In reading Psalm 62 I imagine someone hiding in a cave, curled up into a ball, and embracing the darkness to protect them until help arrives. This is the picture we get when David was running away from Saul, although this could have very well been written once David was already king and people were rising up against him. Regardless of the time this psalm was written, the point remains the same: only God can save us.
Whether you are fleeing for your life, dealing with an unfair boss, married to an abuser, or something altogether different, we need to recognize who takes care of us. God is on our side. He loves us. He cares for us. Even though people want to harm us, He knows what we are going through and will rescue us. The question is: do we trust Him to do so? It’s much easier said than done, especially if you are in one of these situations right now and you’re wondering: how much longer must I wait?
David then turns his questioning to his assailants, asking how much longer will they pursue and persecute him. Until he is dead? In this process he recognizes their schemes and trickery to try to subdue and overcome him. However, his faith is in God alone. Not his own might, not his own resilience, not his own armies or friends. His soul patiently waits for God’s triumph over his enemies. It is our trust in God that saves us, that heals us, that sets us free.
It’s interesting how we see these songs of praise by David and we look back and say, “is this the man who when he as a boy killed lions and bears and even faced off with a giant?” Yes. Nothing has changed between now and then, only now we see what is happening in his heart and head amidst the struggle. Just because we are downtrodden, full of fear and doubt, and near death does not mean that the battle is lost. The battle is won in our soul as we wait for God and trust in nothing else. This is why James writes that we should consider it pure joy when we encounter trials of all kinds, because these difficult situations we find ourselves in that God allows us to experience are but opportunities to trust in Him more.
From our worldly human perspective, it might seem downright cruel (I’ve had some people tell me so in the past). But if we see it from a Kingdom perspective, then we can see the bigger picture. Nobody grows while in their comfort zone. Sometimes we can force ourselves to venture outside of it for personal growth, but God knows what we are truly capable of and what we can truly handle. He knows our limits and takes us right to the edge of them for maximum spiritual growth.
That which does not kill us only makes us stronger and if it does kill us, then we are ultimately set free from the restrictions of our current human experience. This is why the Apostle Paul said, “for me to live is Christ and die is gain, but I’m not dead yet, so it’s clearly God’s will for me to keep on keeping on.”
