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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Psalm 62 Pulpit Commentary</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/psalms/62.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/psalms/62-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">Pulpit Commentary</a> > Psalm 62</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../psalms/61.htm" title="Psalm 61">◄</a> Psalm 62 <a href="../psalms/63.htm" title="Psalm 63">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Pulpit Commentary</div><div class="chap"><div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-1.htm">Psalm 62:1</a></div><div class="verse"><<To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.>> Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him <i>cometh</i> my salvation.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Truly my soul waiteth upon God;</span> rather, <span class="accented">my soul waiteth only upon God</span> (Revised Version). The initial word, <span class="accented">ak</span> (<span class="hebrew">אַך</span>), which occurs six times in this psalm (vers. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9), is best translated "only" in every instance. It always intensifies the word or phrase to which it is attached - "only upon God" - "only he" - "only from his excellency" - "only vanity." <span class="cmt_word">From him cometh my salvation</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/35-3.htm">Psalm 35:3</a>; <a href="/psalms/37-39.htm">Psalm 37:39</a>; <a href="/psalms/65-5.htm">Psalm 65:5</a>, etc.). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-2.htm">Psalm 62:2</a></div><div class="verse">He only <i>is</i> my rock and my salvation; <i>he is</i> my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He only is my Rock</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/61-2.htm">Psalm 61:2</a>, and the comment <span class="accented">ad loc</span>.). <span class="cmt_word">And my Salvation</span> (so <a href="/psalms/18-2.htm">Psalm 18:2</a>; <a href="/psalms/27-1.htm">Psalm 27:1</a>; <a href="/psalms/118-14.htm">Psalm 118:14, 21</a>). <span class="cmt_word">He is my Defence</span>; or, <span class="accented">my High Tower</span>, my Strong Hold. <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>I shall not be greatly moved.</span> Comp. ver. 6, where, with still greater confidence, the waiter declares, "I shall not be moved," <span class="accented">i</span>.<span class="accented">e</span>. not moved, or shaken in my faith, at all. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-3.htm">Psalm 62:3</a></div><div class="verse">How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall <i>shall ye be, and as</i> a tottering fence.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">How long will ye imagine mischief agaiust a man?</span> rather, <span class="accented">How long will ye assault</span> (or, <span class="accented">set upon</span>) <span class="accented">a man</span>? Attack him, that is - seek to do him grievous hurt, as ye are attacking me. <span class="cmt_word">Ye shall be slain all of you;</span> rather, <span class="accented">that ye may crush him, all of you together</span>. The hope of the conspirators under Absalom was in their <span class="accented">united</span> strength. <span class="cmt_word">As a bowing wall</span> shall ye be, and as <span class="cmt_word">a tottering fence.</span> The words supplied in the Authorized Version should be omitted. It is David who is viewed by his enemies as a bulged wall (see <a href="/isaiah/30-15.htm">Isaiah 30:15</a>) or a tottering fence, which it requires only a strong push to throw down. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-4.htm">Psalm 62:4</a></div><div class="verse">They only consult to cast <i>him</i> down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">They only consult to cast him down from his excellency;</span> <span class="accented">i</span>.<span class="accented">e</span>. they have no other thought but this - to cast me down from my high station, while I have no other thought but to trust in God, and to look to him for support and protection (vers. 1, 2, 6). <span class="cmt_word">They delight in lies.</span> Some indication of the "lies" circulated against David at this Time is given in <a href="/2_samuel/15-3.htm">2 Samuel 15:3-5</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/16-7.htm">2 Samuel 16:7, 8</a>. <span class="cmt_word">They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly;</span> literally, <span class="accented">they bless with his mouth</span>, which may be explained as meaning either, "They bless, each of them, with his mouth" (Kay, Cheyne), or "they Bless through the mouth of their leader " - <span class="accented">i</span>.<span class="accented">e</span>. Ahithophel (Canon Cook). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-5.htm">Psalm 62:5</a></div><div class="verse">My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation <i>is</i> from him.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 5-8.</span> - From the thought of his bitter enemies and their wicked machinations against him, the psalmist returns to expressions of his own full confidence in God - first falling back on almost the identical words of his opening stanza (comp. vers. 5, 6 with vers. 1, 2); then slightly varying them (ver. 7); and finally commending trust and confidence to the remnant of the people who continue faithful to God and to his anointed (ver. 8). <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">My soul, wait thou only upon God.</span> Compare the opening words of the psalm, which are nearly identical. <span class="cmt_word">For my expectation is from him.</span> "Expectation" here takes the place of "salvation" in ver. 1. Otherwise there is no difference. The God who has given salvation in the past is the Being from whom it is expected in the future. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-6.htm">Psalm 62:6</a></div><div class="verse">He only <i>is</i> my rock and my salvation: <i>he is</i> my defence; I shall not be moved.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 6.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He only is my Rock and my Salvation; he is my Defence; I shall not be moved</span>. Identical with ver. 2, except in the omission of the single word "greatly." The psalmist's confidence has increased. He feels now that, whatever his enemies may attempt, he will not be shaken at all. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-7.htm">Psalm 62:7</a></div><div class="verse">In God <i>is</i> my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, <i>and</i> my refuge, <i>is</i> in God.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">In God is my salvation and my glory.</span> The last phrase is new. The psalmist feels that the God who saves him, at the same time sheds on him glory and honour. <span class="cmt_word">The Rock of my strength, and my Refuge, is in God</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/9-9.htm">Psalm 9:9</a>; <a href="/psalms/57-2.htm">Psalm 57:2</a>; <a href="/psalms/94-22.htm">Psalm 94:22</a>, etc.). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-8.htm">Psalm 62:8</a></div><div class="verse">Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God <i>is</i> a refuge for us. Selah.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Trust in him at all times, ye people.</span> It is characteristic of David to join the "people" with himself in all his fears and in all his hopes. Even at the worst times, God had always some faithful ones in Israel - a "remnant" (<a href="/isaiah/1-9.htm">Isaiah 1:9</a>); and men of this sort clung to David through all his perils, and were sufficiently numerous to constitute a "people" (see <a href="/2_samuel/18-1.htm">2 Samuel 18:1-6</a>). <span class="cmt_word">Pour out your heart before him</span> (comp. <a href="/psalms/42-4.htm">Psalm 42:4</a>; <a href="/psalms/142-2.htm">Psalm 142:2</a>, etc.): <span class="cmt_word">God is a Refuge for us</span> (comp. ver. 7). </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-9.htm">Psalm 62:9</a></div><div class="verse">Surely men of low degree <i>are</i> vanity, <i>and</i> men of high degree <i>are</i> a lie: to be laid in the balance, they <i>are</i> altogether <i>lighter</i> than vanity.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 9-12.</span> - "Here the psalmist becomes didactic" (Professor Cheyne). He encourages the faithful, and warns the wicked, by the declaration that men of every sort "are but vanity" - have no strength, no permanence - while power belongs only to God. Those who "oppress" and "rob" are, consequently, not to be feared - there is no strength in riches - God alone determines the issues of things. Unto him belongs mercy, or loving kindness - a quality which leads him not only to forgive men their transgressions, but to "reward" them, when, by his assisting grace, they have done good works. <span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie;</span> rather, <span class="accented">only vanity</span> - or, <span class="accented">nought but vanity</span> - <span class="accented">are men of low degree</span>; common men, as we call them - mere sons of Adam. This is too evident for dispute; but, in the view of the psalmist, this is not the worst. "Men of high degree" (<span class="accented">beney ish</span>) are no better - they are "a lie" - an unreality - a fading, false illusion. <span class="cmt_word">To be laid in the balance</span>; rather, <span class="accented">in the balance, they go up</span> (Hupfeld, Ewald Hitzig, Revised Version). <span class="cmt_word">They are altogether lighter than vanity;</span> or, <span class="accented">altogether made out of vanity</span> (Kay); <span class="accented">i</span>.<span class="accented">e</span>. there is no substance, no solidity, in them. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-10.htm">Psalm 62:10</a></div><div class="verse">Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart <i>upon them</i>.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 10.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Trust not in oppression</span> (comp. ver. 3). The class that supported Absalom was the class of oppressors in Israel, whom David kept under and restrained as far as possible. The writer warns them against trusting in their power to oppress, since such strength as they have is not their own, but lent them by God. <span class="cmt_word">And become not vain in robbery;</span> or, <span class="accented">rely not vainly on robbery</span> (Kay). Do not suppose that God will allow you to continue oppressing and robbing. Such a belief is a vain illusion. <span class="cmt_word">If riches increase, set not your heart</span> upon them. Even when wealth accumulates naturally, and not as the result of ill-doing, it is not a thing to be trusted or set store by. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-11.htm">Psalm 62:11</a></div><div class="verse">God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power <i>belongeth</i> unto God.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 11.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this</span> (comp. <a href="/job/33-14.htm">Job 33:14</a>). When a thing is spoken twice, then assurance is made doubly sure. <span class="cmt_word">That power belongeth unto God.</span> God, <span class="accented">i</span>.<span class="accented">e.</span>, is the only ultimate Source of all power. </div> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/62-12.htm">Psalm 62:12</a></div><div class="verse">Also unto thee, O Lord, <i>belongeth</i> mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.</div><div class="comm"><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Also unto thee, O Lord,</span> <span class="cmt_word">belongeth mercy;</span> or, <span class="accented">loving kindness</span>. "Of Divine power all nature speaks; the knowledge of God's mercy rests mainly on revelation" (Kay). <span class="cmt_word">For thou renderest to every man according to his work.</span> When God rewards well doing, it is Still of his mercy, since no man can claim that he <span class="accented">deserves</span> reward. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span> </div></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database. 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