It Starts Small

All of God’s Word is a treasure to my heart. There are so many wonderful scriptures and I cannot pick which is the most important because they are all God’s wonderful truth! Truth that reveals who I am. Truth that reveals all circumstance and situation. Truth about God himself. I have a scripture that was written on a whiteboard on my fridge in my old home. When I was forced to move to a new home, I took it with me.

62 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. ² He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. Psalm 62:1-2

Many Christians say they have cornerstones to their Christian lives. This is one of those verses to me. I cannot recall how I came across it but it jumped off the page at me. I studied this passage of scripture. SO often people will use bits and pieces of God’s Word out of context, and on the advice of a preacher, I look before and behind all scripture to understand the context of this verse.

The key word in this passage is rest. The Hebrew word rest conveys the idea of silence, being quiet, and being still. Another passage from Psalms uses this idea in the same way.

46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Psalms 46:1-2

Jesus also spoke with this idea by saying “Peace, be still.”

Rest is calming ourselves down long enough to claim, in any given situation, the presence, promises and providence of God, which are ours through Christ.

We can use God’s Word to further this idea through both the New and Old Testament. In Exodus 33, Moses is being personally challenged by the daily care of the people and they wander through the wilderness. He tells the Lord about his challenges. The Lord’s reply is simply wonderful and beautiful:

¹⁴ And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. Exodus 33:14

In Matthew, Matthew rights about how the disciples were upset about John the Baptist’s imprisonment and they had just been completely rejected in Galilee. They were weary and frazzled. Jesus gives them amazing hope and encouragement:

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

These are the only two places where the phrase is repeated word for word: and I will give you rest. Lord God ALmighty spoke it to Moses and Jesus speaking it is a way to say, by the way, that promise is not just for Moses. That promise is for all who have received me. It is interesting to note the position of the Psalm. It is halfway between Exodus 33 and Matthew 11. This Psalm makes it very personal.

This is our banner through which we enter every morning and exit every night. God is awesome and uses David to teach us how to rest in the remaining verses of Psalm 62.

Tell others who torment you

³ How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. ⁴ They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. Psalms 62:3-4

David is telling his advisories, how long will you assault me? A group of people had plotted to undermine his rule. They looked upon David and basically said, look, he’s a fence about to fall over. Let’s just finish it giving it a little shove. BUT David’s reply was epic! He said you can not topple me because my soul finds rest in God and God alone. He is my rock and my fortress!

When we decide to put our rest in Christ, we are able to tell someone about it and even those who persecute us. We are able to tell them, My soul rests in God alone. He alone is my rock, my salvation, and my fortress, I will not be moved!.

Speak it to Yourself

⁵ My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. ⁶ He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. ⁷ In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Psalm 62:5-7

David had to preach this to himself. He was in a time of great despair and had to pick himself up and preach to himself. In verse five he tells addresses himself. He tells himself, almost word for word what he opened the chapter with. He was repeating it to himself. We must keep telling ourselves we need to be calm and recognize, that in any situation, the presence, promise and providence of God is ours through Christ.

Tell Everyone

⁸ Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. ⁹ Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. ¹⁰ Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

David, affirms this truth to others. He is affirming this truth to others by saying, you people. We can imagine that people could see what was going on in the court. You had King David and people that wanted to knock him off the throne. You had his followers and supporters and those who supported the opposition. He is speaking to everyone saying, hey pour your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Those that supported David, received encouragement, and those who did not a strong warning.

Verse eight is a powerful verse! Trust in Him. God’s Word uses this phrase many times!

²⁰ And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him. 1 Chronicles 5:20

⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. Psalms 28:7

⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5

³ And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3

⁹ And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have trusted in him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Isaiah 25:9

⁷ The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Naham 1:7

¹³ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in trusting in Him, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13

⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that trusteth on him shall not be confounded. 1 Peter 2:6

God wants us to trust in Him at all times. We show this all the time by:

Praising Him and Worshiping Him (Psalm 34:1)
Obedience (Psalm 119:20)
Loving Others (Proverbs 17:17)
Prayer (Romans 1:10)
In All Things (2 Corinthians 9:8)
At All Times (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

This circles us back to resting in Him. We are not talking about sleeping or an afternoon snooze. The rest we are talking about is confidence and the hope of His unfailing promise. David continues with telling us to not worry about what torments us or who is tormenting us. He says they will pass away. He says do not be greedy for money like the tormentors are. If you accumulate, do not set your heart upon it because that is the mistake of the enemy. Make your inner security and contentment be God alone. Put your hope in God’s promises and unfailing love. Rest your soul on His solid rock foundation of truth.

Tell God

¹¹ God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. ¹² Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. Psalm 62:11-12

David affirmed this truth in his prayer. He says, Lord you are in control. God has all power and authority and He pours his unfailing love out on us. He affirms that God is judge and will deal with the situation that is tormenting us. David affirms this and again repreats to God that his soul rests in God alone.

David presents us with a very thoughtful question: what do you rest in and who or what is your hope in? If you find yourself in a place of restlessness and false hope, David gives us these easy steps to follow:

1. Make the declaration: My soul finds rest in God alone.
2. Affirm this to those troubling us.
3. Remind Yourself
4. Share it with others
5. Claim it in prayer to God