Psalm 62

What’s Happening?

David is being slandered. He’s restless as his enemies’ lies grow increasingly public. But he knows God can quiet his restless soul (Psalm 62:1). God can settle David’s shaking hands and calm his beating heart because God is unassailable. God is like a fortress walled in by the giant rocks of the mountain, and no evil breaches his walls (Psalm 62:2).

But, David still feels like he’s near falling, like a fence under pressure (Psalm 62:3). His enemies are like gravity. Their lies and duplicity weigh him down and intend to crush him (Psalm 62:4). But as soon as David describes this suffering, he speaks to his soul and tells it to trust the God who is his unassailable rocky fortress (Psalm 62:5-6). Both before and after David describes his suffering, he reminds us that God is his fortress and that God is not convinced by the lies that surround him (Psalm 62:7). 

Newly confident, David as king calls all of Israel to trust in the God who is a refuge and rock against accusations and lies (Psalm 62:8). The people should trust God alone instead of their high or low social status. God saves because he is God, not because their social position tilts the scales in their favor (Psalm 62:9). Neither should God’s people extort their way towards protection (Psalm 62:10). Theft and leverage are bad “fortresses” when accusations start flying. 

When enemies attack, God’s people should rest in the mountain fortress they call “God.” God has both power to exonerate the slandered, and a deep love for his assailed people (Psalm 62:11-12a). In love, God will use his power on his people’s behalf and repay every lie and accusation brought against them (Psalm 62:12b). In the hands of a loving and powerful God like this, both kings and their subjects can rest from the lies of their enemies.

Where is the Gospel?

Five times we’re told that God “truly” or “only” is a rock and fortress against the lies of enemies. When King David trusts God as his only rock, his kingship survives the enemies’ lies. And when the kingdom of Israel trusts God as their fortress, they're blessed with God’s compassionate power that vindicates them from their enemies’ accusations. This Rock and Fortress is Jesus.

Jesus has entirely canceled any record of our failures and sins by his death on the cross (Colossians 2:14). In him our innocence is unassailable. It is walled in between the great rocks of God’s grace and sacrifice. But we have an enemy and a culture that loves to accuse, condemn, and cancel us for sins already expunged. And like David warned us against, we try to leverage either our high or low social status to tip the conversation in our favor. But these are poor fortresses compared to the power and love of Jesus. God the Rock is on your side and no enemy can move him (Romans 8:31)! He gave up his Son, so how could he not vindicate you from the accusations that cloud your mind and keep you anxious at night (Romans 8:32)? Jesus has already been publicly shamed for you, which means there is no one left who has the right to condemn you now (Romans 8:34).

Even if every thought, friend, demon, and social media platform screams you are guilty, you have been exonerated by Jesus’ love and power over death (Romans 8:37-39). That means you can rest tonight because Jesus surrounds you like a Rock and he is not convinced by lies. 

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who is a Rock. And may you see Jesus as the one who provides rest for our souls.