Psalm 62 – Only

 February 11, 2025

One meaning of only is “no one or nothing more besides; solely or exclusively.” So true of our God as we learn in Psalm 62 – only. No one is better than God, our one and only.

Psalm 62

Psalm 62 – only, another psalm attributed to David, starts with the writer waiting and resting in God. It is a beautiful passage of trust in God, the rock of salvation. Despite any problems he is encountering, he is able to wait in silence because of his confidence in God.

^“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (1-2)

He goes on to recount his troubles:

^“How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down—this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.^” (3-4)

David’s Response

David’s response to their attacks? Confident trust in God as he repeats the first two verses and ends with the admonition to others to have the same trust.

^“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” (5-8)

He states further reasons to trust in God rather than status or wealth:

^“Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.
Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” (9-10)

And ends with the following:

^“One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God,
and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.” (11-12)

Psalm 62 – Only

The first and second verse of Psalm 62 – only, begins with the word truly. Truly is often translated as only. If you go back to the original Hebrew, the word only is found six times in this psalm. As stated in Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 62

“Truly my soul silently waits for God: The emphasis in this line is of surrendered silence before God and God alone. The word truly is often translated alone or only and seems to have that sense here.

• “It is hard to see this in the English text, because the Hebrew is almost untranslatable, but in the Hebrew text the word only or alone occurs five times in the first eight verses (in verses 1, 2, 4, 5, 6), and once in verse 9.” (Boice)
• “The words have all been said – or perhaps no words will come – and the issue rests with Him alone.” (Kidner) …
• “This is why God keeps you waiting. All that is of self and nature must be silence; one voice after another cease to boast; one light after another be put out; until the soul is shut up to God alone.” (Meyer) Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 62

Clearly the word is significant to the meaning of this psalm.

According to Webster, only is – unquestionably the best: peerless; alone in a class or category; and few.

Some synonyms for only are: incomparable, inimitable, matchless, nonpareil, peerless, unequaled, unmatched, unparalleled, unrivaled, unsurpassable. Who better fits this description than God?

Waiting in Silence

The writer of Psalm 62 – only, waits in silence. After all words are said and done and there is nothing left to say – what’s left is God. That’s a good place to be.

“The natural mind is ever prone to reason, when we ought to believe; to be at work, when we ought to be quiet; to go our own way, when we ought steadily to walk on in God’s ways.” (Müller, cited in Spurgeon) Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 62

In the beginning there was God, and in the end, when all else is gone, there will be God. God truly is our one and only.

For a musical rendition of the first verses of this psalm by John Michael Talbot, click here. Listen and rest in God’s presence.

(For another take on this psalm, see Psalm 62: How Do You Find Rest? – Patricia M Robertson)

This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and and receive a free copy of  Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series.      click here to sign up

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