Jamieson–Fausset–Brown CommentaryPsalms 62

PSALM 62

Psa 62:1-12. To Jeduthun--(See on Psa 39:1, title). The general tone of this Psalm is expressive of confidence in God. Occasion is taken to remind the wicked of their sin, their ruin, and their meanness.

1. waiteth--literally, "is silent," trusts submissively and confidently as a servant.

2. The titles applied to God often occur (Psa 9:9; 18:2). be greatly moved--(Psa 10:6). No injury shall be permanent, though devised by enemies.

3. Their destruction will come; as a tottering wall they already are feeble and failing. bowing wall shall ye be--better supply "are." Some propose to apply these phrases to describe the condition of "a man"--that is, the pious suffer: thus, "Will ye slay him," &c.; but the other is a good sense.

4. his excellency--or, elevation to which God had raised him (Psa 4:2). This they try to do by lies and duplicity (Psa 5:9).

5-6. (Compare Psa 62:1, 2).

7. rock of my strength--or strongest support (Psa 7:10; 61:3).

8. pour out your heart--give full expression to feeling (1Sa 1:15; Job 30:16; Psa 42:4). ye people--God's people.

9. No kind of men are reliable, compared with God (Is 2:22; Jr 17:5). altogether--alike, one as the other (Psa 34:3).

10. Not only are oppression and robbery, which are wicked means of wealth, no grounds of boasting; but even wealth, increasing lawfully, ought not to engross the heart.

11. once; twice--(as in Job 33:14; 40:5), are used to give emphasis to the sentiment. God's power is tempered by His mercy, which it also sustains.

12. for thou renderest--literally, "that Thou renderest," &c., connected with "I heard this," as the phrase--"that power," &c. [Psa 62:11]--teaching that by His power He can show both mercy and justice.