GLEANINGS IN THE PSALMS

(Psalm 62)

Verse 1. “Truly my soul waiteth upon God …” There was a time when I used greatly to wonder at these words of Luther: –

I wondered because we feel the outpouring of grief into the heart of a friend to be so sweet. At the same time, he who talks much of his troubles to men is apt to fall into a way of saying to little of them to God; while, on the other hand, he who has often experienced the blessed alleviation which flows from silent converse with the Eternal, loses much of his desire for sympathy of his fellows. It appears to me now as if spreading out our distress too largely before men served only to make it broader; and hence the proverb, “Talking of trouble makes it double.” “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.”

Augustus Tholuck

Verse 3. “How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? … as a bowing wall ye be …” A wall, when ill-built bulges out in the centre, presenting the appearance of nearly twice its actual breadth: but, as it is hollow within, it soon falls to ruins. The wicked, in like manner, are dilated with pride, and assume in their consultations, a most formidable appearance. But David predicts that they would be brought to unexpected and utter destruction, like a wall badly constructed and hollow in the interior, which falls with a sudden crash, and is broken by its own weight into a thousand pieces

Verse 5. “My soul, wait thou only upon God …” How quickly the soul of the faithful returns again to the God of its confidence. He spared a moment to admonish the ungodly, but like the dove of Noah he returns to the ark.

Robert Hawker

Verse 5. “My soul, wait thou only upon God …” They trust not God at all who trust Him not alone. He that stands with one foot on a rock, and the other foot upon a quicksand, will sink and perish, as certainly as he that standeth with both feet upon a quicksand. David knew this, and therefore calleth earnestly upon his soul to trust only upon God.

John Trapp

Verses 6-7. “He only is my rock, and my salvation … my defence … my glory … my refuge …” If my “refuge”, what enemy can pursue me? If my “defence”, what temptation can wound me? If my “rock”, what storm shall shake me? If my “salvation”, what melancholy can deject me? If my “glory”, what abuse shall defame me?

J. Donne

Verse 8. “… pour out your heart before him …” Pour it out as water. Not as milk, whose colour remains. Not as wine, whose savour remains. Not as honey, whose taste remains. But as water, for when it is poured out nothing remains. So let sin be poured out of the heart, that no colour of it remains in external marks, no savour in our words. No taste in our affections.

Thomas Le Blanc

Verse 11. “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” How can God speak but once and we hear Him twice? There are several renderings and interpretations of the words, but that which to me seems most intended is … when God spoke His Word but once I heard it speedily and I heard it believingly. That is, as soon as the word came to me I received it; and I received it with my ear and also with my heart. That is a blessed way of hearing; and they who hear what God has to say when He first says it, may be said to hear twice that which God speaks but once.

Joseph Caryl

Verse 11. “God hath spoken once” etc. How God speaks: – “Once.” Plainly, powerfully, immutably, etc. How we should hear: – “Twice.” Continually in heart, as well as in ear; observantly in practice, as well as in letter.

Hints to the Village Preacher

Verse 12. “Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.” Learn to admire the grace of God in rewarding your works. It is much that He accepts them in the first place; and what is it then that He rewards them? It is much that He does not damn you for them, seeing they are all defiled, and have something of sin cleaving to them. And what is it then that He crowns them? – He gives you grace to perform them, and then, rewards the performance in His mercy.

Edward Veal

This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms — Psalm 62 The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 103 – placed on line July 2013 Wicket Gate contact address – Mr Cliff Westcombe cw@wicketgate.co.uk If you wish to be notified when each new edition goes on line please send an e-mail to the above address Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk