Psalms 62:5
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Psalm 62 is attributed to David, likely composed during a period of political threat—possibly Absalom's rebellion or Saul's persecution. The historical superscription "To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun" indicates it was set to music by one of David's appointed worship leaders (1 Chronicles 16:41-42). Ancient Israel understood waiting on God as countercultural wisdom in a world of immediate action and military solutions.
In the ancient Near East, kings typically relied on alliances, military strength, and political cunning for security. David's exclusive trust in Yahweh would have been revolutionary—rejecting the pragmatic strategies of surrounding nations. The concept of waiting on God appears throughout Israel's history: Abraham waiting for the promised son, Moses at the burning bush being prepared for forty years, Israel waiting at Sinai while Moses received the Law.
For David's original audience facing threats from enemies and experiencing delays in God's promises, this psalm provided a theological framework for patient trust. In the intertestamental period and Second Temple Judaism, this psalm became associated with hope during Roman occupation, teaching that God's timing transcends political circumstances.
Questions for Reflection
- What specific anxieties or circumstances make it difficult for you to 'wait only upon God' rather than taking matters into your own hands?
- How does the command to your own soul ('my soul, wait thou') suggest that waiting on God is a discipline requiring intentional self-direction?
- In what ways does the exclusivity of 'only upon God' challenge our tendency to hedge our trust between God and human solutions?
- How does understanding that our expectation comes 'from him' (not from our circumstances) change our perspective during seasons of waiting?
- What biblical examples of waiting on God (Abraham, Joseph, David, Jesus in Gethsemane) provide patterns for cultivating this posture of patient trust?
Analysis & Commentary
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
This verse captures the essence of patient, exclusive trust in God. The Hebrew word for "wait" (damam) means to be silent, still, or at rest—not passive resignation but active, quiet confidence. David commands his own soul (nephesh), his inner being, to rest solely upon God. The word "only" (ak) emphasizes exclusivity—no divided loyalties, no backup plans, no hedging of spiritual bets. This is radical monotheism applied to trust: God alone is the object of hope.
The phrase "my expectation is from him" reveals the theological foundation for waiting. The Hebrew tiqvah (expectation/hope) suggests a cord or rope—something that provides connection and security. David's hope is not wishful thinking but confident anticipation rooted in God's character and promises. This expectation flows "from him" as its source, not from circumstances, human effort, or political maneuvering.
The psalm's structure places this verse at the heart of its chiastic pattern, making it the theological center. Waiting on God is not fatalism but faith—recognizing that God works according to His timing, not ours. This posture requires spiritual maturity: the ability to rest in God's sovereignty when action seems more natural, to trust His wisdom when delay feels like denial. Such waiting transforms anxiety into worship and desperation into dependence.