Psalm LXII
David professing his confidence in God discourageth his enemies.—In the same confidence he encourageth the godly.—No trust is to be put in worldly things.—Power and mercy belong to God.
To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
This Psalm contains most excellent doctrine: it greatly exalts the dignity of faith, showing how firm a safeguard faith in God is, and what a strong defence it is against all the evils of life. On the other hand, the Psalmist shows the vanity of all confidence in men;—that nothing is more vain, or more fallacious than to trust in man. ‘God (says he) is my rock, my strength, and my defence: God is my hope, my salvation, my strength, my glory, my life, and my trust. God is my safe protection. God is my faithful helper; who never deceives me. Therefore, vain are the sons of men. The sons of men are all liars:’ that is, all human things are deceiving, uncertain, and cannot be held fast.
Many are to be found, who trust in the favour of kings and princes; and on that account, they are puffed up with pride and insolence, and oppress others with the more confidence; and especially if they see their wall bowing down and giving way; that is, if they see a man declining in his affairs, who was once in prosperity; or if they see him not protected by wealth and influence against injury: such an one as this, they endeavour to overthrow wholly; and to that end, ingratiate themselves with the powerful, and wind themselves into their affections, on whose favour they depend; as on a propitious deity.
But such see not how fallacious the favour of men is, and how variable and uncertain their wills are; in a word, they see not that “vain is the help of man!” Nor will they believe it to be vain, until they find it out by experience, and are brought to lament their error; as Cicero and many other wise men have done. Cicero exclaims with respect to Octavius, ‘O how vain was all my reputation for being a wise man, &c.! O how far was I from being wise indeed; though I sometimes evinced that wisdom which was esteemed to be such; but in vain!’ Thus writes he in his epistle to Octavius.—Therefore the sum of all religion is ‘Trust in God and injure not thy neighbour!’ So shalt thou rightly conduct thyself before both God and men!