Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 62:2
He only [is] my rock and my salvation; [he is] my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
2. The same titles my rock, my salvation, my high tower, are combined in Psa 18:2. The title Rock is frequently used to symbolise the strength, faithfulness, and unchangeableness of Jehovah: here (cp. Psa 61:7) with the special thought of an asylum in danger.
I shall not be greatly moved ] In other words, “though he may fall he shall not lie prostrate” (Psa 37:24; cp. Pro 24:16).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He only is my rock … – See the notes at Psa 18:2.
I shall not be greatly moved – The word greatly here, or much – I shall not be much moved, implies that he did not anticipate perfect security from danger or calamity; he did not suppose that he would escape all disaster or trouble, but he felt that no great evil would befall him, that his most important interests were safe, and that he would be ultimately secure. He would be restored to his home and his throne, and would be favored with future peace and tranquility. None of us can hope wholly to escape calamity in this life. It is enough if we can be assured that our great interests will be ultimately secured; that we shall be safe at last in the heavenly world. Having that confidence the soul may be, and should be, calm; and we need little apprehend what will occur in this world.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 62:2
He only is my rock and my salvation.
God alone the salvation of His people
My rock! What a history the rock might give you of the storms to which it has been exposed; of the tempests which have raged in the ocean at its base, and of the thunders which have disturbed the skies above its head; while it, itself, has stood unscathed by tempests, and unmoved by the bufetings of storms. So with our God. The rock is immutable; nought hath been worn from it. Yon old granite peak hath gleamed in the sun, or worn the white veil of winter snow–it hath sometimes worshipped God with bare, uncovered head, and at other times the clouds furnished it with veiling wings, that, like a cherub, it might adore its Maker; but yet itself hath stood unchanged. The frosts of winter have not destroyed it, nor have the heats of summer melted it. It is the same with God. The ten thousand uses of the rock, moreover, are full of ideas as to what God is. You see the fortress standing on a high rock, up which the clouds themselves can scarcely climb, and up whose precipices the assault cannot be carried, and the armed cannot travel, for the besieged laugh at them from their eminence. So is our God a sure defence; and we shall not be moved if He hath set our feet upon a rock, and established our goings. Many a giant rock is a source of admiration from its elevation; for on its summit we can see the world outspread below, like some small map; we mark the river or broadly spreading stream, as if it were a vein of silver inlaid in emerald. We discover the nations beneath our feet, like drops in a bucket, and the islands are very little things in the distance, while the sea itself seems but a basin of water, held in the hand of a mighty giant. The mighty God is such a rock; we stand on Him, and look down on the world, counting it to be a mean thing. We shall notice–
I. The great doctrine, that God only is our salvation.
II. The great experience, to know and to learn that He only is my rock and my salvation; and–
III. The great duty, which you may guess at, which is, to give all the glory and all the honour, and place all our faith on Him who only is our rock and our salvation. I must tell you a singular story, which was related at our Church meeting, because there may be some very poor people here, who may understand the way of salvation by it. One of the friends had been to see a person who was about to join the Church; and he said to him, Can you tell me what you would say to a poor sinner who came to ask you the way of salvation? Well, said he, I do not know–I think I can hardly tell you; but it so happened that a case of this sort did occur yesterday. A poor woman came into my shop, and I told her the way; but it was in such a homely manner that I dont like to tell you. Oh, yes, tell me; I should like to hear it. Well, she is a poor woman, who is always pawning her things, and by and by she redeems them again. I did not know how to tell her better than this. I said to her, Look here; your soul is in pawn to the devil; Christ has paid the redemption money; you take faith for your ticket, and so you will get your soul out of pawn. Now, that was the most simple, but the most excellent way of imparting a knowledge of salvation to this woman. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The Rock confers immovability to the believer
In the old classic story Hercules the giant challenged the whole world to produce a man who could wrestle with him and come off victor. There stepped forward a man of feeble build and almost dwarfish stature. Hercules disdainfully advanced and, lightly closing with this weak-looking fellow, put forth just a little of his strength, but the little man held his feet. Hercules, wondering at this, grappled with the unpromising wrestler, and put forth every atom of his strength to fling him. But, instead of being hurled to the ground, the strangers feet are immovable, and he still stands. At last, strength gone, amid the laughter and jeers of the crowd over their broken idol, Hercules slunk away, completely beaten, utterly humiliated. That night a traitor friend of the dwarfs visited the tent of the discomfited giant and whispered, Gold! Gold, and I will tell you why you could not win to-day, but why you can to-morrow. The man you are wrestling with to-day is Antaeus, the son of Earth. While his feet touch the ground all the strength of his mother earth passes into him, and he cannot be thrown. But only sever his connection with the ground by a hairs breadth and you have him. Next day the crowds gathered vaster than ever to witness Hercules defeat again. Antaeus is there, too little suspecting that his secret is betrayed. The giant advances to his opponent, and, before the dwarf is aware, with a sudden spring lifts him off the ground, and in a moment has his knee on his breast. Oh, take hold of the strength of God. Keep your feet on the Rock of ages. While you do so you are invincible. (J. Robertson.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 2. I shall not be greatly moved.] Having God for my rock – strong fortified place, for my salvation – continual safety, and my defence – my elevated tower, which places me out of the reach of my enemies; I shall not be greatly moved – I may be shaken, but cannot be cast down.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Though I may be shaken, yet I shall not be overthrown. Compare Psa 37:24; 2Co 4:9.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. The titles applied to Godoften occur (Psa 9:9; Psa 18:2).
be greatly moved (Ps10:6). No injury shall be permanent, though devised by enemies.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He only [is] my Rock and my salvation,…. The Rock on which the church is built, and every believer; and which was David’s safety, shelter, and shade, and which made him easy in his present state; and he was the author of his salvation, and the rock and strength of it,
Ps 95:1;
[he is] my defence; or refuge; see Ps 9:9;
I shall not be greatly moved; or “with much motion”, as Kimchi; or “with great motions”, as Jarchi: he could not be moved off of the rock on which he was built; nor out of the city of refuge, whither he had betook himself for safety; and though he might be troubled in spirit, and shaken in mind, and staggered in his faith, and fall from some degree of steadfastness of it; yet not fall so as to be utterly cast down, or finally and totally, and so as to perish eternally. Aben Ezra interprets it, “shall not be moved” into the great deep; into the abyss or bottomless pit; and so some of the ancient Midrashes expound of “hell” g; but much better is the Targum,
“I shall not be moved in a day of great affliction;”
see Ac 20:23.
g Vid. Jarchi & Yalkut Simeoni in loc.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The particle אך, ach, in the second verse, I would render in the same way as in the first. The believer triumphs in one encounter with temptation only to enter upon another; and here David, who appeared to have emerged from his distress, shows that he had still to struggle with remaining difficulties. We meet with the same particle no fewer than six times throughout the psalm. This, too, may explain the many titles which he applies to God, each of which is to be considered as a foil by which he would ward off the attacks of the tempter. The expression in the close of the verse, I shall not be greatly moved, implies his persuasion that he might be overtaken with afflictions, (for he was well aware that he could claim no exemption from the common lot of humanity,) but his conviction, at the same time, that these would not overwhelm him, through the good help of God. We shall find him saying afterwards, in so many words, I shall not fall; perhaps because he felt, as he advanced in prayer, that he had greater boldness in despising affliction. Or the expressions may be taken as synonymous in the two places. The truth itself is unquestionable. The believer may be overthrown for a time; but as he is no sooner cast down than he is raised up again by God, he cannot properly be said to fall. He is supported by the Spirit of God, and is not therefore really prostrated and overcome.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Defence.Properly, high tower, as so often. The metaphor is important here from the contrast with the tottering wall of next verse.
Shall not be greatly moved . . .i.e. (as in Psa. 37:24), shall not be made to totter or fall.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. My rock See on Psa 61:1.
My defence My high place, an allusion to the high, rocky fortress, as 2Sa 5:6-9, the strongest defence known to ancient military life.
Greatly moved The insurrection will disturb, and for the time disarrange, many surface elements, but will not overthrow or unsettle my kingdom. Thus far he had received answer to prayer.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘He only is my rock and my deliverance,
He is my high tower, I will not be greatly moved.’
And this is why he can wait in silence before God in such confidence. It is because God is his Rock and his High Tower. Compare here Psa 62:6, and see also Psa 18:2.
God is his Rock. In other words He is firm and immovable, offering total security and a sure foundation. He is also his Deliverance. He knows that He will act on his behalf in order to deliver him from his enemies. Furthermore He is his High Tower, strong and unscaleable, the One in Whom he can feel absolutely safe. Knowing that his God has such attributes he knows that he will not be greatly moved.
Note the possibility that he will be moved to some extent. He is after all human. He may trip up but he will not be utterly cast down. We can compare Psa 37:24, ‘though he fall he will not be utterly cast down, for YHWH upholds him with His hand’. So he is sure that with God on his side, such adverse movement will be unimportant and temporary. In Psa 62:6, however, his faith has advanced and he is confident that he will not be moved at all.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Psa 62:2 He only [is] my rock and my salvation; [he is] my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
Ver. 2. He only is my rock, &c. ] See Psa 18:2-3 .
I shall not be greatly moved
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
only = same word as “truly”, Psa 62:1.
salvation. Repeated for emphasis.
defence = high tower.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
He only: Psa 62:6, Psa 18:2, Psa 21:1, Psa 27:1, Psa 73:25, Psa 73:26, Deu 32:30, Deu 32:31, Isa 26:4, Isa 32:2
defence: Heb. high place, Psa 59:9, Psa 59:17, *marg.
I shall: Psa 37:24, Mic 7:8, Mic 7:9, 1Co 10:13, 2Co 4:8, 2Co 4:9
Reciprocal: 2Sa 23:5 – all my salvation Psa 13:4 – when Psa 26:1 – I shall Psa 33:20 – soul Psa 38:22 – O Lord Psa 42:9 – God Psa 46:5 – she Psa 55:22 – suffer Psa 61:2 – the rock Psa 62:1 – Truly Psa 62:5 – wait Psa 66:9 – suffereth Psa 89:18 – the Lord is Psa 89:26 – rock Psa 94:22 – But Psa 112:6 – Surely Psa 125:1 – that trust Psa 140:7 – the strength Isa 25:9 – Lo Isa 30:18 – blessed Jer 16:19 – my strength Mar 9:5 – it is Luk 6:48 – for Act 2:25 – I should not 2Pe 1:10 – never
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
FAITH TRIUMPHANT
He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
Psa 62:2
This psalm is an expression of strong and experienced faith. Let us call it Faith Triumphant. It falls naturally into three parts of four verses each; and in the original each of these begins with the same particle, which, unfortunately, is either not translated in our versions, or rendered by different words. It means Yes, Surely, or Verily, and expresses a conviction freshly acquired. This is the character of the entire psalm: it is a series of maxims hewn straight from life.
I. The silence of faith.The psalm opens with the words, Truly my soul waiteth upon God, but literally it should be is silent unto God. Silence is sometimes very eloquent. When a vast audience is listening to a perfect singer, so that you can hear a pin drop, or waiting breathless for the sentences of an eloquent statesman, there is something in the depth of the stillness that goes beyond all words. So faith has its silence. It is not always silent. On the contrary, it sometimes cries aloud; it groans and complains; it argues and beseeches. In certain circumstances, faith may well have cried or groaned or argued; but these stages are past; and now it is silent before God. It lies before Him in perfect peace, confident that His will must overrule all. For (Psa 62:2) He is a rock and a defence; and, therefore, says the child of faith, I shall not be greatly moved.
II. The instruction of faith.Having attained to such a height he is seized with the spirit of a teacher. And first he begins with instructing himself.
The Psalmist, however, also instructs others (Psa 62:8). He appeals to the people, and exhorts them to trust in God at all times and pour out their heart before Him. It is the natural way of experience to overflow into testimony; and when the soul has attained rest itself, it naturally seeks to assist the struggling.
III. The alternatives to faith.In this last section the Psalmist contrasts faith in God with the other refuges in which he was tempted to put his trust. These were men (Psa 62:9) and money (Psa 62:10). At least, these are the examples which he gives; and perhaps they are the commonest of all substitutes for God. To one in Davids position it would naturally seem a great thing to have mens alliance; but he had tried them and found them wanting. Mean men are vanity, and great men are worsethey are a lie; they make greater promises, but all the worse is the disappointment of those who trust in them. Weigh either, or both together, in the balance as against God, and, says he, they are lighter than nothing; and he could hardly use a stronger phrase. This is a word for all times: by any one who has a great causewho is fighting for Christs causedemocracy and aristocracy are alike to be distrusted; God alone is the watchword.
So we come back to the wisdom of the man of God. Once, he says, he has heard, yea, twicethat is, it has been borne in on him again and again as a Divine truththat power belongeth unto God. This is the end of the whole matter; this is the resource that will avail in every difficulty, which will last through time and through eternity. Also, he adds, unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy. A God of almighty power and, at the same time, of infinite love and sympathythis is the object of our trust.
Illustration
There is a silence which is not that of fright, of pain, of despair, of defiance, but as that of the soul in prayer, and of the heart trusting God, means simply the silence of lamentation, yet in accordance with its nature is the quiet of resignation and the depth of peace in a soul directed towards God, relying upon God, and quieted in God. Such a condition of soul, however, arises only from an unconditional, entire, and exclusive submission to God; and this is not only the single act of yielding to God, but the uninterrupted giving of oneself in order to be in entire safety in God. In order to such an experience in life amid manifold temptations, there is necessary on the one side the help of prayer, in order to be more deeply rooted in God, and constantly renewed in submission to Him, on the other side, the comforting, refreshing, warning promises, in order to keep our own souls awake.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Psa 62:2. He only is my rock He hath been so often; in him I have found shelter, and strength, and succour; he hath, by his grace, supported me under, and delivered me out of my troubles, and by his providence he has defended me from my enemies, and therefore I trust he will still support, deliver, and defend me. I shall not be greatly moved Though I may be shaken, I shall not be overthrown.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
62:2 {b} He only [is] my rock and my salvation; [he is] my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
(b) It appears by the often repetition of this word, that the prophet endured many temptations by resting on God and by patience he overcame them all.