Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 62
The lxii. PSALM.
David abruptly breaks into a declaration of his sole confidence in God for his own preservation, and his enemies destruction that maligne him to the death, but encourageth himself in his trust in God, and adviseth all else that are faithfully affected, and wait upon the promise to do so …oo, fall back, fall edge, shewing how vain it is to trust in ought else, which he disswades them from at any rate, because both by Gods word, and our own daily experience we may learn, That it is his power, mercy, and justice, that onelyonly can, and will save us, and utterly destroy our enemies.
To Seduthun, Psalm lxii. To the chief musician, to Seduthun, A Psalm of David.one of the prime musicians, and the principal of all his lineage, do I David that made this Psalm, recommend it for the care and ordering of it to be sung.
1 GOd hath been pleased to exercise me under infinite and endless trials,1TRuly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. none ever the like, and I have had no small temptations by them to impatience, and dispair, but yet they have not taken effect: I have, and do still hold out dependingly, rely upon God, and patiently wait the issue, which I know shall be good, for as I have had one trial upon the neck of another, so hath he never failed me with deliverance upon deliverance in most marvellous manner, no, nor never will.
2 I have ever found him alone all-sufficient,2He onelyonly is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence, I shall not be greatly moved. to deliver me out of my dangers, though they have been never so great, and from mine enemies, though they have been never so many, and I doubt not but to find him so still, for my faith is the same it was, and so is he, and will approve himself no less I am confident in my behalf, whensoever I stand in need, so that though I may yet wade through more troubles, and undergo further agitations, yet they shall be but like the rest, exercises and tryals of my faith and patience, they shall never undo me, but I shall sooner or later be delivered.
3How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? Ye shall he slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.3 How long will you persist to compass my ruine, and think because I am but a man whom you strive against, therefore it must needs be feasible, never considering what God hath decreed, and promised concerning me, which is not frustrable by all that you can do, but shall make me, though a low and despicable man in your eyes, able to hold out against you all, who instead of ruining me, shall your selves be destroyed, your own weight of wickedness shall serve to crush you, and your sinfull courses shall lay you low enough, as strong and well fortified as you take your selves to be.
4They only consult to cast him down from his excellencie, they delight in lies: they bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly.4 They set themselves against me, as if they had no other enemy, fearing that I shall be King, which they would gladly hinder if they could, they stick not to say I rebelliously seek it, though they know, and have had experience of the contrary, and out of their own mouthes have pronounced me innocent, and faultless, wished well to me for it in outward expressions, when notwithstanding, in heart they hated me, and meant me nothing but mischief, as I have found by experience.
5My soul, wait thou onelyonly upon God: for mine expectation is from him.5 My soul, what ever be the carriage of thine enemies towards thee, yet cast not off thy confidence in God, but hold out patiently to expect the fulfilling of his promise, and the issue of thy sufferings, make him thy sole stay and trust, for thou hast good grounds so to do.
6 I have ever found him alone all-sufficient to deliver me out of my dangers,6He onelyonly is my rock, and my salvation: he is my defence, I shall not be moved. though they have been never so great, and from mine enemies, though they have been never so many, and I doubt not but to find him so still, for my faith is the same it was, and so is he, and will approve himself no less I am confident in my behalf, whensoever I stand in need; so that though more troubles may befall me, yet shall they be but exercises, and trials of my faith, and patience; they shall never undo me, but I shall sooner or later be delivered.
7 I have solely deposited my safety and honour in the hands of God,7In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God. which mine adversaries seek to ruinate; and to deprive me of both present being, and future well-being, but shall do neither, for God hath undertaken for both, and will undoubtedly make it good.
8 Let me be your example,8Trust in him at all times, ye people, pour out your hearts before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. & encourager to trust immoveably in God at all times, in all conditions, better or worse. Ye, his faithful upright-hearted people that have waited for better times, as I have done, be not dismaied, but let your faith be stedfast, though your state be various; believe in him, & pour out your souls in fervent and faithfull prayer to him, in my behalf, and your own; and take it upon my word who have tryed it, as well as upon his who hath promised it, God shall fail neither you nor me, if we do so, I dare ingage for him.
6 Take man under what consideration you will,9Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the ballance, they are alltogether lighter than vanity. and he is not to be confided in, for if they be of low degree, then base fear, or mercinary lucre will byas them, and betray you, if of high degree, pride, humour, or preferment sway them, and make them as mutable as the wind. You shall find no stedfastness in men of any condition, but they are up and down, now for you, and anon against you; a pair of empty scales is not more uncertain, and moveable than they; and therefore trust not in them, rely not on them, for they will deceive you.
10Trust not in oppression, and becom not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.10 Least of all trust in sinfull courses; go not about to make your selves rich and great, by oppression, and indirect waies; that is not the way to be happy, but miserable; nay, though you now increase in the wealth, and well-fare of this world, by honest and laudable courses, yet put not your trust, nor take not content in them, nor promise your selves felicitie by them.
11God hath spoken once: twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God.11 God hath in his word told us, how vain and inconsistent with our trust, all sublunary things are, of no power to render us happy, or yield us support; and by his providence he hath allso made it appear so, defeating all such confidences, and frustrating such expectations; so that I (and you also) have heard it, and seen it made good in experience, the emptiness and incapacity of every thing under the sun, to answer our trust, and that the power thereof onelyonly belongs to God.
12Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every one according to his work.12 And as he onelyonly hath power to answer our expectations, and make good the hopes of them that depend upon him; so is he tyed to it by those attributes of mercy, and justice, which to perswade our confidence in him, are also held forth to us in legible characters, both in his word, and works, having promised, and daily performing acts of grace and favour to those that put their trust in his goodness; and likewise in mercy to them, both threatning and acting justice and judgements, upon their injurious enemies, wicked workers.