Psalm 62 - God alone

I hope that we have all taken a few minutes in our prayer and study times to re-read Psalm 62. 

In our "library" here at home, we have some older books that I enjoy reading when I have time. I like to read works by Pope, by Keats, and by Samuel Johnson. I once saw a quote by Johnson that came to mind as I studied David's psalm. In the late 1700's, a clergyman was condemned to be hanged for a crime, and wrote one last sermon while in prison. It was thought to be far better than any of his other sermons, and Dr. Johnson commented on why: "Depend upon it, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully." 

Not to be macabre, but I think David is facing death in Psalm 62, and it does "concentrate his mind" so that he offers this psalm with a theme that will help us in our perilous days.

Now, there is a difficulty in applying this psalm. Quite frankly, very few of us has yet been in the dire straits that David was in. Those days may be ahead of us, it's true, but most of us have not yet experienced them. It's hard to relate to evil men threatening to not only take David's throne, but to kill him, as well.

Yes, they were planning to murder David. They said things like," He's like a leaning wall or tottering fence. Just a push. Just sneeze hard. He'll go down!"  So, David's mind was "wonderfully concentrated" to write this psalm. And the theme is this: in the most threatening times, we can still be at peace if God alone is our salvation and refuge.

The main idea of the psalm is that there are right and wrong things to put our faith in. If we are trusting in God, we are secure. If we are trusting in men, or in things, we are depending on things that are lighter than "breath" or "vain" to hope in:

Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
    the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
    together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
    or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
    do not set your heart on them. (vs 9-10)

It's interesting that this psalm is different from some we have studied, in that there is no prayer in it. But it reveals such an undisturbed peace! It shows a confidence in God that is unshaken, and an assurance in His care that is absolute!  But I believe it's BECAUSE of prayer that David had this peace, this confidence, and this assurance in his Lord. The clue to this is in verse eight:

Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge. (v. 8)

We all want to have the peace that David had in his time of crisis. And as we studied last week, there ARE dangerous times ahead for believers. The key to peace is trust in God alone.

Trust in God only.

A tiny Hebrew word that is repeated throughout the psalm for emphasis. David hammers home the truth that we will enjoy God's peace in the middle of life's most dangerous, most threatening moments when God only -- God alone -- is our refuge. We all struggle to get to that place; it's easier said than done! David himself struggled to remain in that special place. In this two-week study, let's try to focus on how to get to (and stay in) that place of complete trust in God alone.

Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)