Psalms 62:11

_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._ -Warning against trust in anyone or anything except God, to whom alone belong power, mercy, and retributive justice. Verse 9. SURELY MEN OF LOW DEGREE ARE VANITY, AND MEN OF HIGH DEGREE ARE A LIE - literally, 'Only vanity are the sons of men in general х_ 'AADAAM_ (H120)], a lie are the sons of (even) the distinguished man' х_ 'IYSH _ (H376)] (Psalms 4:2; Psalms 39:5; Psalms 39:11, end; 136:3-4). The reference is to...

11_God hath spoken once. _The Psalmist considered that the only effectual method of abstracting the minds of men from the vain delusions in which they are disposed to trust, was bringing them to acquiesce implicitly and firmly in the judgment of God. Usually they are swayed in different directions, or inclined at least to waver, just as they observe things changing in the world; (422) but he brings under their notice a surer principle for the regulation of their conduct, when he recommends a deferential regard to God’s Word. God himself “dwells in the light which is inaccessible,” (1 Timothy 6:16;) and as none can come to him except by faith, the Psalmist calls our attention to his word, in which he testifies the truth of his divine and righteous government of the world. It is of great consequence that we be established in the belief of God’s Word,

8-12 Those who have found the comfort of the ways of God themselves, will invite others into those ways; we shall never have the less for others sharing with us. the good counsel given is, to trust wholly in God. We must so trust in him at all times, as not at any time to put that trust in ourselves, or in any creature, which is to be put in him only. Trust in him to guide us when in doubt, to protect us when in danger, to supply us when in want, to strengthen us for every good word and work. We must lay out wants and our wishes before him, and then patiently submit our wills to his: this is pouring out our hearts. God is a refuge for all, even for as many as will take shelter in him. The psalmist warns against trusting in men. The multitude, those of low degree, are changeable as the wind. The rich and noble seem to have much in their power, and lavish promises; but those that depend o...

Verse Psalms 62:11. _GOD HATH SPOKEN ONCE_] God has _once_ addressed his people in giving the law on Mount Sinai. The _Chaldee_ translates the whole passage thus: "God hath spoken one law, and twice have we heard this from the mouth of Moses the great scribe, that strength is before God: and it becomes thee, O God, to show mercy to the righteous; for thou renderest to man according to his works." _TWICE HAVE I HEARD THIS_] Except some of the _ancient_ Versions, almost every version, translation, and commentary has missed the sense and meaning of this verse. I shall set down the text: אחת דבר אלהים שתים זו שמעתי _achath dibber Elohim; shetayim zu_ _shamati_; of which the true version is this: _Once hath God spoken;_ _these two things have I heard_. Now what are the _two things_ he had heard? 1. כי וז לאלהים ki

GOD HATH SPOKEN ONCE; TWICE HAVE I HEARD THIS - This repetition, or this declaration that he had heard the thing repeated, is designed to give emphasis to what was said, or to call attention to it as particularly worthy of notice. See the notes at Job 33:14. Compare Job 40:5. The sentiment here is particularly important, or is deserving of special attention, because, as the psalmist had shown, all other resources fail, and confidence is to be placed in nothing else for that which man so much needs; neither in people, whether of low degree or high Psalms 62:9; not in oppressive acts - acts of mere power; not in plunder; not in wealth, however acquired,...

EXPOSITION THIS psalm, like so many, is the cry of an afflicted one—a man of high position, whom his enemies seek to destroy, or, if that be not possible, to thrust down from his dignity (Psalms 62:3, Psalms 62:4). He himself is full of trust in God, and calmly confident that his enemies cannot succeed (Psalms 62:1, Psalms 62:2, Psalms 62:5). The confidence which he feels he tries to impart to his people (Psalms 62:8). In conclusion, he warns his enemi

GOD HATH SPOKEN ONCE,.... One word of his is more to be confided in, and depended on, than all the men and things in the world. The meaning is not that God hath only spoke once; he has spoke often; he spoke all things out of nothing in creation; he spoke all the words of the law at Mount Sinai; he spoke by the prophets under the Old Testament dispensation, and by his Son in the last days, and still by the ministers of the Gospel: but the sense is, that what God has once spoken stands; it is irreversible and immutable; it is firm, sure, and unalterable; he does not repent, he cannot lie, nor will he alter the thing that is gone out of his lips; and therefore his word is to be trusted to, when men of high degree are a lie; TWICE HAVE I HEARD THIS; that is, many times, as Kimchi explains it: the Targum refers this, and the preceding clause, to the delivery of the law: "one law God spake,...

Psalms 62:1. _Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation._ Waiting upon God, if not true and sincere, is only a mockery; it is also an insult to the Lord; and, so far from bringing us a blessing, it would only bring us a curse. The Hebrew hath it, «Truly my soul is silent before God,» for faith asks no questions, raises no objections, starts no difficulties, but is content to wait quietly God's time, believing that all will be well. David meant, «My soul in silence waits only upon God: from him cometh my salvation, and from no other quarter; not from the Assyrians, nor from the Egyptians, nor from my own might or wisdom, but from God alone.» I hope that we have not only come up to this service in our bodies, but that we have brought our souls also to wait upon God. It is unutterably sad when we go to a place of worship, and leave our souls somewhere else. Soul-worsh

Psalms 62 Waiting and Trusting _ 1. He only (Psalms 62:1)_ 2. Persecuted (Psalms 62:3) 3. My expectation from him (Psalms 62:5) This Psalm is not difficult to interpret. It has always been food for the saints of God. Faith in God in the midst of adversity and persecution, waiting on Him, expecting salvation, deliverance and defense only from Him is beautifully expressed. Like all these Psalms this one also gives us a prophetic glimpse into the experience of the remnant of Israel. But it has its practical value for us likewise. The first verse literally rendered is, “Only unto God my soul is silence”; that is, hu

LXII. REST IN GOD. The Psalmist, who is closely allied in thought and style to the author of Psalms 4, exhorts to complete trust in God. He expresses his trust in Psalms 62:1 f., his rest in Psalms 62:3; in Psalms 62:4 he denounces sinners; in Psalms 62:5 he reverts to his original theme, which he states with greater fullness. All other trust is vain. He repeats Psalms 62:1 f. in Psalms 62:5 f., probably as a refrain, though the words may be variants of the same text....