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In contrast to the Rock and the High Tower provided by God, man is likened, in
verse 3, to a "bowing wall, and a tottering fence". And in verse 9 we read:
"ONLY.--Vanity are the low, a lie the high."
This is followed, in verse 10, by the words:
"Trust not in oppression . . . . . set not your heart upon wealth when it increaseth."
We find, too, a progression in confidence as the Psalm proceeds, for in verse 2 we
read:
"He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved."
In verse 6, however, his confidence has grown. He has compared the "bowing wall
and tottering fence", and the vain attempt of his enemy to cast him down; and he can
now say:
"He only is my rock, and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be moved"
(verse 6).
Here we have true boasting, namely, boasting in the Lord, for he who says "I shall not
be moved" without full trust in the Lord may be self-deceived. With true humility the
Psalmist says at first: "I shall not be greatly moved", suggesting a consciousness of
human frailty as well as a confidence in Divine power.
Another passage of a similar kind is found in Psalm 46::
"God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved" (Psa. 46: 5).
In another Psalm, David attributes this blessing to mercy:
"For the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall
not be moved" (Psa. 21: 7).
The same word in the original is render "to slip" and "to slide":
"Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not" (Psa. 17: 5).
"Their foot shall slide in due time" (Deut. 32: 35).
Coming back to Psalm 62:, we find in the second reference to God as the Refuge of
His people, that He is not only a Refuge and Defence from enemies without, but also a
Refuge from anxiety within:
"Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour your heart before Him: God is a refuge for
us" (Psa. 62: 8).
Or, as the writer of the hymn puts it: