Psalm 62 Commentary
In times of adversity, the saint learns that only God can be trusted. He alone protects and saves the saint. There is exclusivity to the claim.
This Psalm uses different terms to describe God: Protector, Savior, Defender, Shelter, Refuge, and loving. These qualities flow from the saint’s needs: protection, salvation, security, shelter, and love.
Without adversity (real or mere threat), humanity would have never known God as the Protector and Savior.
The world provides countless fake solutions for various human needs. Money tops the list. Violence would be another. But the scripture commands, “Even if your riches increase, don’t depend on them.”
“Don’t put your trust in violence.”
Violation of rules. Violation of the Law. Violence and violation have the same root. Don’t get what you want by breaking the Law of God.
“Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress.” Will the psalmist make the same statement without adversity? We doubt. The statement is tightly linked to his needs for salvation.
The last verse gives us a different picture. While we see a superhero in God, God sees an object of love in man. The terms “mercy” and “compassion” suggest intimacy from God’s end.
Yes, there is power to save. There is also a willingness to protect. But all of these exist because God loves individual human beings.
How do we respond to God’s interventions? We can love it as a welcome relief. But importantly, we can look at God’s love and seek help to reconnect to this loving Father, the Creator God.
In Jesus, both are achieved. The cry for salvation becomes the cry for life – an escape from perpetual adversity.
More resources visit www.lovingscripture.com
LOVING SCRIPTURE 