Are you tired? I would guess that most of us would probably answer “yes” to that question, especially if you’re reading this on Monday morning, before you’ve had your coffee! Many of us are generally exhausted in life from trying to do too much. Even when our bodies get rest, our souls may not, if we’re not properly seeking that rest. If this is where you’re at, then Psalm 62 is definitely for you!
Verse 1 starts out by saying, “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” Where do you look to go when your soul seeks rest? Do you seek rest in distraction from the things of daily life? Do you seek rest in what this world offers, or in God? We usually try and find rest in other things than God. We try to replace Him with other things that we can see, feel, and touch in this world. If you’re trying to get rest and it doesn't work, maybe you're seeking rest in the wrong places. We are made to spend time with God. It’s how He created us. It just won't work when we try to replace that with other things.
Verse 2 tells us why we can find that true rest in God: “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” We may feel like we have a fortress in our house, our life, or our family. We may think these things will never be shaken. We may think we have everything, but we have nothing in comparison to everything else. Only God is meant to be our fortress, and He is the only one who will truly never be shaken, never be broken, and never be removed from our lives.
But we still need other believers around us to remind us of that truth. They can help us when it feels like everything is shaking and nothing is solid. They can steady us and remind us that when God is our foundation, He is solid rock beneath our feet and will never be shaken.
We see in verses 3-4 that other people are often unreliable: “How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down — this leaning wall, this tottering fence? 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.” These verses show us the contrast between mankind and God. While God is where we find rest, our rock, and our salvation, people often intend to bring destruction and cursing to us.
Verses 5-7 repeat the declaration of trust that we saw at the beginning of the psalm: “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.” When we see things repeated in the Bible, it’s usually for emphasis. These truths of God’s character always bear repeating, because we so often forget them and are unable to live them out fully in our lives!
Because of who God is, how should we respond? Verse 8 tells us: “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Mankind is unreliable, but God is always trustworthy and unfailing.
Verses 9-10 continue to tell us why humans are not as reliable as God: “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. Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” Whether people were born into lower or higher social status, they’re still sinful and perishing in this world. We may end up with physical riches in this world or we may not, but that’s not what’s important in God’s eyes.
To close the psalm in verses 11-12, the psalmist is reminded of God’s promises and character: “One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: ‘Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love’; and, ‘You reward everyone according to what they have done.’” We see the two truths here that God is both powerful and loving. Very rarely in this world are things both powerful and loving, but we see both of those all the time in God. We know that God will richly reward those who trust in Him.
What are you filling your life with? Are you truly resting in God, or are you filling your life with things that don't matter? We can easily fill life with things that don’t matter, and then we don't have room for the things that do matter. God is our rock and our salvation; allow your soul to find its rest in Him!
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