Homilist Psalm 62:1-12 Truly my soul waits on God: from him comes my salvation.… I. A RELIGIOUS TESTIMONY. 1. Concerning self (vers. 1, 2, 6, 7). His confidence in God was — (1) Supreme. "He only is my Rock." (2) Steadfast. "I shall not be greatly moved." (3) Pacific. "Truly," or, "is silent my soul." 2. Concerning contemporaries. (1) Malignant (ver. 3). (2) False (ver. 4).David's testimony concerning his contemporaries is applicable to the men of our age. Read the malignity of our times in the bloody wars, etc. Read the falsehood of our times in the schemings of politicians, the tricks of tradesmen, and the hollow shams in all departments of life. 3. Concerning God (vers. 11, 12). (1) His power. All kinds of power belong to Him — physical power, intellectual power, moral power. (2) His mercy. God's kindness is even greater than His power, inasmuch as it inspires, directs, and controls. It is kindness that nerves and moves the Omnipotent Arm. (3) His justice. This testimony of God is sublime and meets our highest ideal. II. A RELIGIOUS EXHORTATION. 1. To self (ver. 5). Man is a duality; in him there are two personalities in one. These often battle with each other, sometimes blame, and sometimes commend each other. Man is constantly exhorting himself, sometimes to be more industrious in business, more accurate in studies, more temperate in habits. Here is a man exhorting himself to wait only on God. This religious exhortation is — (1) Most available. Every man has a preacher within. (2) Most efficient. All outward preachers are only available so far as they can rouse the inner preacher, and make him thunder in the great temple of conscience. 2. To others. (1) Concerning a right object of trust. "Trust in Him at all times," etc. Trust Him, not only when the weather of life is calm and sunny, but trust Him amidst the rush of tempest, the roar of thunder, and the convulsions of volcanoes. Trust Him fully; pour out your heart. As all the roots of the tree strike into the soil, so let all the sympathies of your nature strike into God. (2) Concerning a wrong object of trust. "Trust not in oppression," etc.Men do trust in oppression, not only tyrants, warriors, slaveholders, but unjust masters and mistresses that expect more service from employes than is just: hence the exhortation, "Trust not in oppression;" "If riches increase."(1) Here is a circumstance which most desire. Some for wrong reasons, some for right reasons. (2) Here is a possibility which some may possess. "If riches increase." In some it is impossible; the poor men often get rich in one or two ways, either with or without their efforts. (3) Here is a duty which all should discharge. "Set not your heart upon them." Why? Because to love them is unworthy of your nature. Because to love them is to injure your nature. Because to love them is to exclude God from your nature. Because to love them is to bring ruin on your nature. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.} Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. |
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