The Word declares that He is good. He has been good to me. Therefore, I may trust fully that He will be good to me. Afterall, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
Take note of the structure of the psalm, which is after all a poem to be sung. It begins with a refrain of trust in verses 1 and 2 which is repeated in verses 5 and 6, though with some variation. Starting thus, “My soul waits in silence for God only” (v.1), David communicates the way in which he trusts in God. In battle, David no doubt moved and was at the ready with his weapons and slashed both offensively and defensively. He was a man of action. But here he sits or bows in anticipatory trust. And for what or who does he wait? He waits for God, not salvation. He knows that when God comes and when God acts, He will bring salvation, but David’s focus is on God. Though best and ultimate is eternal, spiritual salvation, I do not believe, based on what David does and says that he does not also mean physical salvation. There are just too many times when he calls on God to rescue him in and from situations. The skeptic and doubter will immediately throw exceptions on this blaze, but God does rescue His own and help them in time of trouble. He does also allow them to take hits for His glory and their greater good. I am thankful that I may ask for rescue as He has helped me many times.
The variation in the refrain is of interest. The first time he says, “From Him is my salvation,” while the second time he says, “For my hope is from Him.” (v.1, 5) This looks like Hebrew parallelism to me, which means he is saying the same thing with difference in emphasis. He does a similar thing with the other variation. He says, “I shall not be greatly shaken”, but then says, “I shall not be shaken.” (v.2, 6) Is his faith strengthening at the thought of God’s protection? A fright may shake us from our composure temporarily, but we will not ultimately be shaken, for God is able to keep us unto salvation (2 Timothy 1:12).
The psalm ends with an admonition. I like best the translation of verse 11 and 12 from the Wycliffe Bible: “God spake once, I heard these two things; that power is of God (that power belongeth to God), and, thou Lord, mercy is to thee; for thou shalt yield to each man by his works. (and, O Lord, that true love is from thee; for thou shalt yield to each person according to his works.)” The center notes for the NASB agree with this rendering and it makes more plain sense, namely that there were two things in the one pronouncement. Those two things are power and mercy belong to, and therefore are implied to have come from, God. The last phrase grates upon our “by grace alone through faith alone” hearing: “For you recompense a man according to his work.” (v.12) Works prove the faith present (see James 2:14-26). It is God who saves, in whom we should trust, the very point of this psalm.
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