God Alone (Psalm 62:5-8)

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. ⁶He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. ⁷On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. [⁸Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.] —Psalm 62:5-7 [8]

As you memorize this week's passage, ask God to open your mind and heart to His Word and to help you respond with deeper worship and trust in Him.

Observe the context

Psalm 62 displays King David’s trust in God in the midst of betrayal by those closest to him. It likely was written on the occasion of his son Absalom’s rebellion against him and the throne. There are clues in verses 3, 4, 9, and 10 that this conflict had been one of prolonged testing for David. Yet he reminds himself that man-made schemes for deliverance cannot be trusted; riches cannot be trusted; and even if the suffering is long, only God can be trusted completely, and at all times.

Follow the flow of thought

David turns the attention of his soul to God alone: “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” (v. 5). David has complete confidence in God. He is preaching truth to his soul in order to overcome deceptive fears and doubts in his trial. We chose Psalm 62:5-8 as a Fighter Verses passage for this very reason: to help you in your fight of faith. You, too, can preach God’s Word of security to your soul every day and let the truth of who God is silence all your fears.

Study the truths painted with figurative language

God Himself is the one and only security to trust. David uses metaphors to proclaim God’s faithfulness—God is “my rock, my fortress, my refuge, and my salvation.” When we're facing oppression or persecution, oh, how we long for a place of stability, security, and deliverance. God who is our rock will keep us from being shaken. God who is our fortress and refuge will keep us safe. God who is our salvation will deliver us. Wait on Him. Trust in Him. (Notice the possessive pronouns in David’s declaration—David belongs to God and God is his God.)

Apply it to your life

Waiting on God is not static. It includes trusting God, coming to Him in prayer, worshiping Him, serving Him, and accepting His invitation to be intimate with Him about what is in your heart. Can you hear Psalm 62:8 in Philippians 4:6-7? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

What a precious promise this is to stand on in times of trial and testing. Whatever you are facing, take shelter in the living God.

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For Reflection

1. Perceived persecution or slights can tempt us to self-pity. How is David’s anguish different? How is his response free from self-centeredness? In what ways can Psalm 62:5-8 help you fight against self-pity?

2. List some ways that waiting on God is different from other types of waiting (i.e. waiting for a doctor's appointment, for a late friend, or in traffic).

3. Accept God’s invitation to come to Him and pour out your heart before Him—He alone is your rock, your fortress, your refuge, and your salvation.

(Portions of this article are taken from The Inductive Bible Study Handbook available from Truth78.)