Three Commands—Countless Dividends (Psalm 62:5-7 [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]

It was a jolting surprise to discover, on studying the verses above, that this passage is a thumbnail sketch of my life. Read on and see if it isn’t one for your life, too. David’s prayer is a pattern for all, showing us how to walk through life with our God, and why.

He stresses three mighty commands to himself and to his people:

1. Wait in silence

2. Trust in Him

3. Pour out your heart before Him

   
   

He also pens a bountiful list of reasons why any Christian would turn to this God on a daily basis, in order to gain what David had. He proclaims that God is his:

• Hope,

• Rock,

• Salvation,

• Fortress,

• Steadiness and Strength,

• Glory, and

• Refuge

These are not descriptors easily won by David. His life had been a nightmare of living a mere step away from sudden extinction. He fought battle after bloody battle for Saul; was doggedly pursued by Saul, whose sole purpose was to kill him; and then, as the King of Israel, he constantly defended his people against their numerous enemies. David lived in crisis for the major part of his life. As He writes this great passage of commendation to God, he reminds himself with wisdom born of constant experience, Wait for God, for God alone, O my soul! God alone can defeat Saul—God alone can win the battle. Wait for His direction; wait for His Word for the right time to act. Wait on God for light as to the best strategy; wait for God to reveal His perfect will in all matters. Be patient; wait!

Then David, loving God and loving his people, urges them, “Trust in Him at all times, O people.” This isn’t just a good idea that David proposes—this works! God honors faith. When you trust in God, you can count on His absolute faithfulness to intervene in whatever situation you meet.

Lastly, David counsels them with the key instruction: “Pour out your heart before God.” We know by reading his magnificent psalms that David does pour out all the griefs that weigh his heart down. He does not whine to himself, or bemoan his fate to a friend, but silently, alone, pours it all out to his Father, God Almighty. David then declares that He has found God to be all things to Him because He has sought Him as his Refuge, Hope, Salvation, Rock, Fortress, Strength and Glory.

Can we shake the familiar ink and paper off these verses and understand that they live— that they can be taken hold of and wielded to provide us a joyous existence of hope and confidence? Brothers and sisters, David’s words are true and powerful. We have to do them. We must pour out our love and concerns to our God. We must trust Him, implicitly, and we must wait for Him to direct and to provide. He becomes for us the protector, provider that He was for David.

Looking back over seven decades of trusting Jesus Christ, I can see that this is exactly how God has faithfully helped and delivered me. Every word David wrote above is wise and true! They reveal God’s immense commitment, passion, and jealous love for His own. Can you say the same of Him? May God give us a hunger for Himself that will drive us, like David, to seek and trust our faithful Lord!

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For Reflection

1. If you want to love your Savior more intensely, pour out your heart to Him. Tell Him specific reasons you're grateful for His provision.

2. If you want to press on to know Him more completely, pour out your heart to Him. You will get to know Him in ever-increasing dimensions as your unshakeable Rock, as your mighty Fortress, as your complete Refuge, as your powerful Savior, as your unfailing Strength.

3. And if you want to glorify Almighty God, pour out your heart to Him, then share with others the remarkable deeds that He will do for you.