Psalm 62-B "All and Nothing"

This is the second installment of my devotional posts from Psalm 62, covering verses 8-12. It involves the juxtaposition of two extremes, “all” and “nothing,” in terms of how trust should be assigned.

All

This first section gets its theme from verse eight: “At all times….” This is not a new idea for this verse, merely continues the theme found previously in v.5-7,

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.

While the psalmist clarified in v. 5-7 that his stance was emphatic in terms of who he trusted, what verse eight adds is an exhortation to the reader/hearer to do the same by the use of a time element.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
    pour out your heart before him;
    God is a refuge for us. Selah

One theologian draws an important lesson from this “at all times” statement.

“The time reference perhaps takes up the fact that for anyone there are times when it is tempting not to trust, and those are the moments when it is most important to do so; that is how things are at this moment for the psalmist.”[1]

The psalmist, who was previously silent, now advised the reader to “pour out your heart before him.” Are the ideas of the soul waiting in silence (vv 1, 5) and pouring out our hearts (v. 8) at odds with each other? No, I don’t think so. Our soul can wait in the silence of trust and confidence in the God who loves us, speaking no complaint or inner insult, and at the same time be entirely open in communicating honestly with God. Ironically, pouring out our hearts to him is the only guarantee that none of the contents will be lost! Pouring out is a wonderful word picture of trusting everything into God’s hands. Instead of scheming within our thoughts and cursing others emotionally, we are encouraged to pour out our hearts to the Lord. Such prayer is cathartic and lifegiving.

Further, Goldingay also comments on the “pour out your heart” clause: “The psalm is encouraging the community to an act of faith that pours out its resentment, grief, and fear before God, the act that psalms are often modeling.”[2]

After stating his faith is in God alone and encouraging the people to trust God, not just some of the time, but “at all times,” we shift to verse nine’s hot take on the worth of those participants in an economic class system.

Less Than You Think

Verse 9 serves as a transition between trusting in God at all times and not trusting in the ways of the wicked (v.10). It accomplishes this transition by pointing out how unworthy social classes are, whether they are high or low. In ancient cultures, worth was often expressed in terms of weightiness, and the imagery of scales was frequently used to describe value or its absence. A classic passage on this is found in Isaiah 40. Here are a couple of those verses.

Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
    and are accounted as the dust on the scales;
    behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust…
All the nations are as nothing before him,
    they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. (Isa. 40:15,17)

"As the dust on the scales"
Photo: Greg K Dueker

Here in Psalm 62, those of lower classes are said to have the weight/worth of a mere breath, which is to say they are not weighty, they are without substance, they have little worth in themselves… except what God breathed into them. Surprisingly, the upper class, “Those of high estate,” are even less weighty than the “breath” of the lower class. Since a breath weighs nothing on a scale, being less than a breath is like an ancient attempt to describe a negative number! Moreover, since worship is tied to one’s weightiness, saying one has less than zero weight would be a major slam. St. Paul used a similar expression in 2 Corinthians 12:11, read it and see if you can do the math! When we think that our value and worth are found in all the power and possessions of this world that we can grab, then we are fooling ourselves.

“Absalom may have advanced in wealth and power as he steals the Kingdom, but in the scales of God, he is a mere nothing.”[3]

If people have no substantial weightiness, why would we put our trust in them to anchor our lives in turbulent times?

Nothing

Put no trust in extortion;
    set no vain hopes on robbery;
    if riches increase, set not your heart on them. (v. 10)

In contrast to verse eight’s exhortation to trust God at all times, verse ten commands the people to put nothing into the trust of violent and dishonest schemes (i.e., extortion, robbery) or the wealth of the world. Wealth can be taken away or destroyed, and extortion and robbery will both be judged. They are not a promising investment strategy!

It matters who or what we trust. And the character of what/whom we trust will also shape what that trust looks like.

The word translated as extortion or oppression (Heb. ‘ōsheq) in “concerned with acts of abuse of power or authority, the burdening, trampling, and crushing of those lower in station” (TWOT, 705). Are there things that we have come to depend upon that are the result of an abuse of power? Such an oppressive abuse of power is further described by the word translated by the English word “robbery,” which is not as graphic as the original Hebrew (gazēl) suggests. It describes something plundered and has “in its meaning the violence that goes beyond mere stealing or taking another’s belongings but includes robbing by force, tearing off” (TWOT, 158). It is an often torturous and painful way to take something from another. While we don’t literally function in such violent ways, I suggest that some of the virtual treatment of others in various forms of media should be called into question. As followers of Christ, we know for certain that he would never treat the downtrodden like that. If we do, then we can be sure that we are not following Christ. As John wrote to 1^st Century Christians,

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:20-21)

Running the Numbers and Settling Up

In verse eleven, the psalmist begins “counting” the lessons he had learned when God spoke. “Once…twice” is a Hebraism found in Wisdom and Prophetic literature (e.g., Prov. 30:15,18,21,29; Amos 1:3,6,9,11). The results should be taken together. In this case, both power and steadfast love belong to God (v.12).

The power of God is tied to the steadfast love of God! He will not use power contrary to his love. Neither should we. “The Lord will render to a man according to his work.” The psalmist ends on a note that reminds us that real power is not in the abuses of class, oppression/extortion, or in brutally cruel robbery, which the wicked may perpetrate because they can. Real power is found in the steadfast love of God, which cannot be chained.

Which path will we follow?

---

[1] Goldingay, John. Psalms, Vol. 2, BCOT, BakerAcademic, 2007. 249.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Wilcock, Michael. The Message of Psalms 1-72, BST, IVP. 221-222.

Psalm 57 Awakening the Dawn

As I re-read this psalm this week, several thoughts, word pictures, and phrases intrigue me…

Photo By Greg K Dueker

In you my soul takes refuge (v.1) —David was in a cave hiding from Saul and those who pursued him. He expressed how his trust in God could picture the nature of God working on his behalf as a refuge. David also understood that refuge in the Lord’s presence is tied to “mercy” and not to merit. I think it is not hard for us to think of refuge in terms of shelters—in America, we think of storm shelters, evacuation shelters, domestic abuse shelters, tax shelters, and even animal shelters. Nations at war know about and often use bomb shelters. But what is taking shelter in this psalm? What is finding refuge in God? The soul of the psalmist. This turn of phrase causes me to wonder if I am as quick to ask God to shelter my soul as I am to take practical steps to shelter my body and other assets in times of danger.

Photo by Greg K Dueker

In the shadow of your wings (v.1) —The safety of the cave is likened to that of a chick beneath its mother’s wings, which may not adequately translate into our culture, where we don’t think highly of chickens as protectors. We can’t win and be on offense all the time. Sometimes we need to find shelter and ride the storm out, and once it passes, we can get back to the work God has for us. In the meantime, we get to simply be in the refuge of God’s love for us. This imagery may also allude to the Passover when the people of Israel were sheltered from the destroyer by the blood of the lamb (Ex. 12:22-24). What is the storm of destruction we are facing today? Whether we face natural disasters or the man-made kind, we can rest in the fact that God will fulfill his purpose for us! What will we face this week? Where will we take refuge? 

Photo by Milada Vigerova 

on Unsplash 

God who fulfills his purpose for me (v.2) —Despite God having anointed David to replace Saul as king, David did not take matters into his own hands. He stubbornly refused to strike down the increasingly unbalanced King Saul despite being anointed as a replacement king. It was God’s plan, and God would bring it to pass at the right time. David was content to trust that God would bring it to pass at just the right time.

It is so comforting to know that God is the one who" fulfills his purpose for me"! There are at least three things I can hold onto from this verse:

1. My life has purpose.
2. My life is part of his great plan, and
3. He will fulfill that purpose by saving me!

During hard times, we may not understand why, know how, or when, but we can be confident that God is with us in the midst and will be faithful to lead us home at the right time.

Though David had unjustly been driven from his home and family, he knew that he was part of something larger than himself. He was included in what God had purposed and would see it come to pass. For David, this included finally becoming the king of Israel, for which God had anointed him by the hand of Samuel. We are not anointed to be kings and queens of Israel, yet in Christ, we are adopted as children of God (Rom. 8:15; Eph. 1:4-6) and are a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). What the Lord has begun, he will bring to completion (Phil. 1:6).

Photo by Jeff Lemond on Unsplash 

In the midst of lions (v.4, 6)—Have you noticed how David’s metaphoric description of his circumstances is later literally lived out by Daniel in exile when he refused to stop praying to the Lord despite a law to the contrary (Dan. 6)? The Lord delivered Daniel that night. His accusers were then thrown into the lions’ pit and devoured in the way they had desired that Daniel would perish. David’s accusers, pursuers, and oppressors would also suffer the death they sought to inflict upon David.

V.6 "They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah"

God has a wonderful way of working things out when we trust in him. Our soul may at times be bowed down, but it will not be destroyed!

St Anne's Church, Jerusalem
Photo by Greg K Dueker

Cave Refuge acoustics? Is it just me, or do you see (or hear) it too? For a guy hiding in a cave from his pursuers, David is sure loud! I don’t have much experience with caves, but St. Anne’s Church in Jerusalem is known for nearly perfect acoustics, and having sung there when touring, I can say it made us sound amazing! The outside looks plain, but the richness of sound on the inside was remarkable! 

David writes in v.2, “I cry out to God Most High” as he makes his lament (request). In v.5, his praise is exuberant, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!     Let your glory be over all the earth!” Then he does not let up but sings with a doubly steadfast heart in v.7-8,

“I will sing and make melody!
         Awake, my glory!
         Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!”

Bugling Merit Badge

David’s strong word picture of awakening the dawn with his song sounds quite loud. He would not have been good to have on a submarine trying to avoid detection! When I was a Boy Scout, I earned the bugling merit badge (much to my parents' chagrin) after repeatedly practicing the calls, such as “Reveille” (the military wakeup call). David rehearsed his songs of praise without inhibition. 

Aside from the resounding cave acoustics, the point is well made: when we have eyes to see God at work on our behalf, we cannot help but show our gratitude with enthusiasm. I am reminded of when the Apostles were forbidden by the Sanhedrin from teaching and speaking to the people in the name of Jesus,

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)

I would suggest that our ability to see God at work in our lives begins much like David began this psalm: by asking for God’s mercy and trusting him to be our refuge. God's miracles flow from his requested mercy, for they are not given to fulfill our sense of entitlement.

David is quite confident that God will be merciful and the storms of destruction will pass by (v.1), that God would fulfill his divine purpose for David (v.2), and save him and shame his enemies (v.3), and that when all is over he will be thanking and singing praises to God “among the peoples…among the nations” (v. 9). Such a statement demonstrated great confidence and foresight. While David did live to do just what he said he would, by writing this psalm, his words have continued to ring out in thanks and praise throughout the generations all around the world!

Psalm 12 "Longing for Safety"

Psalm 12:1, 5 

Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;
    for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man…

 “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
    I will now arise,” says the Lord;
    “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

Comments:

This psalm is an individual lament as we can see in verse one’s prayerful request, “Save, O Lord”. It also contains a bit of imprecatory (v. 3) and a pinch of wisdom (v.6).

The larger context of the psalm indicates that when David wrote this, he was frustrated by the lying and treacherous words of his generation. It seemed like everyone had become corrupt in their speech. It is not much different today…check the comment thread on any sports or political post you find on the internet. People still use their power and wealth to oppress and disrespect others based on race, class, religion, and culture covering their actions with lying words. And many who have no power would treat others just as oppressively if they did.

Yet here in v, 5 we have the answer to David’s cry for help (v.1). The Lord rises up to deliver and save the poor/needy who are groaning because of the plundering that they are suffering. In the Old Testament “the poor” is the godly person who trusts in the Lord instead of in himself and worldly power structures. These were the “have-nots” of society that what little they had was being taken by those with more. They were being terrorized in a very real way.

Is it satisfying to see the Lord’s answer? He will move and “place” the poor/needy one who is trusting in Him “in the safety for which he longs.” I think so.

This was a verse that I got to share with my son as he headed off for a military deployment as a combat medic. This verse instructs me that I need to have a tender heart towards the oppressed wherever I may find them. Why? Because this is the very heart of God! Our military men and women can be self-serving just like anyone else, but they can also do some very brave and sacrificial things in an effort to protect others. Our government may make decisions that are not in the best interest of the poor and needy, but there are many who lay down their lives in sacrificial service to bring them to “the safety for which he longs.”  When they do this for others, they reflect something of the character of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. 

Our calling as Christ followers, is to come alongside those in need, show kindness, build relationship, and walk with them. It may be that we can help them to safety, or that in our risking something for others that we can be helped by what we learn from them. Some in terrible danger long for true safety, others merely loiter in it risking nothing for others. 

In any event, Gods heart is compassionate and responsive to his people, and his words are always true and dependable. So, even when I risk an investment of trust in the Lord he is my Deliverer and I really have risked nothing for he is the one who died for me and even now gives the harvest!

[Note: This psalm marks a memorial stone of sorts. It was on this psalm in January 2010 that in response to requests from readers (like Janet Miller) I began adding short commentary to the verses that I posted on Facebook. Then about a year ago, those comments moved into a more developed blog.]