God Alone

My love for the Psalms continues to grow. I know some have difficulty getting past the poetry, but the Psalms are also real and raw expressions from the heart – both praise and lament. They voice what most of us feel at one time or another. In both the praises and laments, the Psalmists repeatedly declare God’s character. There is comfort in knowing someone else has felt the way you do as well as comfort in who God is.

I have been drawn to the Psalms personally as I pray for family and friends who are grieving lost loved ones, struggling with debilitating or life-threatening health issues, abusive relationships, and difficult work situations. The Psalms remind me that God is present and personal in each of these situations. He draws near to those who are hurting.

This past week Psalm 62:8 was part of my devotions. I jotted it down. Later, I read the whole Psalm and wanted to share it, although my focus is on verses 5-8. I would encourage you to read the entire Psalm too (it’s only 12 verses!) and to write out all the “God is” truths.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in Him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

David begins the Psalm with “For God alone my soul waits in silence;” Most of us do not like to wait. We want to act. We want to control our situation. David was quiet before God. He waited for God. Likewise, our first response in both a good circumstance or a trial should be to go to God in prayer and to meditate on God’s Word. We will look at this more, but in verse 8, David says, “Trust Him at all times, O people;” Our quiet waiting for God is to trust Him with our circumstance. Prayer and Scripture help keep our mind and hearts waiting for and trusting God.

In verses 3 and 4, David describes his enemies. These enemies are people that are close enough to bless David to his face while attacking him behind his back. In verse 3, “to batter” means to murder, kill, or assassinate. There was a physical threat against David. In verse 4, his enemies are attacking his reputation and standing. Your circumstance may be different from David’s, but whatever your specific situation, God still speaks to you in this Psalm.

In verse 5, David repeats that he is waiting for God in silence, but there are a couple notable differences compared to verse 1. In verse 1, David used the indicative for wait. It was a statement of what he was doing. In verse 5, David used the imperative for wait. He is commanding his soul to wait quietly for God. There are times when we wait well. There are other times (vs 5), where we need to remind ourselves – command ourselves - because we are struggling with waiting for God.

Another difference is between verses 2 and 6. In both David proclaims that he shall not be shaken, but in verse 2 he adds greatly shaken. In verse 6, David leaves out greatly. He will not be shaken at all. I can’t tell you what was going through David’s mind when he wrote verse 6 and left out greatly, but for me, I look at all the “God is” statements in Psalm 62, and I can understand why David could say he would not be shaken, and how he could tell others to trust in God at all times (vs 8).

I hope you did your “God is” list, but I’m going to share what I found: God is holy (alone), personal (my), salvation, rock, fortress, hope, glory, mighty rock, refuge, trustworthy, relational (speaks, vs 11), powerful and steadfast love. Some of those characteristics are even repeated in the Psalm. This was David’s God. This is my God. This is your God. It doesn’t matter what your circumstance is, God is able. God is with you. God is for you. You can trust him. You will not be shaken, not because of your own strength, but because of who God is and your identity in Him.

In verse 8, David gives two instructions and one assurance. First, he tells us to trust in God at all times. Four times in this Psalm, David says God alone, He alone or He only. You could also add “On God rests…” from verse 7. How often do we look to ourselves, to others or to things for our rescue, provision, and security? Anything or anyone we look to besides God is a heart idol (vs 10b). David knows that it is God alone that can help him. This is contrasted with verses 9 and 10 where people look to their standing, other people, or their money for security. David calls such things a breath and a delusion.

In comparison, power and steadfast love belong to God. God alone is omnipotent to bring about His will for you. God alone wields His power with His steadfast love. David uses other words that also speak to God’s power when he calls God his rock, fortress, refuge, and mighty rock. God alone is our strong salvation.

Second, David encourages us to pour out our hearts before God. Jesus our High Priest made a way by His atoning work on the cross for us to come near to the throne of grace to receive mercy and grace in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). We can cry out to our loving Father knowing that He hears us. Paul commands us, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” As we pour out our hearts before God in trust, He will give us His amazing peace that guards our hearts and minds.

Lastly in verse 8, David assures us by declaring God to be our refuge. He is our safe place to run to. Our safe place to cry out to. Our protected place to be renewed, strengthened, rescued, loved, and given peace so we can wait for God quietly.

In Psalm 62, we have David’s example, but even more, we have Jesus’ example. He can sympathize with us in every way because He took on flesh and became fully God and fully man. He experienced physical pain and hardship. He knew loss. He was betrayed and rejected. He grieved. In all this, Jesus never sinned. He waited for and trusted His Father perfectly every time, every circumstance, so that you and I could be reconciled to the Father. We have guaranteed hope that one day we will see final salvation. We will be free from this broken, sin-crushed world. We will be made new. We will forever be with God. There will be a new heaven and a new earth with no more sin, death, mourning, crying, or pain. Maranatha! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Reflections

1. Who or what do you look to for help? Relationships? Job? Money? Security? Reputation? Your own achievements? Or God alone?

2. Which of the “God is” truths encouraged you the most in your circumstance? Why?

3. Do you ever pour out your heart to God or do you see this as a sign of weakness or unnecessary since God is omniscient (knows everything)? Why is it good to pour out our heart to God?