Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our Refuge. I choose that name, although the following verse does not use it, because two of the words in the verse imply it. “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved” (Psalm 62:2).
In his time of threat, David is focused on God alone as his salvation. In verse 2, he continues the idea of exclusivity – that only God is the one who can save him. Now, instead of just stating that fact, he expands upon it. What is this God like in whom David trusts?
David gives three descriptive names for God: rock, salvation, and defence. These three names of God illustrate God’s character, and they explain why David places his trust in such a God.
The first name is “Rock.” This refers to a rock or boulder, especially one that is sharp. Technically, it is probably a cliff. This gives the idea of a refuge. Imagine being at the top of such a precipice. The steepness and sharpness make it difficult for the enemies to ascend. It presents danger and threat of injury to the enemies just in its physical surface. Furthermore, the enemies are at a great disadvantage. As they struggle to make their way up, they are defenseless, easy pickings for someone sitting at the top. The angle of the walls makes it nearly impossible for them to shoot any weapon at the one who is sitting on top. This Rock is a place of refuge, of safety.
The second name is “Salvation.” This is the same word used in v. 1, and a key word within the psalm. The best understanding is that of deliverance. It refers to aid, victory, prosperity, health, welfare. Some of those applications are stronger than others. For instance, health and prosperity are kind of like the extras of life. They are taking things into the realm of the positive and of advantages. Other words like deliverance and victory are more in the realm of necessity, of saving one’s life. That is the kind of situation David was in. This Salvation is able not only to bestow with blessings, or restore those blessings when they have been absent, but He is also able to rescue from the most dangerous and helpless situations imaginable.
The third name is “Defence.” This refers to a cliff or inaccessible place. The focus is on its height. This word also implies a refuge; it is a retreat, a high fort, or a stronghold. While there are some similarities to the first name, Rock, there are also special differences. The Rock’s outstanding feature was its sharpness, while the Defence’s outstanding feature is its height. Both aspects serve more or less the same purpose. They make the idea of an assault a daunting prospect. They place the assailants at a great disadvantage, more likely to be killed or injured in the attempt than to successfully scale the place of refuge. There is a very low probability of success. The enemies may know exactly where their prey is, and they might be breathing out threats and expending tremendous energy in their pursuit, but they are powerless to touch the one they seek.
When focused on these three names, is it any wonder that David states he will not be greatly moved? This word “moved” speaks of wavering, slipping, shaking, falling, or tottering. Is he speaking literally, of his body and physical well-being? I don’t think so. I think the wavering to which David refers is the shaking in his spirit. He is claiming a stability of soul. By using the qualifier “greatly,” (which he will later omit), he is acknowledging the possibility of some amount of wavering, but really not on a significant level. He is not like someone without God, who cowers in fear or who is paralyzed and overwhelmed by the treat. He isn’t falling apart inside. He isn’t filled with turmoil. He is basically stable and firm. He is able to continue living and doing what he needs to do.
Does this sound familiar? Probably because it is exactly what is stated in Isaiah 26:3. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” How does one remain at peace during times of trouble? By thinking about God, by keeping his mind firmly fixed on God. What better way to do that than by remembering His characteristics through His names! Because, what happens when we deliberately remember how great God is? We naturally trust in such a great God.
This is why it is so important to deliberately turn our concentration to God during trouble. The character and names of God elicit trust within us. It is no accident that the Psalms (and the rest of the Bible) are so filled with these descriptive names of God, names that collectively illustrate the greatness of God. By my personal study, I identified over 120 names just in the book of Psalms. In this psalm alone, David refers to God as his salvation, rock, defence, expectation, glory, rock of his strength, and refuge.
As a matter of personal testimony, I have found this practice to be very helpful. In the past year or so, I have been more deliberate about this by purposefully memorizing psalms that help me to think about who God is. In particular, I use these before I fall asleep at night, when I wake up in the morning, or whenever I am awake in the night. (Plus during difficult times at work, during dentist’s appointments and blood draws, and anytime else that my mind needs refreshed.) They give me foundations for meditation. Psalm 23 was so helpful to me, but eventually I decided I needed something fresh. That’s when I moved to Psalm 121, which was another great experience.
Success breeds success, so after I saw how helpful it was to have more weapons in the arsenal, I moved on to Psalm 62. My memorization is slow. Even though I have chosen familiar psalms, it can take me months to memorize them. But that’s okay. That just means I’m spending that much more time thinking about them, and hopefully getting them so firmly ingrained that I will always have them. I share this not to brag on myself, but to encourage you with the idea. If you don’t already do something like this, you can! And it doesn’t matter if it takes months. Honestly, what could possibly be bad about spending three months or six months focusing on a particular psalm (or other passage)? There is no downside! Just blessing.
This week may God keep your mind focused on His greatness, so that you can rest at peace even in the midst of threats and trouble. He is our Rock, our Salvation, our Defence.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
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