Psalm 62:1–12 (ESV):
1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse. Selah
5 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. Selah
9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.
How often do you silently wait?
David says, ‘For God alone my soul waits in silence’. When waiting, most people; complain, sigh, drum their fingers, stomp, groan or mutter, which increases their frustration. David, however, waits silently. Peacefully and patiently standing by for God to answer. How often do you do that - sit in the discomfort of waiting? I imagine it is more likely that most of us rush off to find solutions, sometimes even with the attitude of - “well, I prayed about it, God didn’t answer so I did x, y and z”. This leads to frustration, a decline in faith, and stress. If you learnt to wait for God, I wonder what answers you would get and I wonder what you would learn in the uncomfortable silence. David learnt to allow his soul to be at peace whilst he waited for he realised that, ‘from him comes my salvation’. When you ask God things, do you wait long enough and quietly enough for God to bring you answers and salvation?
‘’I shall not be greatly shaken’
Is this your testimony? Do the events of life, changes of circumstance greatly shake you? There is a difference between being shaken and greatly shaken. Being shaken is like being shocked, feeling off-guard, seeing the twist in the story and not being ready for it. Greatly shaken is like feeling like your whole world is falling apart. We can all get shaken, surprising and shocking things happen, how do they effect you? If you believe and trust in God, then the things of llifeg may shale you but you shouldn't become greatly shaken. If you do, consider what foundations your life is built upon. Are you trusting fully in God, or is there something else that you lean and rely on; family, money, job, position, health? These things are like ‘a tottering fence’, it doesn’t take much for them to let you down. Yet God is your rock, salvation and your fortress, so look to and depend upon Him, then you cannot be greatly shaken. A storm may come, the fence will fall, but a rock remains firm.
‘If riches increase, set not your heart upon them’
When money comes, it is easy to get distracted. Jesus himself tells us, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" (Mathew 19:24). An increase in money can easily become something that is relied upon. The world functions through money; you need it to buy; food, clothes, pay rent, bills, even fun and entertainment. So it is not easy to stop money having influence over your heart and mind, as you need it to function in this world. Times of blessing and abundance can breed danger for if you end up feeling happy and secure by having wealth, be careful that you haven't taken your mind and eyes off the One who has provided it. Money is fickle and will let you down, even if you feel like you have much. Instead put what you have in right perspective - just consider what you have in comparison to the riches of God! Your plenty is worth less than pennies to God, so look to Him, set your heart upon Him. Money is a resource, not a life source. So use it but do not allow your life to be built around it. God is the source of all things. So base your life, heart and mind on Him for money comes and money goes (just look at your bank account!). Yet God is stable and steadfast.
'power belongs to God’
Do not waste your time, money or effort trying to gain influence or power, for the source of these things is God. If you want to know what power looks like - look at Him. Consider His power, and the way He uses it. God’s power sustains and loves His creation. Power exists in order to take care of and nurture what God has made - this was God’s mandate for man in the beginning that as humans we should take care of the Earth, this is the responsibility he gave humanity. So whatever power you have, consider, what do you use it for? Are you intentionally using whatever influence and power you have to take responsibility for loving God and His creation? If you are a follower of God, you have responsibility to look after God’s interests. Therefore any power, role or responsibility you are given on Earth, be mindful of how you use it. ‘Power belongs to God’, so ensure that the influence you have is subjected to Him first, and use it as He sees fit. Power is not to be used for selfish gain or vain motives, but all power belongs to God. Therefore if you have been entrusted with some, ensure you honour God with how you use it. For God can give power and He can take it away. It belongs to Him, not you, you haven’t earned it, you don’t deserve it, and you may increase or decrease in it as you go through life for it belongs to God, therefore be a careful guardian of the influence you have. whilst you have it.
In this psalm there are some strong challenges to how you live life, how you use and respond to events, blessings, power and authority. Is all of it submitted to God? Do you, like David, trust in God alone?
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