Soul Rest | Psalm 62

Welcome to Real Life. What's threatening to topple you?

You don’t become king without making a few enemies along the way. In his early years, David was a powerful warrior who defended God and his nation Israel. He accumulated enemies. Someone was always trying to topple him from his lofty place. During those times when David felt harassed, where did he go for comfort? Where did he find rest? He ran to 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.

Though I’m no powerful leader like a king or even a CEO, I know what it is to feel harassed. We live in a stressful world. There is forever an enemy trying to topple us—war, pandemic, runaway inflation, fear, health issues, family conflicts, financial crises, hurt feelings.

Because I’ve been feeling a bit harassed lately, I’m memorizing David’s psalm. Even in the midst of this crazy, stressful world, we can find a deep soul rest in God. He is the one who will save us. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot be pure-good-holy enough to save our souls. But not only does the Lord save our souls, he saves us from our enemies, our troubles, our fears. In a shaky world where mass shootings are becoming commonplace and the possibility of nuclear war is on the horizon, our God is a rock-solid foundation to build our lives upon. He is our fortress, a safe place where we can run and hide and seek shelter from every storm and protection from every attack.

“Trust him, pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge,” David counsels. We can bring God our hidden fears, our darkest secrets. Not only does he hear, he answers. He helps us. He fights for us. He meets the deepest needs of our hearts—specifically, our need to be fully known and fully loved. “With you, Lord, is unfailing love,” David prays. Not simply love, but the kind of love that will never disappoint us. Nothing we say or do will stop God’s love. It never gives up on us. When we call out to God with a sincere heart, he never turns us away.

Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. Our standing in society matters not. President or beggar at the side of a freeway, we are all equal in God’s sight. We don’t need a special position of authority to gain access to his throne. Only one relationship matters. If we know the Son of God, we can approach the Father under Christ’s authority. Jesus unlocked heaven’s door for us all.

Though God’s love never fails, he will not force it upon us. You reward everyone according to what they have done. If we ignore God, if we continually turn away from him, he will honor our choice and ignore us. And alternatively, God sees every good deed, every act of kindness. A cup of cold water given in Jesus’ name will not go unrewarded. Is it worthwhile to serve God? Oh, yes!

“God is the greatest giver in the universe,

and He won’t let you out give Him.”

–Randy Alcorn

So if, like me, you’re feeling a bit harassed, if this crazy world is trying to topple you, follow David’s advice with me. Run home. Truly our souls find rest in God.

Dear Father God,
We run to you,
You are our safe place, our refuge in every storm.
Please help us, heal us, rescue us.
Forgive us for the ugly, selfish things we have done.
Comfort our hearts with your unfailing love.
And give us your rest and peace.
We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.


    _____

Psalm 62

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”