Psalm 62 - Overcomer - Only in God

I put this psalm to music in my 62nd year. I thought of doing it because a friend of mine turned 42, so I sent him Psalm 42 and it seemed to apply to his life. This has been a sad year because my son Isaac went to be with the Lord in February. Isaac's favorite psalm is Psalm 73, so I used the same tune for this psalm because this psalm is similar to Psalm 73.

v1 This psalm is for the overcomer. It is through David, and it is also "upon Jeduthun". There are 3 psalms that mention "Jeduthun" in the heading. All 3 are for the overcomer. Psalm 39 is also through David, but is "for Jeduthun" or "through Jeduthun" rather than "upon Jeduthun". Psalm 77 is also "upon Jeduthun" and is through Asaph.

Jeduthun was a priest who was a prayer and music leader during David's reign (1Chron 16:42-42). He prophesied with music (1Chron 25:1,3,6) and was David's seer (2Chron 35:15).

What does "upon Jeduthun" mean? "Upon" in a psalm heading usually describes the tune, but that does not make sense here since Jeduthun is a person. Since Jeduthun was David's seer, I think it means that David wrote this psalm based upon what Jeduthun had prophesied (vv9-12).

This psalm must have been written after David was king because Jeduthun was his seer during David's kingship.

This short psalm of 12 verses uses the Hebrew word, Ach, "only" or "surely" 6 times, more than any other place in the Bible: The psalms that use this word the next most are Psalms 39 (4x) and 73 (3x). It is interesting that Psalm 39 is also through David with Jeduthun, and Psalm 73 is related to this psalm in my experience above. The 1st use of this word in the Psalms is Psalm 23:6.

The Hebrew word is usually translated "only" (Gen 7:23; 9:3-4; 18:32; 20:12; ), but sometimes "only" does not work, and it is translated "surely" (Gen 9:5).

The 6 only's in this psalm:

1. My soul is silent only to God (v1).

2. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress (v2).

3. They consult only to knock him down (v4).

4. My soul, rest quiet only in God (v5). Same as #1, but imperative.

5. repeat #2 (v6)

6. The sons of Adam are only a breath (v9).

The word for "rest" here and in v 5 means silent repose.

v2 - lit. I'll not be greatly shaken.

v3 - David switches from the 1st person in vv1-2 to the 3rd person in vv 3-4 when talking about being persecuted, then back to the 1st person. It seems he is still talking about himself.

Possibly, but I doubt it, David is speaking of someone else in vv 3-4. Maybe it is Jeduthun. In that case, the "upon Jeduthun" in the psalm heading would be translated "concerning Jeduthun". Or it may be Jeduthun talking about David.

This person is a wall or fence stopping the hypocrites' plans.

Though David is king, he considers himself weak as a leaning wall or tottering fence.

v4 - Our dignity is our standing before God, not as a man-pleaser.

v. 7 lit. Rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

v8 - "At all times" means on dark as well as on bright days. When the heart is charged with sorrow or sin, what a relief it is to open the sluice gates, and pour all out toward God! - F. B. Meyer

v9 - "common men" is literally "sons of Adam". "Persons" is literally "sons of a person" (Hebrew ish).

v10 - my favorite verse in this psalm

v11 - "thing(s)" is not in the Hebrew text. The Hebrew text just says "one" and "two". Most translations insert the word "time(s)" instead of "things", but I do not think "time(s)" is meaningful here. In the similar Prov 6:16ff; 30:15ff, "things" is inserted. In Job 33:14 "time(s)" is inserted, but in that verse there is the preposition "in" before the numbers.

What is the one thing God said, and the two things David heard?

1. Strength belongs to God.

2. With the Lord there is mercy because He rewards everyone according to his works.

The one thing God said should be that strength belongs to God. This clause has God in the 3rd person, which is often how God talks.

The 2 things that David heard are the one thing God said plus that with the Lord there is mercy because He will judge everything we do.

"In these 2 things are contained nearly all the Scriptures." - Augustine

These are "the 2 pillars on which we rest, and may defy the surges of temptation." - Calvin

Power and Mercy are the 2 pillars on which the Temple of His justice rests. - F. B. Meyer

- Steve Miller