Psalm 62—On Being Shaken but Not Greatly Shaken

I’ve been shaken, no doubt. But when I zoom out of my immediate horrific loss and look at eternity, I see a different picture. I see a redemptive story that reshapes my current story.

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2

I’ve been shaken, yes, but I’ve not been greatly shaken.

Kim is not my salvation. Kim is not my fortress or rock. And the one you’ve lost, or your circumstance of loss, is not where your soul waits. Wait quietly through loss for God alone.

“How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.” Psalm 62:3-4

Again, we have been shaken. We are battered and like a leaning wall or a tottering fence. We once stood erect; now we’re leaning and tottering. So yes, we’ve been shaken. Our enemy is having his day, but he’s not having his eternity. He revels in falsehood. His curse is running rampant.

Shaken, yes. Defeated, no.

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” Psalm 62:5-7

Don’t put your trust in your own leaning wall kind of self or your tottering fence kind of self. This is a time for a fortress, a refuge.

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in His excellent Word. What more can He say than to you He hath said to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled…” John Rippon, “How Firm a Foundation”

We are not our own fortress. He is our fortress where we wait. He is our rock. He is our salvation. We will not be shaken as long as we rest in our mighty rock, our mighty fortress.

We are not to trust in our own strength of heart. We are to trust in God. God alone is our refuge. In the pain of loss and brokenness, we are to run to him to pour out the cries of our hearts.

“Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.” Psalm 62:9

Whether you are a person of high or low stature, humbly recognize that you are at best a delusion and at worst a breath. That’s humbling. But it’s true. Romans 12:3 warns us to “…not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment…” This warning is in the context of faith and grace, both of which are gifts from God and not our own doing. Trusting your own strength is like robbery and trusting riches. It’s just not trustworthy.

Do not trust yourself. Do not trust in others. Do not trust in riches. Do not fear others. Power belongs to God. Steadfast love, without fail, is available. Wait patiently before your rock, salvation, and fortress.

In this broken world you will be shaken; however, you will not be greatly shaken.

“Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.” Psalm 62:11-12