MY ROCK AND MY SALVATION
Opening Prayer
As I read your Word today, loving Lord, give me a heart like David’s—to know you, to trust you, and to praise you.
Read PSALM 62
Psalm 62[a]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.[b]
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God[c];
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 62:1 In Hebrew texts 62:1-12 is numbered 62:2-13.
- Psalm 62:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
- Psalm 62:7 Or / God Most High is my salvation and my honor
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Think of a time when you were very conscious of God’s help in a particular situation. How would you describe God’s character and the help he gave in this instance?In this psalm, David seems to be having a conversation with himself. In the first paragraph he affirms his trust in God, reminding himself of God’s strength and unchanging character. He is the source of David’s salvation.
Then he looks at his situation, where people have proved unreliable and have deliberately tried to bring him to ruin. But, despite his hurt and his anger, David intentionally turns and puts his trust in God. Notice how many words and phrases are repeated in verses 1 to 2 and 5 to 8. In verses 1 to 2, David states his trust as a fact, but then he exhorts himself to trust.
David reminds himself that people who attack, hurt, and upset others are only fleeting (v 9), but God is constant. He is always powerful and unfailingly loving. Power on its own could be frightening whereas love on its own could be weak. Praise God that he is both powerful and loving! Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, these two qualities of God allow us to find peace as we commit ourselves to trusting him.
Apply
Worship God for his power and his love—reread the psalm, pray, listen to worship songs that talk about God the rock, paint a picture, look at pictures of rock fortresses on the internet, climb a rocky outcrop…
Closing prayer
Thank you, mighty God, that you are mindful of me; always ready to help, encourage, and provide everything that I need.
Book and Author Intros
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