1 To the chief Musician. On Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. UponGod alone doth my soul rest peacefully; from him is my salvation.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 The title of it is, "Unto the end, in behalf of Idithun, a Psalm to David himself." I recollect that already to you hath been explained what Idithun is.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; my high fortress: I shall not be greatly moved.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 "For he is my God and my savior; he is my protector, I shall be moved no more." The Son, who is from God, is our God. He is also Savior of the human race, who supports our weakness, who corrects the disturbance that springs up in our souls from temptations. "I shall be moved no more." Humanly he confesses his disturbance.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "For Himself is my God and my salvation, my taker up, I shall not be moved more" [Psalm 62:2]. I know who is above me, I know who stretcheth forth His mercy to men that know Him, I know under the coverings of whose wings I should hope: "I shall not be moved more."
3 How long will ye assail a man; will ye [seek], all of you, to break him down as a bowing wall or a tottering fence?
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 "How long do you rush in upon a person? You all kill, as if you were tearing down a leaning wall and a tottering fence." Again the homily speaks out against the depraved ministers of the devil, charging them with a lack of moderation in the snares they lay.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Therefore, down from the higher place fortified and protected, he, to whom the Lord has been made a refuge, he, to whom is God Himself for a fortified place, has regard to those whom he has leaped over, and looking down upon them speaks as though from a lofty tower: for this also has been said of Him, "A Tower of strength from the face of the enemy:" he gives heed therefore to…
4 They only consult to thrust [him] down from his excellency; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but in their inward part they curse. Selah.
Clement of Rome · AD 99 Let us cleave, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 "But they have thought to cast away my price; they ran in thirst: they blessed with their mouth but cursed with their heart." The price of [humanity's redemption] is the blood of Christ: "You have been bought," it is said, "with a price; do not become the slaves of people." The soldiers of Satan planned, therefore, to make this price useless to us, leading again into slavery th…
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Nevertheless, mine honour they have thought to drive back" (ver. 4). Conquered while they slay men yielding, by the blood of the slain multiplying the faithful, yielding to these and no longer being able to kill; "Nevertheless, mine honour they have thought to drive back." Now because a Christian cannot be killed, pains are taken that a Christian should be dishonoured.
5 UponGod alone, O my soul, rest peacefully; for my expectation is from him.
Pachomius the Great · AD 348 And now, my child, if you take God as your hope, he will be your help in the time of your anguish; "for anyone who comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who search for him." These words were written for us, that we may believe in God and do battle, great and little, by fastings, prayers and other religious practices.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Let the martyr turn his back to the unfaithful and ungrateful flatterer: let him turn his face to the most kind giver, and attribute his suffering to God, not as if he had offered this to God of his own; but rather say: My soul will praise the Lord, let the meek hear and be glad. And when you say to him, What does it mean: My soul will praise the Lord?
6 He only is my rock and my salvation; my high fortress: I shall not be moved.
Hippolytus of Rome · AD 235 Aliens properly so called are those who have been despoiled by some enemies or adversaries, and have then become wanderers; a thing which we indeed also endured formerly at the hand of the demons.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "For Himself is my God and My Saving One, my Taker up, I will not remove hence" [Psalm 62:6]. Because "Himself is my God," therefore He calls me: "and my Saving One," therefore He justifies me: "and my Taker up," therefore He glorifies me.
7 WithGod is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, my refuge is inGod.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 "In God is my salvation and my glory; he is the God of my help, and my hope is in God." Blessed is one who exults in none of the lofty things of life but regards God as his glory: who holds Christ as his boast; who is able to say, according to the apostle, "But as for me, God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of Christ." Many are glorified in body, who devote their…
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "In God is my salvation and my glory" (ver. 7). Saved I shall be in God, glorious I shall be in God: for not only saved, but also glorious, saved, because a just man I have been made out of an ungodly man, by Him justified; but glorious, because not only justified, but also honoured.
8 Confide in him at all times, ye people; pour out your heart before him:God is our refuge. Selah.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 Since the psalmist is conscious of the use of sincere hope in God, he invites the people to a zeal equal to his own, saying, "Trust in him, all you people; pour out your hearts before him." It is impossible for us to become capable of divine grace unless we have driven out the evil passions that have preoccupied our souls.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Therefore no one is self-sufficient except by God's gift. You have a gift against pleasures: "For this itself," he says, "was wisdom, to know whose gift it was: no one is self-sufficient except by God's gift." You have a gift against pains: "For from him," he says, "is my patience." Therefore, hope in him, all the assembly of the people.
9 Men of low degree are only vanity; men of high degree, a lie: laid in the balance, they go up together [lighter] than vanity.
Basil of Caesarea · AD 379 Then he brings up a decision for all that was said, not now from his own words but one that he heard from God. "God has spoken once, these two things have I heard," he says. And let it not disturb anyone that what was said is, as it were, incredible, namely, that God spoke once and the prophet heard two things.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 "Nevertheless, vain are the sons of men, and liars are the sons of men in the balances, in order that they may deceive, being at one because of vanity" [Psalm 62:9]. Certainly many men there are: behold there is that one man, that one man that was cast forth from the multitude of guests.
Fulgentius of Ruspe · AD 533 Thus to those who wish to have happiness in the goods of present things, the psalm says, "How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
10 Put not confidence in oppression, and become not vain in robbery; if wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 You are troubled, you hoard, you think, you labor, you stay awake. By day you are vexed with labors, by night you are agitated with fears. So that your purse may be filled with coins, your soul burns with cares. I see, I grieve: you are troubled, and as He who is incapable of deceit says, you are troubled in vain. You hoard wealth.
11 Once hathGod spoken, twice have I heard this, that strength [belongeth] untoGod.
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 What follows? "Once has God spoken, these two things I have heard, that power is of God [Psalm 62:11], and to You, O Lord, is mercy, for You shall render to each one after his works" [Psalm 62:12]...."Once has God spoken." What do you say, Idithun?
12 And unto thee, O Lord, [belongeth] loving-kindness; for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
Romans · AD 56 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. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.