Psalm 62
Firm confidence in God is here avowed. He is commended as
a high fortress of protection. The ruin of the ungodly is foreshown;
exhortations to trust in God follow, with recognition of His precious
attributes. May we be enabled to adopt His language as the feeling of our
souls!
1-2. "Truly my soul waits upon God; from Him comes my
salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall
not be greatly moved."
Amid all tossing conflicts and disturbing alarms, the
Christian has a home of sweet repose. He can recline on God, and feel that
everlasting arms are underneath him. This, amid all the troubles of his
troubled life, was David's sweet experience. He looked not to man; he
conferred not with flesh and blood. He knew that from God only sure
protection came. With overflowing joy he testifies, "He only is my rock and
my salvation. He is my defense." A rock high above all foes, immovable
against all assaults—salvation to the very uttermost from all the menaces of
man, from all the miseries of sin, from all the accusations of conscience,
from all the powers of Satan. Sheltered in Him, he had no fears that he
should be cast down; he might tremble when hard pressed, but he well knew
that he should not be greatly moved.
3-4. "How long will you imagine mischief against a
man? You shall be slain, all of you; you shall be as a bowing wall, and as a
tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency;
they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly."
From his high munition he expostulates with his crafty
foes. He foresees that their schemes will soon be overthrown—that all their
boasted prowess shall be crushed in ruins, as the wall falls whose
foundations are undermined, and as the weak fence which shakes beneath the
slightest touch. He avows his knowledge of their inward character—their plot
to subvert those whom God has exalted. Falsehood and curses are their
constant means of mischief.
5-7. "My soul, wait only upon God; for my expectation
is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall
not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength,
and my refuge, is in God."
By easy transit he reverts to God, and realizes his own
happy state. He calls upon his soul to utterly reject all other trust, and
to make God its only resting place. Faith glows in brighter blaze, and
renews expressions to testify the firmness of such hope. He recently had
stated that he had no fears of being "greatly moved;" but now he rejoices in
the persuasion that he shall not be moved at all. What God was to David, the
same is He yesterday, today, and forever. Let us fan by all means this
persuasion into the strength of full assurance. Then we shall lift high our
heads above surrounding troubles.
8. "Trust in Him at all times; you people, pour out
your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us."
Faith ever strives to win others to partake in its
delights. Here others are exhorted at all times to repose their confidence
in God. Let them restrain no feeling. Let them hide no distress. Let them
pour forth all their woes. Let their inmost need be referred to Him. Let
their whole hearts be opened to His view. He will not turn away. He will
give audience. His arms will be a sure and ready refuge.
9-10. "Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of
high degree are a lie; to be laid in the balance, they are altogether
lighter than vanity. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in
robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart upon them."
Disappointment is the lot of those who turn from God to
man. No sure help can ever be derived from such source. Survey our total
race from highest station to the lowest grade. Weigh them together in the
balances of truth. How worthless is their accumulated weight! One
inscription marks them all—"Vanity of vanities. All is vanity."
If wealth is hoarded, and iniquitous means obtain it, let
the heart scorn it. There is no real help in it.
11-12. "God has spoken once; twice have I heard this,
that power belongs to God. Also unto You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You
render to every man according to his work."
Blessed be God, He has revealed Himself! Again and again
His attributes are set before us. Let them be our constant study and our
constant trust. They tell us of His POWER. It is omnipotent. Is it not then
sure protection? They tell us of His MERCY. It has no bounds. Will it not
extend to us? They tell us, also, that soon the JUDGMENT will be set and the
books opened, and we shall be judged out of those things which are written
in the books, according to our works.