If you would, the Psalm 62. Psalm
62. The name of the message is only
one. Only one. The chief musician to Jethethon,
The Psalm of David. Truly my soul waiteth upon God. From him cometh my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense. I shall not
be greatly moved. How long will ye imagine mischief
against a man He shall be slain, all of you, as a bowing wall
shall be in his tottering fence. They only consult to cast him
down from his excellency. They delight in lies. They bless
with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. My soul, wait
thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock
and my salvation. He is my defense. I shall not
be moved. And God is my salvation and my
glory. The rock of my strength and my
refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, ye
people. Pour out your heart before Him.
God is a refuge for us. 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. Trust not
in oppression, and become not vain in robbery. If riches increase,
set not your heart upon them. God hath spoken once, twice have
I heard this, that power belongeth unto God. Also unto thee, O Lord,
belongeth mercy, for thou renderest to every man according to his
work. Now this song was written by
David for Jedithon, and Psalm 39 was also written for him,
and Psalm 77. Jedithon was one of the chief
musicians of David. And his name means lauder or
praise. Lauder or praise. It's a fitting
name for one of the chief musicians. A fitting name. His sons were
porters or doorkeepers according to 1 Chronicles 16.42 at the
tabernacle. And in this psalm we will see
that the true and sole confidence of David was in God. was in God. And we will see that
the statements which are here spoken are suitable for all occasions
in the believer's life. They're suitable for all occasions
in the believer's life. No matter what the trial is,
no matter what the trouble is, no matter what the temptation
is, no matter whether it be against body or the mind or the soul,
No matter whether it be from within or from without. No matter
whether it be in the early days of faith or in the sunset years
of life's journey for the saint. Proclaim this song, beloved.
Sing this psalm. Read this psalm. And rest in
the precious truths that are within it. It will always meet
your needs. It will always meet your needs.
The psalmist found himself, Spurgeon said, well furnished in the reference
to confidence before God and assurance in his Lord. In this
psalm, David raises this monument in song, the song of the faith
of God's elect. And it's all centered in the
one Who is the object of our faith? God. The Lord Jesus Christ,
our Savior, is God incarnate in the flesh. And we will see the word only
used multiple times in this psalm in reference to how God alone,
God alone is David's refuge. God alone is his hope. And we will see David proclaim
this because this is his experience. He's lived this. He's lived this. God is my salvation. Now we can only know if we are
saved. We can only truly know if we
are saved. We can only be truly be confident
in our own salvation if the Lord has saved us. Let's consider
verse one here. to the chief musician, or jetheth
on a psalm, or to jetheth on a psalm of David, truly my soul
waiteth upon God, from him cometh my salvation. Now David pens
here, truly my soul waiteth upon God. The word truly here means
surely, or only, only. It's translated 35 times in scripture
as only. the Hebrew word that's used here,
and 34 times as surely. Now Spurgeon comments on this
word, truly or verily or only, and he says that the last only
is probably the most prominent sense here. So let us bring this
home for we who believe. Let us bring this home for we
who believe. We who believe that on Christ and Him alone. True
faith is that which rests on God alone. A faith which rests partly on
the Lord and partly on man is a refuge of lies. It's a false
hope. Salvation is all of the Lord,
period. And the believer rests and trusts
in Christ and Him alone. The true believer has a rest
and a confidence on Christ. They wait only on Him. They trust
only in Him. And He alone is their refuge.
I love what one commentator said about waiting. He said, waiting is nothing else
but hope and trust lengthened. For the believer, waiting is
nothing but hope and trust lengthened. We wait on the Lord, hoping and
trusting, hoping and trusting. And when we consider the word
truly being the word only, the text reads, only my soul waiteth
upon God. And we see that God exclusively
God exclusively is the object of David's trust, and God alone
is his salvation. God alone. Now I ask you, what
safety and security? Is there any safety and security
even close to this? what safety and security the
believer has in Christ. He alone, He alone is my salvation. He alone is the one I trust. Once I trusted in my own works,
I did. I trusted in the things that
I did. I was religious but lost. Now Christ is my only hope, my
only refuge. Once I used to brag about the
things that I've done for the Lord. Supposedly. Now I boast
and brag and my savior and what he's done. It's all about. It's all about him. Truly, he's
only. Only my soul waited upon God
and from him cometh my salvation. Turn, if you would, to Psalm
22. Psalm 22. Let us consider this with an
eye to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He had an eye to the
support of the Father in all his sufferings, beloved. Look
at Psalm 22, verse 19. And then put your finger in Psalm
89. We'll go over there after that. Look at Psalm 22, 19. We know this is a psalm of the
cross. But be not thou far from me,
O Lord, O my strength. Haste thee to help me. Now John
Gill brings out about this verse, Christ as God is the mighty God,
the Almighty. As mediator, he is the strength
of his people. But as a man, God is his strength.
God is his strength. He is the man of his right hand,
whom he hath made strong for himself, and whom he hath promised
his arms shall strengthen. And then turn, if you would,
over to Psalm 89, verses 19 to 21. The Scriptures declare, in verse
19 to 21, Then thou speakest in vision to the Holy One, and
saidest, I have laid help upon one that is mighty. I have exalted
one chosen out of the people. Who's the one chosen out of the
people? That's Christ. I have found David my servant
with my holy oil, and I have anointed him. And David is a
pitcher of Christ, beloved, with whom my hand shall be established,
my arm also shall strengthen him. So we are to silently wait
upon our God, trusting in him alone. In the Hebrew, one commentator
brings out this first part where it says, truly my soul waiteth
upon God, is my soul is silent. My soul is silent. We are to
be silent before our God, resting in Him for deliverance. It only
comes from Him, entrusting Him for salvation, which only comes
from Him. Look at the latter part of verse
1. I'll read the whole verse again.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God. From Him cometh my salvation.
Now God's people are taught to wait in patience until deliverance
comes. And let us always remember that
our salvation is in no measure or degree from us. God's elect
look to the one true foundation. The one true foundation. In no
measure or degree does salvation come from us at all. We look
to the one true fountain, the Lord Jesus Christ. And the believer
is one who is enabled by God to wait on God. To wait on Him. It's not easy for us to wait.
Not in our natural self. And even after we're saved, it's
not easy for us to wait. But may God give us grace and
strength to wait on the Lord. To sit silent before Him. To
look to Him alone. for help and deliverance. Turn
if you would to Luke chapter 2. And notice it says, from him
cometh my salvation. David pens, from him cometh my
salvation. Look over in Luke chapter 2.
This is a wonderful portion of scripture. Verses 25 to 32. Salvation comes from God. And
it's in Christ Jesus our Lord. Look at Luke chapter 2. Verses 25 to 32. And behold,
there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And the
same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of
Israel. And the Holy Ghost was upon him. Verse 26. And it was
revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see
death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Before he had
seen God's salvation. And he came by the Spirit into
the temple. And when the parents brought
in the child Jesus to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then took he up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord,
now let us thy servant depart in peace according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. Mine eyes have seen thy salvation. He was looking at a little baby.
Oh, my. God incarnate in the flesh, look
it, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
a light to lighten the Gentiles in the glory of thy people Israel. My goodness, for mine eyes have
seen thy salvation. Has God given you eyes to see
Christ? I pray he does. He's the only
salvation, and he comes from God. From God cometh my salvation,
the believer proclaims. To look to ourselves is a horrible
crime before God. To look to ourselves for salvation
is a horrible crime before God. And God's people rest and trust
in Christ and Him alone. What a contrast to the natural
man, to the natural man who is ever prone to reason why when
situations occur and who try to work out their way out of
situations or find strength in themselves. They don't just sit
and wait. No, they try to fix the situation.
But the believer is told, commanded to rest and to wait upon the
Lord, because from the Lord cometh my salvation. Again, to look
to ourselves for salvation is a horrible crime before God.
It's a horrible crime before God. To ascribe our salvation,
being from ourselves, is to rob God of His glory. It's to rob
God of His glory. It's self-salvation. It exalts
the creature rather than the Creator. It makes man sovereign, and it
makes God at his beck and call. No, salvation is of the Lord. And salvation comes from Him.
And the believer says, praise be to God, because I could never
save myself. Never. Never. Again, salvation
is from the Lord. It comes from the Lord. Our text
proclaims this. And remember what we saw in the
scriptures on Sunday. Noah found grace in the eyes
of the Lord. He found grace in the eyes of
the Lord. The believer receives mercy and
not wrath. Grace upon grace upon grace. And it is all in Jesus Christ
our Lord. And this ties right in with the
second verse of our text. He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense. I shall not
be greatly moved. Note David brings out a wonderful
truth by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. He only is my
rock and my salvation. He is my defense. I shall not
be greatly moved. David uses a metaphor with much
meaning here, much meaning to himself. Now remember, he was
a shepherd. And he uses the figure of a rock,
and this would awaken grateful memories for the psalmist, who
had probably often lay and concealed in rocky caverns. And he here
compares God to such a secret refuge. He is my refuge. He is my defense. He is my rock
and my salvation. And He declares, look at this,
He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense. I shall not
be greatly moved. He declares God to be His only
real protection. His only real protection. He declares God to be His only
salvation. Who is our all-sufficient Savior? Christ, God incarnate in the
flesh. He alone is our rock. He alone is our salvation. What a Savior. He alone is the
all-sufficient Savior. So the ground and reason for
David's confidence is that God is his rock. Is that God? That's why David is confident,
and he can say this, because God is his rock. He has no confidence
in himself, and Paul even penned that. We have no confidence in
ourselves. No, God is his rock. God is his salvation. God is
his defense. You who are the beloved of God,
look back. Look back and see how many times
you have found shelter in Christ since he's saved. Just think
on that. How many times? You won't even
be able to remember them all, I can guarantee you. Time after
time after time. But it'll bring joy to your soul,
because He alone is the refuge of our soul. Now friends may
have deserted you, family may have deserted you, but Christ
is the only constant refuge and friend. He's the only one. And the believer is supported
by his grace, kept by his power, by his mercy. The believer professes it is
he who sought me out. I never sought the Lord. He sought
me out. He drew me with loving cords,
the scripture declares. It's wonderful. When I was dead in trespasses
and sins, He, He sought me. My, what a Savior. And then the
believer professes, it's He who saved me. God saved me. Christ saved me. It's He who regenerated me. I'm born again in the Holy Spirit
of God. It's His work. It's wonderful. And this is what
the believer professes. Salvation is of the Lord. And
then we profess, it's He who keeps me. It's He who is my rock. It's He who is my refuge. It's
He who is my defense. It's Him. It's Him. He by his providence has defended
me from words and insults of my enemies and from his enemies. And it's God who has delivered
me out of my troubles. It's God who took me. I was in
a pit, were you? We were in a pit of sin. It was
like the Maori pit. You try to climb out, you just
slide back down. But help came from above, beloved.
Help came from above. From him alone. Oh, and how many
times has he delivered us out of troubles which we plunged
into? God and God alone has done this. God and God alone. Therefore,
the believer says, I will trust him. I'll trust him. I'll trust
him that he'll deliver me, as he alone is my rock. He's my
only rock. He is my only salvation. And
think of this. My rock is the rock of ages.
My rock is the ancient of days. The ancient of days, scripture
declares. The ancient of days is my defender. This is what the believer proclaims.
The ancient of days is my refuge. The ancient of days is my savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the God of my salvation Turn if you would to Isaiah 32
Isaiah 32 He's a refuge He's a hiding place for the believer
He's a covert from the tempest He's as a shadow of a great rock
in a weary land and Isaiah 32 verses 1 and 2, Behold,
a king shall reign in righteousness. Christ is the King of kings and
the Lord of lords. And princes shall rule in judgment,
as a man shall be in high... And a man shall be as a hiding
place from the wind. This is Christ in a covert from
the tempest is rivers of water in a dry place is a shadow of
a great rock in weary land. Christ is our hiding place from
the law and justice of God. It's poured out upon him in the
place of his people. He's our hiding place. He's our
he's our covert from the tempest. He's a He's where we find refuge
as a shadow of a great rock in a weary land. And remember, Israel
is in a desert area. So a great rock would cast a
shadow, and they would find refuge there from the heat. And they
would also find refuge from storms which come. Oh, what a refuge. Christ is
for his people. He who is called Most High, the
believer professes this, that he who is called the Most High
is my hiding place, is my hiding place. Therefore I'll rest, and
I'll have confidence in him, and I'll wait upon him. Note the latter part of verse
two, he alone, he only is my rock and my salvation, he is
my defense, I shall not be greatly moved. Now David is not, now
David's saying he shall not be moved is not because of his strength.
It's not because of David's strength, it's not because of his faith.
We cannot keep ourselves. And left to ourselves, We'll
go right off the rails. We'll go right off the rails.
Think of this. I was talking to a dear preacher
today and we were talking about how salvation is of the Lord. What does God have to do for
a man to go to hell? Leave him alone. What does God have to do for
a man to go to heaven, to go to glory? Everything. My, that's humbling. That's humbling. But it's the truth. It's the
truth. And David here is not saying
he won't be moved because of his strength. No, no. No, we
would, again, we would go off the rails and left to ourselves.
Now David's personal weakness might cause him to be somewhat
moved, but his faith is in the one who cannot be moved. His faith, His trust is in the
One who cannot be moved. He's kept by the One who cannot
be moved. And think of this. He's kept
by the One who's ever present. Who said to His people, I'll
never leave you, nor forsake you. One commentator bought this out,
and I thought this was a great blessing. He said, moved as one
says, but not removed. Moved, but not removed. What
a great picture this is. Moved like a ship at anchor.
Imagine a ship at anchor. They drop the anchor, right?
Now, that ship is moved by the waves, isn't it? But it's not
pulled away. It's not pulled away. It may
move in the waves when they come. And even if they get rocky, it
may rock. But that anchor is holding it.
Moved like a ship at anchor, which swings with the tide, but
not swept away by the tempest. When a man knows assuredly that
the Lord is his salvation, he cannot be very much cast down,
it would need more than all the devils in hell greatly to alarm
a heart which knows God to be its salvation." So the believer
may be tossed about, may be tossed about by waves as a ship at anchor,
but not moved. Now what a wonderful picture
for the believer. What a wonderful picture for the believer. Where's
our anchor? In glory. In glory. That's why David says,
I'll not be moved. He's anchored to Christ. Christ
is his anchor. That brings the believer great
joy. Our anchor's not here. He's in glory. Our rock is Christ. Our defense is Christ. Our hope
is Christ. Our rest is Christ. Our salvation
is in Christ. And he keeps us, and therefore
we shall not be moved. Our hope is in Him. So let's
consider verses three and four now. 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. They only consult to cast him
down from his excellency. They delight in lies, they bless
with their mouth, but they curse inwardly, Selah. Now here's the
first pause. David marvels here before us.
One commentator said that the dogged perseverance in the malice
of God's enemies who persecute him. After so many failures and
certain defeat before them, he tells them that their plans and
their designs against God and his people are imaginary ones. They won't amount to nothing. and they could never accomplish,
however deeply they might try and however deeply they might
plot, God will thwart them. God will thwart them. It says
they are as a bowing wall and as a tottering fence. Boastful
persecutors bulge and swell with pride against God's people, against
God and his people. And they are only as a bulging
wall, ready to fall. The enemies of God and his people
lean forward to seize their prey. They plot against God and they
plot against his people, but we see here that they are only
as a tottering fence. You ever been near a tottering
fence? I've seen lots. You go up and they're just about
ready to fall down. My. They fall to the earth. Why? Because their foundation
is in the dust. They have no rock like we do.
They have no foundation like God's people do. Our rock and
our foundation is Christ. So they must assuredly fall.
And when they do, they are buried in their own room. They're buried
in their own room, slain by God. God's enemies consult to cast
down the believer from trusting and resting in Him alone. Spurgeon
brings forth Notice it says in verse four, they only consult
the cast him down from his excellency. They delight in lies, they bless
with their mouths, but they curse inwardly, see law. Spurgeon brings
out the, they consult the cast down the believer from trust
in God and from resting in him alone. He says this, if the wicked
could ruin the work of grace in us, they would be content.
They would be content. to crush our character, to overturn
our influence, is the object of their gathering together and
plotting together. Well, they sound like the Pharisees
of old, don't they? Turn, if you would, to Luke chapter
11, verse 39. The Pharisees of old, they used
to bless with the mouth and curse inwardly, just like this scripture
says. Look at Luke chapter 11. Luke chapter 11. Verse 37, And as he spake, a
certain Pharisee beside him did dine with him, and he went in
and sat down to meet. And when the Pharisee saw it,
he marveled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the
Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside
of the cup and the platter, but your inward part is full of raving
and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made
that which is is without make that which is within also, but
rather give alms of such things as you have. And behold, all
things are clean unto you. Oh, they cleaned the outside
pretty good, didn't they? Religious, but lost. Religious, but lost. Oh, they say they bless with
the mouth, but inward, they're raving wolves. They make the outside clean,
but they're full of wickedness. And then we see Selah, which
is pause. Now pause and reflect on the
differences between the two people bought forth, the ones made righteous,
the ones who trust in the Lord, and the wicked who hate God and
his people. Stand in awe, stand in awe, and consider the salvation
of the Lord. Consider who it is that made
them to differ, God, and God alone. Salvation is all of Him from
beginning to end. From Him, verse 1, cometh my
salvation. From Him. God planned salvation. God Himself provided a lamb,
a provision, a substitute for the sins of His people. God Himself,
the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man, died for His people upon the
cross. God the Holy Spirit regenerates us. We're born again by the Holy
Spirit of God and granted faith and repentance to believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ. He keeps us while we're here
in this world and one day here glorify us. So we can see that
our salvation from beginning to end comes from God, comes
from Him. Look at verse five, my soul wait
thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him. Note how quickly
the soul, the faithful soul returns to God, the God of his confidence.
He returns to the ground of his confidence. Hawker says, having
spared a moment to admonish the ungodly, the psalmist again sets
his mind upon the God of his salvation. Beloved, he holds
fast to God, he holds fast to God. For the believer, Christ
alone is our joy. Christ alone is our joy. He's the joy of our salvation,
and we set our eyes upon Him in hope, which is the meaning
of expectation in our text. My soul, wait thou only upon
God for my expectation. Hope is from Him. The grace of hope is from the
Lord, one commentator wrote, and the thing hoped for is from
Him, Christ. He is the author and the object
of it and the giver of it. Oh, it leaves you in awe. Look at verse 6, it's a proclamation
again that God is David's rock, and God is David's salvation,
and God is David's defense, and he shall not be moved. Because
again, he's anchored to Christ. He's anchored to Christ. He's
united to Christ. How can we say that? Well, we
know that the elect, those given to Christ by the Father, are
the body of Christ, both Old Testament and New Testament saints.
He's the head, and we're the body. They're anchored to him. And this is a proclamation again
that David's rock and salvation is Christ, is God. Look, He only
is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense. I shall not
be moved. David, he's hitting that bell
again. He's tolling the bell again. Let it ring as the death knell
of all fleshy reliance of works-based salvation, in that we who believe
cast ourselves on the arm of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. And may we proclaim, He only
is my defense, not my defender, but He's my actual protection. He's my actual protection. Just
like the shepherd will protect those sheep, He was their protector. The Lord is my shepherd. The
believer professes my shepherd, my protection. And the believer
in Christ cries out, I am secure because He is faithful. It's not about me. I'm secure
because He is faithful. I shall not move because He keeps
me. What a Savior. Let's consider
verses seven and eight. In God is my salvation and my
glory. The rock of my strength and my
refuge is in God. Gil brings out, in God is my
salvation or upon God. He that is God over all took
it upon himself. Think of this, I love this. Gil
brings this out. God overall, he that is God overall,
took it upon himself to save David. And David proclaims this. In God is my salvation. My. Is this not the cry of the believer?
God himself has saved me. God himself. The self-existent
one. the ancient of days. He has saved
me. Praise his mighty name. That's
all we can say. Praise his mighty name. As one grace preacher said, we
are scared to death to trust in anything we have done or in
ourselves in salvation because salvation is of the Lord. We
are scared death to trust in anything we have done or in ourselves
in salvation because salvation is of the Lord it's of the Lord and The psalmist proclaims God
alone is the author of salvation to me Salvation is in him and
David proclaims in him. I am safe and secure and I shall
be saved in him with an everlasting salvation and in everlasting
salvation. Now note how the psalmist brings
it home when, as he's rejoicing in God, he proclaims and sings.
Remember, this is a song. He sings praises to his God.
My expectation, my rock, my salvation, my glory, my strength, my refuge. Who's he giving all the glory
to? He's giving all the glory to
God. And he alone is worthy of the glory. And note in our text
also that David proclaims that God is his glory. In God is my
salvation and my glory. The rock of my strength, my refuge
is in God. He doesn't boast in himself.
He boasts in God alone. Now religious folks love to tell
you what they've done and what they're doing and they love the
glory in themselves. But David here, he glories in
the Lord. He glories in what God has done.
He proclaims what God has done. It's all about him. He alone. And God is my salvation and my
glory. My glory. It's all in Him. He gives God all the glory. His
boast is in the Lord. He didn't boast about what He's
done. He boasts in Christ. He boasts in God. Look what God's
done. Is that not what preachers do?
Grace preachers get up, we boast in Christ. And we who are God's sheep, we
love it. We rejoice. We rejoice in this. He boasts in the one who is Lord.
He boasts in the one he trusts. So where should we glory but
in him who saves us? Where should we glory but in
him? In him. You know why? Because He alone
is worthy. I'm just a sinner saved by grace.
I can't boast in anything I know or anything I've done. But I
can boast in the one who's done everything for me. Christ and Christ alone. Turn,
if you would, to Psalm 3. We'll do a quick little thing
here. We'll go through a couple different places here. David
wrote of this also in Psalm 3. He wrote of this. Look at Psalm 3, verse 3. But
thou, O Lord, but thou, O Lord, art a shield
for me, my glory in the lifter up of mine head. Then turn, if
you would, over to Isaiah 45. And I'll read what Paul wrote
over in 2 Corinthians 10. He wrote this. But he that glorieth,
let him glory in the Lord. Let him glory in the Lord. What do we always say? What witnesses? Telling people the great things
the Lord has done for us, right? He does. This is what he's done. Glory in him. Isaiah wrote of
this. Look at Isaiah 45 verse 25. In the Lord shall all the seed
of Israel be justified and shall glory. They glory in Him. They glory in God. God's people
glory in God. And then turn, if you would,
over to Galatians chapter 6. Galatians chapter 6. Paul wrote
of this. As I mentioned earlier, he wrote
in 2 Corinthians 10, 17, But he that glorieth, let him glory
in the Lord. Look at this over in Galatians. Galatians chapter
6, verse 11 to 14. You see how a large letter I
have written unto you with mine own hand. Galatians 6, verse
11, and in verse 12, As many as desire to make a fair show
in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised. only lest
they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. Verse
13, for neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the
law, but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. They may boast about the things
that they've done, but God forbid that I should glory, save in
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified
under me, and I unto the world. My word of glory in Christ and
Him alone. Also note in the text that David's refuge in verse 7, in God is my salvation
and my glory. The rock of my strength and my
refuge is in God. Also note that God is David's
refuge. Now we've looked at how the cities
of refuge are a picture of Christ, and how that the manslayer, once
inside the city, was saved from the avenger of blood. So too,
Christ is the only refuge for the believer. He's the only refuge. The law and justice have a claim
on every one of us, but under the blood, In Christ, our city
of refuge, the believer is safe and secure. We found a refuge. It's not anything we do. It's
all in Christ. It's all in Christ. David proclaims that God is the
strength of the believer. He proclaims, not only is Christ
my strength, but He's my refuge. And think of this, you who are
beloved of God. He's also our righteousness. He's our righteousness. He's
my salvation, the believer proclaims. He's my redeemer. And we rest
secure in God, who is our strength. The one who is the rock of ages.
The one who has everlasting strength. Let's consider verse 8. It says,
trust in Him at all times, ye people. Pour out your hearts.
before Him. God is a refuge for us. Selah. And David exhorts the believer
in Christ to constantly trust. This is not a general trust,
but a constant trust. A special particular trust. Not
only now and then, but all the time. If a situation comes up
in your life, just trust the Lord. And it's sometimes hard
for us. I admit it. It is sometimes tough for us.
But we are to trust the Lord. Nothing that comes up in our
lives ever catches God by surprise. Nothing. He knows the end from
the beginning. He's a reliable one to trust
in at all times and upon all occasions. Then he closes the
verse with Selah. Again, pause and consider this.
Let's look at verses nine and 10. 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. Trust not
in oppression, and become not vain in robbery. If riches increase,
set not your heart upon them. David exhorts the believer not
to trust in the things of the world. Turn, if you would, to
Colossians chapter three. Not to trust in the things of
the world, be it men or riches. We are to keep our eyes upon
Christ. We are to trust and rest in Him alone. And Paul echoes
this over in Colossians chapter 3. Colossians chapter 3, verses
1 and 3. If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right
hand of God. Set your affection, your heart.
Remember when we did that study? Your heart. So our eyes are to
seek those things which are above, to look to Christ. And then we
are to set our affection, your heart, on things above. Not on
things in the earth. For you are dead and your life
is hid with Christ in God. But remember also, the hardest
thing for us to do as believers is to enter into the rest of
Christ, isn't it? May God give us grace and strength
to do that. To do that. Let's close with
verse 11 and 12. Now, God has spoken once twice.
Have I heard this? That power belongeth unto the
God. What a proclamation of the sovereignty of God. Power belongeth
unto the unto God. Also, under the old Lord belongeth
mercy. What mercy he has upon his people
in Christ Jesus, our Lord, for thou renders to every man according
to his work. Now Spurgeon brings out what
particular reference the psalmist makes to God speaking is not
said, but never did the Lord give a more decided evidence
of his power than in speaking to us through his son in the
redemption of sinners. God's word and God's oath. Turn,
if you would, the Hebrews chapter six and we're closed with this.
God's word and oath, both in Christ are two immutable things
which poor sinners have a strong consolation to flee unto the
blessed assurance of redemption by Jesus Christ, our Lord. Hebrews
chapter six. Verses 17 to 20. Wherein God, willing more abundantly
to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel,
confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things in which
it is impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation,
who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before
us, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure
and steadfast. in which entereth into that within
the veil. Whether the forerunner is for
us entered, even Jesus made an high priest forever after the
order of Melchizedek. What a refuge we have, beloved.
We who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before
us. That's Christ. Christ is the hope set before
us. Which hope we have is an anchor of the soul. And look
at this, sure and steadfast. Sure and steadfast. He's immovable. That's my Savior. That's my Redeemer. Oh, I pray that if He's not yours,
that God would reveal Himself to you. That's our prayer. That's our hope. Gracious Heavenly
Father, we come before Thy throne, we who are redeemed, we who are
purchased by Your precious blood in awe of Your sovereignty, in
awe that salvation comes from Thee, in awe that we are saved
by the precious blood of Christ. Oh, we pray that you would use
this message for your glory, and if it's your will to draw
in your lost sheep, to reveal yourself to them, we give you
all the glory and all the honor and all the praise. Lord, be
with us this week. Keep us safe. Watch over us. We know you ever do. Oh, Lord,
may we glorify thee in our lives this week. In Jesus' name, amen. The rock. Oh, the rock, our shelter,
our safety.