Psalm 62:1-2 and 5-7
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken…. For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
It’s interesting to see that the first part is a testimony (“For God alone my soul waits in silence…”) and the 2nd part is the Psalmist instructing his soul, preaching to himself. (“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence…”) Before I wrote this I made the mistake of taking a detour thru my e-mail, and my soul is fighting the anxiety that reading the e-mails in it generate. Why? My soul clearly showing my hope is not in the Lord God at those times, but my hope would be a situation that is stable and stress free. Where does that happen? I’m pretty sure nowhere. To anyone. Ever.
We also see the waiting is in silence. Not vocalizing discontent (“when will this be over?!”). But perhaps most of all we see a perspective from our Psalmist that is focused on God, for who God is. God is our savior, rock, salvation, fortress – and he ALONE is all of those things. Sins like anxiety and worry and discontent cannot be those things – only God can save us. We need no other functional savior like alcohol, food, or other idols. Our souls need to be at rest in God alone for who God is.
Ultimately, we see God’s image in Jesus Christ – the ultimate expression of God’s love and grace, as he is the salvation for our souls which we all need, and living lives by the power of the Spirit, from our new identity won by Jesus, to the glory of God!
I leave you with the song we sing often in church that is ringing in my ears – aptly titled Psalm 62:
Mike Ruel 