Psalms 62:1

PSALM LXII

David, in imminent danger, flees to God for help and safety,

1, 2;

points out the designs of his adversaries, 3, 4;

encourages his soul to wait on God, 5-8;

shows the vanity of trusting in man, and of trusting in riches,

9, 10;

and concludes with asserting that power and mercy belong to

God, and that he will give to every man according to his works,

11, 12.

NOTES ON PSALM LXII

The title, "To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun," may mean that the Psalm was sent to him who was the chief or leader of the band of the family of Jeduthun. It appears that Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman, were chief singers in the time of David; that they, with their families, presided over different departments of the vocal and instrumental worship in the tabernacle, 1 Chronicles 25:1, c. that they were holy men, full of the Divine Spirit, (a thing very rare among singers and performers in these latter days,) and that they prophesied with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals; that Jeduthun had six sons thus employed; that himself prophesied with a harp to give thanks and praise to God, 1 Chronicles 25:3; and that the sons of Jeduthun were appointed by lot to the different courses. The eighth course fell to his son Jeshaiah, 1 Chronicles 25:15; the twelfth, to Hashabiah, 1 Chronicles 25:19; and the fourteenth, to Mattithiah, 1 Chronicles 25:21.

Will our modern performers on instruments of music in churches and chapels, pretend to the prophetic influence? If they do not, and cannot, how dare they quote such passages in vindication of their practice, which can be no better than a dulcet noise without its original meaning, and alien from its primary use? Do they indeed prophesy with harps, and psalteries, and cymbals? or with their play-house aggregate of fiddles and flutes, bass-viols and bassoons, clarionets and kettle-drums? Away with such trumpery and pollution from the worship and Church of Christ!

Though it is not very clear from the Psalm itself on what occasion it was composed, yet it is most likely it was during the rebellion of Absalom; and perhaps at the particular time when David was obliged to flee from Jerusalem.

Verse Psalms 62:1. Truly my soul waiteth upon God] I do not think that the original will warrant this translation, אך אל אלהים דומיה נפשי ak el Elohim dumiyah naphshi, "Surely to God only is my soul dumb." I am subject to God Almighty. He has a right to lay on me what he pleases; and what he lays on me is much less than I deserve: therefore am I dumb before God. The Vulgate, and almost all the Versions, have understood it in this sense: Nonne Deo subjecta erit anima mea? Shall not my soul be subject to God? In other words, God alone has a right to dispose of my life as he pleases.