Psalms 62

General context

The speaker says his soul truly waits on God, from whom his salvation comes; God only is his rock, salvation and defence, and he will not be greatly moved. He asks how long they will imagine mischief against a man, tells them they will all be slain, like a bowing wall and a tottering fence; they consult only to cast him down from his excellency, delight in lies, bless with their mouth and curse inwardly, Selah. He tells his soul to wait only on God, for his expectation is from him, and repeats that God only is his rock, salvation and defence, so that he will not be moved; in God are his salvation and glory, and the rock of his strength and his refuge are in God. He calls the people to trust in God at all times and pour out their heart before him, for God is a refuge for us, Selah. Men of low degree are vanity and men of high degree a lie; laid in the balance they are altogether lighter than vanity. The hearers are told not to trust in oppression or become vain in robbery, and not to set their heart on riches if they increase. God has spoken once and the speaker has heard it twice: power belongs to God, and mercy also belongs to the Lord, for he renders to every man according to his work.

Cited passages: Psalms 62:1, Psalms 62:2, Psalms 62:3, Psalms 62:4, Psalms 62:5, Psalms 62:6, Psalms 62:7, Psalms 62:8, Psalms 62:9, Psalms 62:10, Psalms 62:11, Psalms 62:12

Psalms 62 (KJV)

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Historical context

The text as printed here carries no heading; verse 1 opens with "Truly my soul waiteth upon God", so this source names no author, occasion or musical direction. The speaker is a single "I" who speaks about God in the third person until the last verse, where he turns to "O Lord" directly. He also addresses his own soul in verse 5, a group of plotters as "ye" in verse 3, and "ye people" in verse 8. The plotters are described only by their aim, to cast "a man" down "from his excellency", and their manner, blessing aloud and cursing inwardly; they are not named, and the text does not say what excellency is meant. Verse 11 reports a word from God, "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this", and gives its content as "power belongeth unto God", with mercy added in verse 12; no setting for that speech is given. The saying about men of low and high degree is the speaker's general claim, not a narrated event. Selah stands after verses 4 and 8.

Cited passages: Psalms 62:1, Psalms 62:12, Psalms 62:5, Psalms 62:3, Psalms 62:8, Psalms 62:4, Psalms 62:11, Psalms 62:9

Literary context

The word "only" governs the psalm. God "only" is rock and salvation at verse 2, the soul is told to wait "only" on God at verse 5, and the plotters "only" consult to cast a man down. The confession of verse 2 returns at verse 6 with one change: "I shall not be greatly moved" becomes "I shall not be moved". Between those two lines the enemies are pictured as things about to fall, "a bowing wall" and "a tottering fence", so that the one who will not be moved stands against those who cannot stand. The poem widens from the speaker's soul to "ye people" and then to all men, weighed in a balance and found lighter than vanity. Its warnings are against three trusts, oppression, robbery and riches, before its final claim that power and mercy belong to God. The close is a reported hearing, one word spoken and twice heard, and the last line turns from statement to address. Waiting, which opens the psalm, is placed against the enemies' plotting and the rich man's heart.

Cited passages: Psalms 62:2, Psalms 62:5, Psalms 62:4, Psalms 62:6, Psalms 62:3, Psalms 62:9, Psalms 62:10, Psalms 62:11

Key moments

1. My soul waits upon God (Psalms 62:1). The speaker says his soul truly waits on God, from whom salvation comes.
2. A bowing wall, a tottering fence (Psalms 62:3). He asks the plotters how long they will imagine mischief and tells them they will fall.
3. Bless with the mouth, curse inwardly (Psalms 62:4). The plotters delight in lies and curse inwardly while blessing aloud, and Selah follows.
4. I shall not be moved (Psalms 62:6). He repeats that God only is his rock and defence, now without the word greatly.
5. Pour out your heart (Psalms 62:8). The people are told to trust God at all times and pour out their hearts before him.
6. Lighter than vanity (Psalms 62:9). Men of low and high degree weighed in the balance are lighter than vanity.
7. Power belongs to God (Psalms 62:11). God has spoken once and the speaker has heard twice that power belongs to God.

For reflection

The speaker says God has spoken once and he has heard it twice, that power belongs to God, and then adds that mercy also belongs to the Lord; what would it mean to hear one word as two?

People in this chapter

• David

Also indexed here:

• Jeduthun