Not the definition you would expect
Did you know that God has several different names throughout Scripture?
Each one has a specific meaning and representation of a character trait for who God truly is. Modern translations represent the Hebrew names for God with a consistent naming rendition. I study/teach from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translation; here is how God’s names are handled:
Hebrew – English
Elohim – God
YHWH (Yahweh) – Lord
Adonai – Lord
Adonai Yahweh – Lord God
Yahweh Sabaoth – Lord of Armies
El Shaddai – God Almighty
The Old Testament authors were intentional about how they approached God and how they wrote about Him. We’ll need to keep this in mind as we begin to look at this psalm that David and Jeduthun wrote together:
Psalm 62:1-2
For the choir director: according to Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
I am at rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will never be shaken.
Looking through the entire psalm, we find that God is referred to as God six times, and Lord only once.
The Hebrew word for God is Elohim, which is a plural word in form, indicating majesty, but it is singular in meaning. This name for God is typically used when the focus is on God’s great power – and it is that strength and power that David and Jeduthun are writing about.
The next thing to notice are the words they use to describe God. Within these first two verses the descriptors of God include
our source of rest
our salvation
our rock
our stronghold
All of these descriptors sound great. HOWEVER, we must not read our own church-age understanding of the word salvation into this text, even if at first glance it “seems to fit” because our justification-salvation is found in Jesus’ death on the cross. Since we know that David and Jeduthun are the authors, this psalm would have been written approximately 1000 years before Christ was born. Our reconciliation with God through Jesus’ death on the cross was not revealed at this time. When reading passages from the Old Testament, we must be careful not to read New Testament uses of words back into the Old Testament writings.
So what do the authors mean here when they say salvation?
The term salvation in the Old Testament always refers to God’s ability to rescue – most often it refers to God rescuing the Israelite nation or an individual from their present circumstances. When an OT individual was petitioning God for salvation, he wasn’t asking for his sins to be removed, he was asking for rescue from a dangerous or difficult circumstance by a Divine act. It is with that understanding of salvation that the Israelites would have sung this psalm to God.
Let’s re-read the psalm – when you see God, think of His majesty and great power; and when you see salvation, imagine needing rescue from life’s circumstances:
Psalm 62:1-2
For the choir director: according to Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
I am at rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I will never be shaken.
In these first two verses, David and Jeduthun are bursting with confidence in God. We see how their word choices work together, vividly describing God as a place of strength and refuge in this life.
Is that how we view Him?
When life’s circumstances aren’t what we want them to be, do we have confidence in God’s ability to come through for us?
Do we turn to Him for rest, or do we panic?
Do we recognize His strength to rescue us, or do we try to save ourselves?
Are we confident in Him, or are we shaken?
If you answered any of these in the negative (like I did), then let’s turn to Him now and recognize Him for the stronghold that He is. If life is difficult right now, this psalm is a great reminder and perspective-shifter. Even if life’s circumstances aren’t problematic right now, recognizing God for who He is in the good times prepares us for when the tough times come.
Keep Pressing,
Ken