For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. [8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.] —Psalm 62:5-7 [8]
As you memorize this week's passage, pray, asking God to open your mind and heart to learn of Him from His Word and respond with deeper worship and trust in Him.
Observe the context
Psalm 62 is a psalm of King David’s trust in God in the midst of betrayal by those closest to him. It likely was written on the occasion of his son Absalom’s rebellion against him and the throne. There are clues in verses 3, 4, 9, and 10 that this conflict had been one of prolonged testing for David. Yet he reminds himself that man and man’s schemes for deliverance cannot be trusted, riches cannot be trusted, and even if the suffering is long, only God can be trusted completely, and at all times.
Follow the flow of thought
David turns the attention of his soul to God alone, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” (v. 5). David has complete confidence in God. He is preaching the truth to his soul to overcome the deception of fears and doubts in his time of trial. Psalm 62:5-8 was chosen as a “Fighter Verses” passage for this very reason, to help you in the fight of faith. You, too, can preach God’s word of security to your soul every day and let the truth of who God is silence all your fears.
Figurative language paints pictures of truth
God Himself is the one and only security to trust. Through the use of metaphors, David proclaims God’s faithfulness—God is “my rock, my fortress, my refuge, and my salvation.” When faced with oppression or persecution, oh, how we long for a place of stability, security, and deliverance. God who is our rock will keep us from being shaken. God who is our fortress and refuge will keep us safe. God who is our salvation will deliver us. Wait on Him. Trust in Him. (Notice the possessive pronouns in David’s declaration—David belongs to God and God is his God.)
Application: How do I wait on Him?
“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” Waiting on God is not static, but involves trusting Him, coming to Him in prayer, worshiping Him, serving Him, and accepting His invitation to be intimate with Him about what is in your heart. Can you hear Psalm 62:8 in Philippians 4:6-7? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
For Reflection
At times, perceived persecution or slights can cause temptation to self-pity. How is David’s anguish different? How is his response free from self-centeredness? In what ways can Psalm 62:5-8 help you fight against the sin of self-pity?
List some ways that waiting on God is different than other types of waiting (i.e. doctor’s waiting room, waiting for a late friend, waiting in traffic).
Accept God’s invitation to come to Him and pour out your heart before Him—He alone is your rock, your fortress, your refuge, and your salvation.
Portions of this article are taken from The Inductive Bible Study Handbook available from Truth78.