Pslam 57-62

Psalm 57 and Psalm 62

So, today we come to Psalm 57 but the next we will do is Psalm 62 and in reviewing the central principle located in Psalm 57 I discovered that the central principle is well-supported by the content of Psalm 62! So, let’s first read and we’ll explain.

Psalm 57:1 <<To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.>> Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. 2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. 3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

The Significance of a Fixed Heart

At this point the Psalmist offers a line that I think is pivotal in the chapter as he says, 7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. 8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. 10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. 11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. So, again, the passage that leapt out to me (at least) is verse 7 where the writer says, “My heart is fixed, Oh God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” And we could just go off and talk about what is needed to have a fixed heart but I found a ready made lesson plan in our next chapter 62. So let’s read it –

Psalm 62:1 <To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.>> Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. 3 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. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

Reflections on Trust and Refuge

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. 9 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. 10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. 11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. 12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. So, lets take verse 7 from chapter 57 and use the content from chapter 62 to illustrate what it looks like to have our heart fixed and what might be.

The Psalmist’s Message on a Fixed Heart

done to ensure its immovability – and we’ve prepared a little graphic to illustrate this:

GRAPHIC

Verse 1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God Verse 5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Verse 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. Verse 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved.

Verse 7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Psalm 57:7 “My heart is fixed, Oh God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” Verse 8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Verse 9 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.

Verse 10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

Verse 11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

Verse 12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Understanding a Fixed Heart

Let’s begin by asking, what does the Psalmist mean when he says, “My heart is fixed?” Twice? There are several words that are synonymous with the Hebrew word translated fixed – the big ones are My heart is “Steadfast” (steady and fast as in fastened) “Prepared” is another. A few weeks ago we talked about the heart of Man and how I see it as the complete representation of the “mind will and emotions” of each individual and that our hearts are what God see’s and assesses from their aims. Interestingly, James, when he wrote, James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. did not use a term that speaks to the mind of a person “alone” but appealed to a unique Greek term, “dipsuchos,” which he alone uses twice in the Apostolic record, with the second time being in the fourth chapter of his epistle where he writes, James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (dipsuchos) With “di” meaning “twice” but mind is “nous,” and this says psuchos meaning soul.

Purity and Steadfastness

Peter writes the direct but powerful words in 1st Peter 1:22 saying “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” A double “heart” is unstable, contradictory, and impossible to trust; a fixed heart unmovable, steadfast, resolute. Listen carefully to what Paul told the Bride in that day in 1st Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty. out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: And so, we can see from the scripture that the steadfastness of our respective hearts is paramount to being right, and true and authentic before God. What are the eight things the Psalmist gives to us in chapter 62 that the Psalmist presents to keep out heart unwavering as disciples of the King? Numero uno, the Psalmist in Psalm 62:1, says, 1 “Truly, my soul waiteth upon God . . .” Then at verse 5 repeats My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. Think about it – we are autonomous beings equipped with mind, will and emotion – all captured in the term “heart,” and one of the hardest things we can learn to do is to wait on an invisible God and whose spirit moves without much detection or obvious direction. The Psalmist adds to the admission that his soul waited upon God (repeated twice) “for my expectation is from Him.” The waiting can admittedly be intolerable, can’t it? It’s what caused the writers of scripture to repeatedly ask

Faith and Trust in Waiting

God, “How long?” right? In so many ways we are like children with our parents riding in the car and because we are bored and tired and don’t know the way find ourselves asking them the same. Interestingly, our waiting upon the Lord is directly tied to our faith in Him, isn’t it? An inability to wait on him is somewhat indicative of our losing trust in Him and often we will act as a means to do somethings. But consider what Paul said, (listen to the order) Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulationA real historical event fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not a future apocalyptic crisis. More worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. People ask for the purpose of life and in the Christian faith there is a direct answer “but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: Early on in my walk I made the decision that we would learn to wait on the Lord and I have to tell you, it does not come easily. But it does help to fix our hearts because when He comes through, our hearts are made more steadfast and fixed to trust Him. The second observation we can take from Psalm 62 on what serves to fix our hearts is also repeated twice as the Psalmist admits,

God as Our Rock and Salvation

2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. And repeats this at verse 6 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved. Standing on Him the Rock of our very salvation the writer adds the line saying, “He is my defense,” I shall not (meaning especially, in my heart, my very soul) “be moved.” When we take the notion that God is our defense,” seriously, it speaks volumes because it removes us from worry, taking revenge, using words that are unseemly and from our flesh, and we literally actually have a mindset that says, “The Lord rebuke thee.” One of the repeated lessons I have to learn and relearn over the course of my life. There is an interesting reference told in the Book of Jude which is all the way out near the end of the Apostolic record. I think of it when I step in to rebuke others or to defend myself against them. In describing the waywardness and vile mouths of the people in his day, Jude writes Jude 1:8-9 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, did not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke thee.” I mean, talk about letting the Lord be his defense! Michael the Archangel wouldn’t even verbally bring harsh words against the devil, it says, but he simply said, “the Lord rebuke thee.” There is power in that, right? The next verse found in chapter 62 is at verse 7 where we read

The Solid Realities of Faith

7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. In this statement we readily hear the solid realities of a faith and trust in God compared to all the alternatives and counterfeits that cause our hearts to waver. Salvation Glory Strength Refuge Most of us learn from first-hand experience how unstable the things of this world are comparatively, even if they appear to have the power to sustain us as a refuge and rock. Of course, the imagery of our hearts failing us is tied to sinking instead of standing on a Rock.

The Importance of Loving and Trusting YAHAVAH

In one of the last chapters of the Book in his name, Joshua will say to the Nation, Joshua 23:11 “Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love YAHAVAH your God. 12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: 13 Know for a certainty that YAHAVAH your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which YAHAVAH your God hath given you. 14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which YAHAVAH your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. 15 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which YAHAVAH your God promised you; so shall YAHAVAH bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which YAHAVAH your God hath given you. 16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of YAHAVAH your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of YAHAVAH be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.” The Psalmist here appears to have personally learned the lesson, and built his heart-house on the rock.

Trust and Vulnerability

The next ideal chapter 62 brings forth that I see as fortifying our hearts and causing them to be fixed, is a one-two combination where he adds at verse 8, “8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” Of course, trust in Him at all times, is another way to say, “wait on Him,” to let Him be our defense and rock, and to look to Him alone as our strength and very glory, but it is the added line, “pour out your heart before Him,” that I want to speak about for a minute. It is a remarkable event when an individual is willing to pour their heart out before their Maker – as it proves their reliance and trust in Him and shows that they truly see Him as worthy and able to be their confidant. Religion is not usually about such vulnerability but through its culture strives to wrap its congregates in fig leaves and representations of having it all together. God wants our heart of hearts – He knows them already but there is something interesting about God and His human creations – He appears to let our approach to Him reign and if we are resistant to Him, He is resistant to us, if we turn to Him, He turns to us.

The Call to Return

Of course to the Nation of Israel God was constantly calling them to return to Him and their former ways (in other words, to repent) like it says in, Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto YAHAVAH, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” or Hosea 6:1 where we read, “Come, and let us return unto YAHAVAH: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.” 2nd Chronicles takes us into a deeper understanding as it says 15:2 “And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; YAHAVAH is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be…

The Principle of Seeking and Finding

Found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

Why would this be so conditional? Why wouldn’t God react endlessly and unconditionally to our wayward ways? I suggest that He is the ultimate respecter of our free will and is not about to infringe upon our deepest desires but being Good, grants them in whatever form they manifest. Yeshua made it plain when He said, Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

The Condition of Sincerity

The often “ignored” condition to such a teaching is that it is always based on our asking “being sincere” which is why we read in Psalm 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. “” Naturally, then, the line, “ye people, pour out your heart to Him,” comes with the qualifier that we do so in truth. There is the most amazing rule of thumb laid out by James when it comes to us and God and the two-way street upon which we relate to each other. In it he says, James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

It seems to me that if we want the Dark to leave us alone, we would react to it through resistance – a freewill choice. And conversely, if we seek God to draw nigh to us, we would first draw nigh to Him. Isn’t that directly reflective of how this life tends to work? That the easy, evil and wrong is always at the door and won’t distance itself from us unless we first distance ourselves from it and then the beautiful things are almost elusive, require effort and determination on our part to find and retain?

The Reminder to Avoid Vanity

While I am convinced that God first loved us and calls to all constantly that once we enter into a relationship with Him, or perhaps even before, each individual must desire and then choose to seek Him and when truthful, He reciprocates, giving each individual their genuine hearts desires. Too formulaic? Perhaps. But a principle, non-the-less. At verse 9 we have more of a reminder set forth by the Psalmist to remind us all not to set our hearts on the fallible shifting sands, when he writes,

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. It’s almost like a palate cleanser to the whole thing. I stand on the rock, I trust in the Lord, He is my strength, I will wait on Him . . . and then . . .

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. And then right after he hits us with another one, you know, in case we aren’t convinced to be wary and this directive seems to speak directly to the idols that tend to tempt us all – money – and he says,

Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. The term, oppression means “do not place our trust in fraud, injuring others, cruelty, unjust gains, extortion or deceit.” Our world is so situated that we can easily be tempted to justify “lies cheating and stealing” to take advantage. Dog eat dog, right? When “the heart is fixed” within us on Him the temptations fade and the ability to do rightly is present. When not, we will waver. My advice on most things is to make a decision of choice before the temptation, base it on

The Power and Mercy of God

Principles, and the temptation to deviate is ameliorated by . . . the heart – the mind, the will and the emotion. The eleventh item found in verse 11 of 62 is intriguing in how it helps fix our hearts and it too appears to be an admission we also decide upon. It reads, “11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” He has the power to heal or not, the power to bring change in people and things or not, the power to convert those we love, the power to overcome obstacles, the power to exact justice on injustices, the power to teach and inform and inspire. To make a fixed decision and agree that God has the power smooths a lot of fears and woes, right? All of these things fix our hearts on Him and Him alone so that we too can claim as the Psalmist, “My heart is fixed, my heart is fixed.” I submit to you that there is no better way to live than by these mind-sets because they liberate us in the act of how to decide to think and behave when choices confront us and they bring us into a relationship with Him that is built on the Rock and not sand.

The Role of Scripture and Heart Fixation

I also want to point out that knowledge of the scripture, while valuable in establishing and fortifying faith, will not always help fix our hearts. I say this from experience. I met and counseled a woman and her husband years ago who was riddled with addictions to meth and sex and after talking with her a couple of times I was utterly astounded by her knowledge of the scripture – like as good as any I had ever encountered – but even with that working knowledge “her heart was not fixed.” This seems to be something where knowledge of scripture can help us understand the need and reason to fix our hearts in faith and trust, patience and waiting . . . but not the power. That comes by and through out submitting ourselves to some decisions “before” and then “standing resolutely on them.

Finally, we read at verse 12, something that is often lost in American seeker friendly Evangelicalism, and that is the reality that God is a rewarder as it says, “12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.” Why tie His mercy to Him “rendering to every man according to his work?” It appears that the Psalmist is reminding the reader that to those whose hearts are fixed God will judge their labors mercifully, realizing our hearts were fixed while our efforts might sometimes lack. The principle, however, of God rewarding all souls according to their labors or fruits was present in the Nation, present to the Bride and I cannot help but believe, with all of my heart, that it is a valid eternal principle today even in the age of fulfillment.

God’s Judgment and Rewards

I can’t prove it contextually, but it seems to be irrefutable if God is to be considered Good. Back in Job we read, “Job 34:11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.” The way to read this is optional as His ways might refer to the man or to God but the point is, God will render to a person according to our actions and labors. When the heart is fixed, the outcome would be a commensurate reward. Unstable, lesser, I suppose. Proverbs 24:12 says, “If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” Jeremiah 32:19 reads, “Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit.”

The Concept of Divine Judgment

We readily maintain and promote that this life is a proving ground for the immature and a training ground for the fixed of heart. We readily maintain and promote that we are freewill agents choosing this day not only whom we will serve but from a fixed heart. We reiterate that God is not a respecter of any person – any – and will justly reward all souls according to their works while on the grounds of life. Speaking to the Bride Yeshua said, Matthew 16:27: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God., till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Can we apply this to us? Not contextually. But I believe the principle remains. And then there are two key readings on the subject that we will end with, beginning with Romans 2 where Paul writes to the Church at Rome.

Judgment According to Deeds

Romans 2:1: “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.”

Building on the Foundation

And finally to the Church at Corinth, Paul, speaking of labors, wrote 1st Corinthians 3:1: “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s…”

The Nature of Work and Reward

Work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Reflection on Personal Beliefs

True today? You decide – and go accordingly.

Contact Information

Questions/Comments/Prayer
Parker