Psalms 62: Wait in Silence
Surrounded by enemies who flatter and scheme, the psalmist quiets his soul before God alone, his rock and salvation, and calls all people to pour out their hearts to him.
Psalms 62 (WEB)
1 My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress— I will never be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man, would all of you throw him down, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
4 They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.
7 With God is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath, and men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.
10 Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them.
11 God has spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongs to God.
12 Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, for you reward every man according to his work.
Psalms 62 (KJV)
1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 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.
4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 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.
10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
Psalms 62 (ASV)
1 My soul waiteth in silence for God only: From himcomethmy salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation: He ismy high tower; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will ye set upon a man, That ye may slay him, all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
4 They only consult to thrust him down from his dignity; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. [Selah
5 My soul, wait thou in silence for God only; For my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: He ismy high tower; I shall not be moved.
7 With God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, ye people; Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. [Selah
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: In the balances they will go up; They are together lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression, And become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart thereon.
11 God hath spoken once, Twice have I heard this, That power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth lovingkindness; For thou renderest to every man according to his work.
Summary
This psalm of quiet confidence centers on one steadying word, "alone." My soul rests in God alone; he alone is my rock and my salvation, so the psalmist will not be greatly shaken. Yet the calm is set against real danger: enemies assault him like a leaning wall about to be pushed over, blessing with their mouths while cursing within. In the face of their lies, the psalmist preaches to his own heart, "My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him." He then turns outward, urging all people to trust in God at all times and to pour out their hearts before him, for God is a refuge. He weighs human power and finds it lighter than a breath, warning against trusting in oppression, robbery, or increasing riches. The psalm ends with a settled theology: God has spoken, and the psalmist has heard that power belongs to God and that steadfast love belongs to him too. This is the soul at rest, anchored not in changing circumstances but in the unchanging character of God—the same rest Jesus offers all who come to him.
Voices
- The psalmist (David) — A soul under assault who quiets himself and rests in God alone, refusing to be shaken.
- God — The rock, salvation, fortress, and refuge to whom belong both power and steadfast love.
- The enemies — Schemers who delight in lies, blessing with their mouths while cursing inwardly, intent on throwing the psalmist down.
- The people — All who are urged to trust God at all times and pour out their hearts before him.
Key Verse
Psalm 62:5 (WEB)
My soul, wait in silence for God alone, for my expectation is from him.
Lessons Learned
- Rest is found not in changing our circumstances but in fixing our hope on God alone.
- We sometimes need to preach to our own souls, commanding ourselves to wait in silence for God.
- God invites us to pour out our hearts honestly before him because he is a refuge.
- Both power and steadfast love belong to God, so we can trust him fully and fear nothing else.
- God alone is enough. "My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him" (Psalm 62:1, WEB); resting in him alone is what keeps us from being greatly shaken.
- Speak truth to your own soul. When fear rises, the psalmist commands himself, "My soul, wait in silence for God alone" (Psalm 62:5, WEB), reminding his heart where its expectation lies.
- Pour out your heart before God. "Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him" (Psalm 62:8, WEB); honesty with God is an act of trust, not a breach of it.
- Power and love both belong to God. "Power belongs to God" and to him belongs "loving kindness" (Psalm 62:11-12, WEB); the One strong enough to save is also kind enough to want to.
- What is the significance of the word "alone" repeated throughout this psalm?
- Why does the psalmist speak to his own soul in verse 5, and how might we do the same?
- What does it mean practically to "pour out your heart" before God (v. 8)?
- How does weighing human power as "lighter than a breath" (v. 9) change the way we view threats and wealth?
- Where do you most need to "wait in silence" for God right now rather than acting in anxiety?
- "Alone" anchors the psalm's confidence: God is the only rock, salvation, and refuge. Everything else—enemies, power, riches—is unreliable, so the soul that rests in God alone cannot be greatly shaken.
- The psalmist preaches to himself, redirecting a fearful heart toward its true expectation. We can do the same by reminding ourselves of God's character when anxiety speaks louder than faith.
- Pouring out the heart means bringing God our real fears, griefs, and questions without editing them. Because he is a refuge (v. 8), such honesty is welcomed, not rebuked.
- Seeing that both lowly and powerful people are "together lighter than a breath" (v. 9) deflates inflated threats and tempting wealth, freeing us to trust the One whose power and love are real and lasting.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to identify an anxious situation where they are tempted to scheme or react, and to practice waiting silently and trustingly before God this week. As leader, affirm that silence here is active faith, not passivity.