Notes**

At some point, most of us ladies will face a trial in which we feel like someone is against us. It may also seem like God is not doing anything in response to our prayers. In these situations, we can be tempted to take things into our own hands, but Psalm 62 reminds us why we must and can continue to wait on the Lord. The Psalmist is waiting on the Lord, because he knows that the Lord is the only one who saves him and who can keep him safe. Deceitful and envious men continue to attack him, and God hasn't stopped them or brought judgment on them yet. Still, the Psalmist resolves to wait on the Lord. He instructs us to do the same in our long trials, and he tells us how to do this. We trust in God--we keep believing in His character and His promises. We pour out our hearts before God--telling Him our burdens in prayer. The Psalmist also tells us what not to do. He says he waits on God in silence (verses 1, 5), so we do not spend all our energy verbally justifying ourselves to our attackers. He directs us not to put our hope in money (v 10cd,) or try to use unethical or manipulative tactics (v 10ab) to control the situation. Finally, he says why we can trust God--God holds all the power. All kinds of people are "lighter than a breath." They carry no weight--God controls things. Also, steadfast love belongs to God, so he doesn't deal with us arbitrarily, but "according to our work." We know from Ephesians 2:8-9, " For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works , so that no one may boast. " The work we are trusting in is the fruit of faith in Jesus Christ. When we have faith in Christ, we can know that God deals with us in love, and that "from Him comes my salvation." He provided our salvation from His just judgment by providing His own Son as a sacrifice for our sin. Therefore, he can be trusted to provide the kind of salvation we need when we are attacked by sinners. This means in a situation as serious as an abusive ex-husband lying to get custody of our kids, we can trust God, pour out our heart to Him, and wait, without putting our hope in money or hitmen. On a less serious note, it also means that when we feel wrongly judged by fellow believers for a parenting choice we are making in faith, we can wait in silence. We don't need to retaliate or steamroll them with defensive arguments. If we are following God in faith, our hope is in Him to deliver us.

notes

Main point summary

Although evil men attack for a long time, resolve to wait on God by trusting in Him and pouring out your heart to Him. He is the only one who saves you and keeps you safe, and you can trust Him because He is all powerful and faithful to love people following Him.

Arc**

editing

OT

Psalms 62:1-12

esv

mine

For God alone y my soul z waits in silence;

God is the one I wait for, without argument or defense

from him comes my salvation.

because it is He who saves me.

ground

a He alone is my rock and my salvation, my b fortress;

He is the only one I can stand securely on, the only one who saves me and keeps me safe;

c I shall not be greatly shaken.

I will not be toppled.

inference

ideaexplanation

How long will all of you attack a man to batter him,

You all keep beating someone up

like d a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

like a building you want to fall over.

comparison

They only plan to thrust him down from his e high position.

They operate to bring people down from a honorable place.

They take pleasure in falsehood.

They enjoy lying.

f They bless with their mouths,

They say nice things outwardly,

but inwardly they curse. Selah

but inside they are hateful.

concessive

series

actionpurpose

For God alone, O y my soul, wait in silence,

Wait for God, my soul, without arguments or defenses,

for my hope is from him.

Because He is where my hope lies.

a He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress;

He is the only one I can stand securely on, the only one who saves me and keeps me safe;

I shall not be shaken.

I will not be toppled.

On God rests my g salvation and my glory;

My salvation and glory require God to act;

my mighty rock, h my refuge is God.

God is my strong shelter.

bilateral

Situation-Resolve

restate

Sit

Rsv

i Trust in him at all times, O people;

Believe in His character and His promises, all the time, people;

j pour out your heart before him;

tell Him everything that is bothering you.

God is h a refuge for us. Selah

God is our safe place. Selah.

k Those of low estate are but a breath;

Poor people pass away quickly;

those of high estate l are a delusion;

Rich people seem to have control, but they do not;

in the balances they go up;

on a scale they have no weight;

k they are together lighter than a breath.

Both together weigh less than a breath. (basically nothing)

Put no trust in extortion;

Don't count on blackmail;

m set no vain hopes on robbery;

don't count in vain on theft to get you what you want;

n if riches increase,

if you get a bunch of money,

set not your heart on them.

Don't fall in love with it.

conditional

negativepositive

actionmanner

o Once God has spoken;

God has declared,

o twice have I heard this:

Yes, i have heard it repeated;

progression

that p power belongs to God,

that God holds the power,

and that to you, O Lord, q belongs steadfast love.

And that you, Lord are the source of steadfast love.

For you will r render to a man according to his work.

Because you will give to a man according to his work [i.e. fruit of faith]

discourse