OBST 590 - Old Testament Introduction

When a theologian attempts to understand an author's exact meaning in a particular part of Scripture, he or she is usually applying the principles and processes of Hermeneutics. At least, he should be. Fortunately, the processes of Hermeneutics are not as complicated as its name might imply. To understand the above phrase, "I shall not be greatly moved" and to specifically understand the author's use of the word "greatly", we will consider such things as the poetry of the psalms, the types of psalms that were written, the type of psalm that Psalm 62 is, the author of Psalm 62, some of the reasons why this psalm might have been written, the author's use of a book ending in the psalm, his use of a word picture in our short phrase, and a variation in how this phrase has been translated in another popular translation of the Bible. Once we have examined each of these aspects of our target phrase, we will consider how someone might be able to apply the truth of Psalm 62 to their own life.

A. The Poetry of the Psalms

First, we need to say something about the type of Scripture that we have in Psalm 62. The Bible contains two basic types of writing. They are narrative and poetry. Narrative is also called prose, and its principle characteristic is that it has no principle characteristics. Poetry is language written in lines where line length is important while narrative is not concerned with line length. Poetry is concerned with efficiency and about saying quickly that which it is trying to communicate. But narrative is not necessarily driven by the same requirement to be efficient. Finally, poetry contains imagery and is experiencial, while narrative does not have to be concerned with either of these. The Book of Psalms is a book of poetry. It is written in the language of experience, and it may or may not teach doctrine.

B. The Type of Psalm

Like the other psalms, Psalm 62 is a poem, but it is more than just a poem because the psalms were written in several different forms. Two of the major forms were, first, "psalms of lament" where the author was expressing an outward sorrow and, second, "psalms of praise" where the author was offering praise and adulation to his Lord. Other types of psalms were royal psalms, Divine Kingship psalms, wisdom psalms, and penitential psalms. But these are not important to our study, so they will not be considered any further.

What type of psalm is Psalm 62? When you read it, do you sense that the author is lamenting over some great sadness that he might be feeling, or do you think that he is expressing some kind of praise to his God? In verses 3 and 4, the psalmist seems to be talking about a conflict that either he or the nation of Israel is experiencing. Because the verses do not clearly describe the conflict, though, we cannot definitely know. But either way, the author is talking about people who could probably be considered the enemy. However, while writing about his enemy, the psalmist is not seen lamenting to the Lord over the situation. Instead of complaining, he seems to be rejoicing in the victory that is his through his God. Therefore, this psalm seems to be more of a psalm of praise and confidence than a psalm of lament.

C. The Probable Author of Psalm 62

Next, we can understand something about this psalm if we know who wrote it. We might even be able to understand more about why it was written. The superscription at the beginning of the psalm says, "To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A psalm of David." In ancient days, the psalms were often sung, and this superscription on this psalm suggests that Psalm 62 was one of those that would have been sung in some kind of worship service.

In I Chronicles 16:41-42, we learn that Jeduthun was part of a group that had been put together to offer praise and give thanks to the Lord through music. These verses say that they used cymbals and trumpets for making their music. In I Chronicles 25:1-6, the Bible says that they used harps, psalteries, and symbols to offer their music unto the Lord, and these verses also tell us that some or all of Jeduthun's sons entered into the same ministry as their dad. Finally, in II Chronicles 5:12, we learn that Jeduthun was one of the singers, too.

Next, we read that this was a psalm of David, and this expression can mean either that it was written by David, that it was written for David, or that it was written about David. A general rule for interpretating these kinds of psalms is that one should assume that David was the author unless some type of additional information suggests otherwise.

D. Why Psalm 62 Might Have Been Written

Going back to the idea of dealing with an enemy and also accepting David as the author presents several explanations for why Psalm 62 might have been written. Before finally claiming the throne as king, David was pursued by a jealous and bitter King Saul. So, perhaps David was writing Psalm 62 to express his praise for the Lord and confidence in Him while in the midst of those struggles. On another occasion, after he had become exhausted from constantly having to escape from Saul, David became involved with the King of Gath, and those people were the enemies of Israel. So, perhaps David was writing Psalm 62 to express his confidence and praise in God during that difficult period of his life.

Another possibility is that David wrote Psalm 62 after he had been chased from the throne in Jerusalem by his son Absalom. In II Samuel 13:6-14, we read that Amnon had faked being sick so that Absalom's sister would take care of him. While she was doing so, Amnon forced himself on her sexually, and this ruined her life. Absalom became so enraged by what had happened that he conspired two years later to have Amnon killed. Then, in II Samuel 13:34, the Bible says that Absalom fled from his father's house to avoid the possible consequences upon himself.

By II Samuel 15:14, Absalom had returned to Jerusalem, he had won the favor of the people, and he was putting together troops for overthrowing his father, David, the King of Israel. David and his servants literally had to flee Jerusalem to save their lives. And it may be that while camped outside of Jerusalem and having to deal with the anguish of a son that wanted to kill him, David might have penned the words of Psalm 62 to express his praise and confidence in God, even in the midst of that trouble.

Knowing exactly why David wrote Psalm 62 is useful but not critically important to our understanding. What he is expressing, as a result of his own experiences, is that he can trust the Lord, have confidence in Him, and praise Him in any circumstance, no matter how bad or desperate. What we know about David is, while he was in some kind of trouble, whether imminent or not, that he recognized God as the source of his salvation, as his rock, and as his defense.

E. David's Use of a Book Ending

David used a device in this psalm which is called a "book ending" or an "inclusion". In verse 2 and again in verse 6, he used the words, "He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved". Notice in verse 6 that he did not use the word "greatly". We will discuss a possible reason for this difference in a moment.

The reason that David used this book ending was to influence the reader by what was being said between the book endings. In other words, he was trying to direct the reader's attention to verses 3, 4, and 5, which questioned how long the wicked would practice their wickedness, how much they would like to see him (the godly) fall, and how his hope and rest were from God. What David was writing in this part of the psalm was that God is his rock and defense and that he would not be greatly moved (verse 2), that the wicked would probably continue in their wickedness and would want him to fall but his trust was still in the Lord (verses 3, 4, and 5), and that God was his rock and defense and that he would not be moved (verse 6).

Try to imagine David camped outside of Israel, fleeing for his life from his own son, and contemplating his predicament. If this were the scenario for the writing of Psalm 62, then David was finding tremendous comfort because of his relationship with the Lord. Despite this time of personal tragedy, he was so inspired by God that he wrote this psalm of praise and confidence. He was so moved by his own personal victory in such a desperate predicament that he, then, sent this psalm to Jeduthun and instructed him to add it to their list of worship hymns. Many people would view this situation as a low point in the life of a father and certainly in that of a king, but David was finding personal peace and victory in the God of his salvation.

Why did David use the word "greatly" in verse 2 and not in verse 6? In my opinion, it is as though he was reviewing his situation in his mind and, then, concluding in verse 2 that he would not be greatly moved. Then, he thought about all his enemies, thought about his position in the Lord, and then, concluded in verse 6 that he would not be moved at all. Saying in verse 2 that he would not be "greatly" moved suggests that he was considering the possibility of being moved a little bit. Not using the word "greatly" in verse 6 implies that he had changed his mind between the two verses and had decided that he would not be moved by anything no matter what.

F. David's Use of a Word Picture

David used another device in this passage that helps explain the word "greatly" in verse 2. He used a word picture, comparing himself to a tree deeply planted in the ground. The wind might blow the tree one way or another. But because it was deeply rooted, the tree would not be "greatly" moved. Viewing himself and his position in the Lord, he understood in verse 2 that he could be tempted and attacked by outside forces and that he might be moved a little. But his faith in God told him that he would not be greatly moved. Then, by verse 6, his elimination of the word "greatly" tells me that he pictured himself a second time and realized that his relationship with God would keep him from ever being moved. In verse 2, he saw his relationship with God as being similar to that of a tree in the ground. By verse 6, he saw his relationship as being stronger than that of the tree and the ground.

G. A Comparison of Translations

Now, let us consider one more aspect of this phrase from Psalm 62:2 by comparing this passage with the same passage in the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. In the NIV Bible, Psalm 62:2 says, "I will never be shaken", which means that nothing would disturb David's well-being or unsettle his security. In my opinion, this rendering of the Hebrew text is more powerful than the King James Version, and it is also more consistent with the removal of the word "greatly" in verse 6. Interestingly, Psalm 62:6 in the NIV says, "I will not be shaken," but changing from the word "never", which is the same as "not ever", does not seem to be appreciably different than using the word "not".

H. Some of the Applications of Psalm 62:1-2

In closing, Psalm 62:1-2 has four specific applications that we can apply to our life. First, David tells us that our salvation comes from God. Second, he tells us that we can find rest in Him. Third, we learn that God is our rock, our salvation, and our defense. In Him, we will never be shaken. Fourth and last, when we are tempted to be downcast by our opposition, then we should take another look at the Lord and realize that we will "not be moved" as opposed to not being greatly moved.

				Tom of Bethany

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