"Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation. He only is
my rock and my salvation...My soul, wait thou only upon God...He only is my
rock and my salvation...Trust in Him at all times...power belongeth unto God. Also unto
thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy..." -- Psalm 62:1-2, 5-6, 8, 11-12.
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The Bible says, "Cursed is everyone that maketh flesh his arm." The
Lord told Peter: "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Who
is there that has not often been disappointed in others, and so very often disappointed in
ourselves?
The flesh—self—in ourselves or others simply cannot be trusted. Often we have to
learn from painful experience that there is only One upon whom we can lean with
confidence. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. It is
better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in men.
"Earthly friends may fail or leave us;
One day soothe, the next day grieve us;
But this Friend will ne’er deceive us;
Oh, how He loves!"
The Psalmist prophetically speaks of Judas, in relation to the Saviour: "Mine
own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, hath lifted up his heel against Me."
There is no better prescription for our lives than that given in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust
in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy
ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
We must part with even those help-meets that God brings into our lives (or they must
part with us). It is good to have a loving partner on whom to lean, but it is far more
important to lean on the Lord. He only is our rock and salvation. We can
trust in Him at all times.
"When other helpers fail, and comforts flee;
Help
of the helpless, oh, abide with me."
When our son David, at the age of 29, was called Home, a friend sent us a tape of Vance
Havner, speaking after his beloved wife of many years was called Home. It was entitled,
"Now Thee alone I seek."
"He’s the One, the only One; when you need a Friend to
help you, He’s the One." He’s the One Who sticks closer than
a brother. He’s the only one Who will never leave nor forsake His own. Surely His
goodness and mercy will follow—chase—each of His sheep all the days of this life, until
all are in the eternal fold, forever to dwell in the house of the Lord.
The Psalmist is having a confession. He speaks of himself: "Truly, my
soul waiteth upon God; from Him cometh my salvation. He only is my Rock and my
Salvation." Let us ask ourselves: Can I honestly say this is true of me? Am I
looking only to Him for salvation from the penalty and power of sin?
"I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus!
Trusting only in Thee!
Trusting Thee for
full salvation,
Great and free. I am trusting Thee to guide me:
Thou alone shalt lead;
Ev’ry day and hour supplying
All my need. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus!
Never let
me fall!
I am trusting Thee for ever,
And for all."
"He only is my rock and my salvation." He is my stability and my
ability. He is a solid Rock. No other foundation can be laid.
"No other hope shall
intervene;
To Him we look, on Him we lean;
Other foundations we disown,
And build on
Christ, the Living Stone!"
"To Whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen
of God, and precious, Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1
Peter 2:4-5).
He is my salvation. Without Him, I can do nothing, but "I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). He is my strength and my
song, and is become my salvation. I need to "stand still, and see the salvation of
the Lord" (Exo. 14:13), Who is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all
that we ask or think..." (Eph. 3:20).
Praise God, salvation is of the Lord. He alone is able to save, and "He is able
also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him" (Heb. 7:25). In
Psalm 62:7 we read: "In God is my salvation and my glory: the Rock of my strength,
and my refuge, is in God." Ah, yes, "the eternal God is thy refuge (a
place of safety in which to hide), and underneath are the everlasting arms (a power
of security to hold)."
"When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast.
When the tempter
would prevail,
He can hold me fast."
Verse 8 says, "Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before
Him." "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount
up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and
not faint."
"Oh, what peace we often forfeit;
Oh, what needless pain we
bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer."
Psalm 31:15 declares: "My times are in Thy hand." Everything is in the
ultimate control of Him Who "maketh even the wrath of man to praise Him" (Ps.
76:10); "Who works all things according to the counsel of His own will; and Who works
all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according
to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).
He takes the bitter and the sweet, the good and the bad, and works all together for
present and eternal good. His ways are past finding out, but "as for God, His way
is perfect" (Ps. 18:30).
Since this is true, that my times are in His hand, then I can "trust the
Lord at all times, and I can bless the Lord at all times" (Ps. 34:1). "Bless
the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy Name" (Ps. 103:1).
Every trial draws Him nearer,
Peace, peace is mine!
All His strokes but make Him dearer;
Peace, peace is mine!
Bless I, then, the hand that smiteth
Gently, and to heal delighteth;
‘Tis against my sins He fighteth;
Peace, peace is mine!
A RETROSPECT OF THE JOURNEY
Lord, when the journey’s over,
And we the road survey,
What grace shall we discover
Has led us all the way;
Where we were once so fearful,
The dangers seemed so vast;
Where we were sad and tearful,
The skies so overcast,
Because of weak faith’s blindness
So slow Thy love to learn;—
We shall Thy watchful kindness
In every stage discern.
The world’s vain, worthless pleasures,
Its treacherous hopes and lies,
Its rusty worn-out treasures,
As baubles we despise:
We look for His appearing,
The Morning Star so bright;
This hope our spirits cheering
Beguiles the hours of night:
We know by many a token
We soon shall reach our home;
For our "Beloved" has spoken,
"Behold, I quickly come!"
But, oh, most blessed Saviour,
Before we see Thy face,
Grant us each day this favour,
To live upon Thy grace!
While groaning in this prison,
With many a grief opprest,
To look, with faith’s strong vision,
To our eternal rest;
Time’s seen-things all are wasting,
Night’s shadows quickly flee;
O joy! The day is hasting,—
Eternity with Thee!