A manual of the book of Psalms · Martin Luther
PSALM LXII.
_David professing his confidence in God discourageth his enemies.—In the same confidence he encourageth the godly.—No trust is to be put in worldly things.—Power and mercy belong to God._ To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him _cometh_ my salvation. He only _is_ my rock and my salvation; _he is_ my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. 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. They only consult to cast _him_ down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation _is_ from him. He only _is_ my rock and my salvation: _he is_ my defence; I shall not be moved. In God _is_ my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, _and_ my refuge, _is_ in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God _is_ a refuge for us. Selah. 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. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart _upon them_.
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power _belongeth_ unto God. Also unto thee, O LORD, _belongeth_ mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. This Psalm contains most excellent doctrine: it greatly exalts the dignity of faith, showing how firm a safeguard faith in God is, and what a strong defence it is against all the evils of life. On the other hand, the Psalmist shows the vanity of all confidence in men;—that nothing is more vain, or more fallacious than to trust in man. ‘God (says he) is my rock, my strength, and my defence: God is my hope, my salvation, my strength, my glory, my life, and my trust. God is my safe protection. God is my faithful helper; who never deceives me. Therefore, vain are the sons of men. The sons of men are all liars:’ that is, all human things are deceiving, uncertain, and cannot be held fast. Many are to be found, who trust in the favour of kings and princes; and on that account, they are puffed up with pride and insolence, and oppress others with the more confidence; and especially if they see their wall bowing down and giving way; that is, if they see a man declining in his affairs, who was once in prosperity; or if they see him not protected by wealth and influence against injury: such an one as this, they endeavour to overthrow wholly; and to that end, ingratiate themselves with the powerful, and wind themselves into their affections, on whose favour they depend; as on a propitious deity.
But such see not how fallacious the favour of men is, and how variable and uncertain their wills are; in a word, they see not that “vain is the help of man!” Nor will they believe it to be vain, until they find it out by experience, and are brought to lament their error; as Cicero and many other wise men have done. Cicero exclaims with respect to Octavius, ‘O how vain was all my reputation for being a wise man, &c.! O how far was I from being wise indeed; though I sometimes evinced that wisdom which was esteemed to be such; but in vain!’ Thus writes he in his epistle to Octavius.—Therefore the sum of all religion is ‘Trust in God and injure not thy neighbour!’ So shalt thou rightly conduct thyself before both God and men!
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.