FINDING REST IN GOD

Passage: Psalms 62:1-12

Key verse: 2

NIV

Psalm 62[a]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

1 Truly my soul finds rest(A) in God;(B)
    my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock(C) and my salvation;(D)
    he is my fortress,(E) I will never be shaken.(F)

3 How long will you assault me?
    Would all of you throw me down—
    this leaning wall,(G) this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
    from my lofty place;
    they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
    but in their hearts they curse.[b](H)

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;(I)
    my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God[c];
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.(J)
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;(K)
    pour out your hearts to him,(L)
    for God is our refuge.

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

11 One thing God has spoken,
    two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,(S)
12     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;(T)
and, “You reward everyone
    according to what they have done.”(U)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 62:1 In Hebrew texts 62:1-12 is numbered 62:2-13.
  2. Psalm 62:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  3. Psalm 62:7 Or / God Most High is my salvation and my honor
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

My Soul Waits for God Alone

To the choirmaster: according to (A)Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

62 For God alone (B)my soul (C)waits in silence;
    from him comes my salvation.
2 (D)He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my (E)fortress; (F)I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will all of you attack a man
    to batter him,
    like (G)a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his (H)high position.
    They take pleasure in falsehood.
(I)They bless with their mouths,
    but inwardly they curse. Selah

5 For God alone, O (J)my soul, wait in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
6 (K)He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my (L)salvation and my glory;
    my mighty rock, (M)my refuge is God.

8 (N)Trust in him at all times, O people;
    (O)pour out your heart before him;
    God is (P)a refuge for us. Selah

9 (Q)Those of low estate are but a breath;
    those of high estate (R)are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
    (S)they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
    (T)set no vain hopes on robbery;
    (U)if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

11 (V)Once God has spoken;
    (W)twice have I heard this:
that (X)power belongs to God,
12     and that to you, O Lord, (Y)belongs steadfast love.
For you will (Z)render to a man
    according to his work.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

This psalm was written at a time when David felt persecuted by deceitful people who spoke flattering words but secretly planned to knock him off the throne (4). David acknowledged his human weakness, calling himself a “leading wall” and “tottering fence” (3). Humanly, it was difficult for David to find any peace or rest in his position as a king.

Nevertheless, he confidently asserts that he is able to find rest for his soul in God as well as hope and salvation (1, 5). With God as his source of strength, his “fortress,” he will never be shaken. With this faith, David commands us to trust God at all times and warns us not to put confidence in our own schemes or earthly wealth. His ultimate trust is in the character of God who is powerful, loving, and just in rewarding people for what they have done (11, 12). Verses 1-2 and 5-6 are a chorus of confidence in God that we can repeat for ourselves. Let’s become strong in our inner selves in God our fortress!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the strength, hope, salvation, and rest we can find in you. Help me not to envy people who are humanly privileged or have great riches, for those things are temporary.

One Word: Find rest in God alone