Psalm 62:1: Silent Submission to the Savior

"For God alone my soul waits in silence;

from him comes my salvation."

Psalm 62:1

This morning, we turn again to a singular verse in scripture and seek to draw out all of its truths. Psalm 62:1 is our verse for this morning, and through it I hope that we can see how we ought to silently submit to the Savior.

Psalm 62 is a Psalm that was written by David, most likely during the time of his son Absolom's rebellion against him. In this psalm, we see David considering the great evil of his fellow man against him (3-4), yet through it all he keeps steadfast trust in the God who is his hope (1-2, 5-7), and furthermore calls others to do the same amidst their trials (8-12).

The introduction of this great psalm is verse 1, as quoted above. Giving the theme of the entire psalm, David states, "for God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation" (1). The theme of this psalm is David waiting in silence for a God who would save.

Let us note here a couple of observations. Firstly, David is waiting. In parallel texts, the same verb used in the Hebrew is translated "resting" or "being still." David is stating here that even amidst trials, his soul is still and patient before the Lord. Secondly, David is not merely waiting, but waiting in silence. Unlike Job, David is not heaping up countless complaints and petitions to God. Rather, he is submissive to the will of the one who put him there. Thirdly, David points out how he is waiting for God alone.* David is not waiting for circumstances to change, for people to have a change of heart, for his selfish desires to be satisfied, he is waiting for God, who will bring to him salvation. David knew that his hope was not found in his circumstance, but in his Savior, and on this hope he rested in God alone.

Jeremiah Burroughs, in his book The Secret Jewel of Christian Contentment, speaks of an analogy that summarizes this verse well. I'll spare you from his hard-to-understand Puritan language by paraphrasing the analogy for you, but simply put, he said that we all ought to have a dog-like posture before God. Like a dog sits and waits at the hand of his master, we ought to wait for God. Will the master give his dog crumbs from the food at his plate? Possibly, yet even if he does not the dog is content, moving onto the next thing when he discovers his master's will. Likewise, we must be submissive to God as a dog is to his master, waiting silently with open hearts and submissive actions.

So, in what areas of your life have you not been silently submissive to your Savior? As David knew, God's plan is best. Therefore, to fret against it is not good for you. Although this is what we do constantly, we must humble ourselves as David did, realizing that our salvation comes from God alone.

*The Hebrew word for "alone" or "only" occurs six times throughout this Psalm. Although many trials come, God is the only only only source of hope.