I Chron 21-22
I Cor 13
Psalm 62; Psalm 63; Psalm 64
THEME: The only psalm.
Psalm 62 is called the “only” psalm, not because there are no others—there are 149 others—but because the word only is significant. “Truly [better translated only] my soul waiteth upon God … He only is my rock and my salvation … they only consult to cast him down …wait thou only upon God … He only is my rock.”
The superscription here is “To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.” Psalm 39 was also written to Jeduthun. He was one of the chief musicians. His name is mentioned several times in the Psalms. Apparently he led the orchestra and the choir when this psalm was used.
This is a simple psalm. It is one of simple faith. It reveals a faith and confidence in God that is akin to a child's faith in his parents.
Perowne gives us a wonderful statement concerning this psalm: “Scarcely anywhere do we find faith in God more nobly asserted, more victoriously triumphant; the vanity of man, of human strength and riches, more clearly confessed; courage in the midst of peril more calm and more unshaken, than in this Psalm, which is as forcible in its conception, and its language, as it is remarkable for the vigorous and cheerful piety it breathes” (The Book of Psalms, Vol. I, p. 442). Although the inspired text does not give us this information, tradition tells us that this psalm came from the greatest heartbreak of David's life—the rebellion led by his son Absalom.
We turn to the historical record, and read this language: “And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up” (2Sa 15:30). That was a tragic time in the life of David. It was his dramatic moment, his time of crisis. Thomas Paine spoke of times that try men's souls. This time had come to the old king.
Absalom, David's son, is marching into Jerusalem. His entry is forcing a time of decision. There are some who are choosing David; others are choosing Absalom. It is a time when David has found who are the loyal and disloyal in the ranks. The betrayers and followers are well–marked. An important man is Ahithophel (related by marriage through Bathsheba to David), an astute statesman, a man of sagacity, of wonderful ability, a counselor upon whom David had leaned. Ahithophel has deserted and gone over to Absalom. It was a great grief to David when he found that this trusted man had deserted him. Then Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, came and said that his master, the son of Jonathan, whom David had befriended, had also betrayed him.
As David fled from the city, barefoot and weeping, there stood Shimei, a Benjamite, still loyal to former King Saul. From a heart of bitter hatred for David, he threw stones and heaped cursings upon the old king as he fled.
We see Absalom entering Jerusalem in triumph, and the same crowd that once shouted to the rafters for David is now shouting deliriously for Absalom. Centuries later the children of these people were the ones who shouted “Hosanna” to the Lord Jesus Christ, and shortly after cried, “Crucify him.” David knew the sting of the voice of the mob, and Psalm 62 is the song of David in that hour of ignominy.
Here we find a man who has committed his way to God, one who is traveling in the spiritual stratosphere; a man who is living above the storms, shocks, and stresses of this life. And as we read this psalm which comes from his heart in this hour of darkness, this time of testing, this hour of defeat, we are amazed to find not one note of discouragement, nor suggestion of fear, nor word of distress. There is neither rancor nor bitterness welling up in the heart of the psalmist. He sings forth a song of salvation, a paean of praise, an opus of optimism. It is a song of sanguinity, a thesis of trust, and a work of wonder. How could David write such a Hallelujah chorus out of an experience so dark?