Psalm 62 (61):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Some individuals may find themselves hesitating excessively, while others may reach a point of being uprooted, as a tempest of vice stronger than any gale dislodges them from the profound foundation established by Divine faith. Thus, the Psalmist acknowledges my own moments of hesitation as a human, yet I will not waver ‘moreover,’ for I am upheld by the right hand of the Saviour.

He who came in grace did so to redeem us through His blood, not to bring about our demise; He chose to offer Himself for our sake. As the benevolent Merchant, He paid the price through the suffering of His own body to procure our salvation. For He is my God, my Helper, my Defender; I will not be shaken any longer (Psalm 61:3). A person who falls into sin experiences a loss of peace due to being removed from a state of purity and innocence. The individual who once stood firm on the rock of Christ should not be unstable but should maintain a solid foundation. Thus, the steadfast person is described as one whose will is unwavering and who ardently pursues his intentions with a faithful spirit. The assurance of God's unwavering will is articulated in the Epistle to the Hebrews: Therefore God, wishing more to show the heirs of the promise the steadfastness of His will, made use of an oath (Heb. 6:17). The steadfastness of God's will remains true, immune to sinful temptations; people, however, are inconsistent, vulnerable to sin, and inclined to error. Hence, it is noted about the Jews: As they passed by, they blasphemed Him, shaking their heads (Matthew 27:39). The Lord Himself lamented in the Psalm: All who see Me have contempt for Me; they speak with their mouths and shake their heads (Ps. 21:8). Christ is the head of all, and it is far better for Him to dwell in us than to be swayed by our fleeting thoughts. The Jews cried out in derision, Destroy such a one from the earth! (Acts 22:22); and the people of the Gerasenes implored Him to leave their territory. However, the Church embraced Him and refused to let go. She possesses Him, while those who waver cannot grasp Him. The evangelist beautifully states that as they passed by, they shook their heads; they simply passed by, rather than remaining. Let us dwell in holy places! While we traverse the streets, the priest moved past, and the Levite avoided, yet the one who healed the wounds he bore stopped to help. Those who go by do not proclaim: The blessing of the Lord is upon you; we bless you from the house of the Lord (Psalm 128:8). Those who bless do not merely pass—they remain grounded. This is why, in a vineyard whose fence has fallen, the fruit is gathered not by those who linger, but by those who pass through. Those who pass by may whistle; we find this in the Book of Lamentations: All those who pass by on the road held their hands over you; they whistled and shook their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem (Lamentations 2:15). Therefore, neither priest nor Levite received a crown—they passed by and faded away like a shadow. Yet Stephen received the crown of martyrdom because he beheld the Lord Jesus standing firm, not wandering past. When Stephen, with unwavering faith, saw Christ immovable, no fear of death could rattle him. Stephen remained resolute, while Christ stood firm. But the sons of the traitor were unsettled; it is written of them: Let his sons who stand firm depart, and let them be poor (Psalm 108:10). The one who stands unsteady requires the Healer. The sinner is impoverished, while the righteous are affluent, for the benefits of those who seek the Lord are boundless. Next come the words, I will not be shaken any longer (Psalm 61:3). The meaning of ‘shake’ is clarified by David himself when he states, He hath laid my soul down in life, and hath not let my feet be shaken (Psalm 65:9). Therefore, the Lord our God told the saint, Thou shalt stand here with Me (Deuteronomy 5:31), for one who is near the Lord cannot easily fall. Each sin, akin to a strike from the adversary, disrupts a person's steadfastness or disturbs his mind; this can arise from the enemy's attacks or from intense conflict. Anger leads to imbalance, passion ignites, envy provokes, greed torments, fear undermines, and sorrow oppresses. The Lord Jesus admonished Peter, Come behind Me (Mark 8:33). He did not command: 'go away'—that was for the devil alone. He instructed, ‘Come behind Me,’ for it is impossible for anyone following Christ to ‘go away.’ However, Peter faltered, and the Lord declared to him, Since you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men (Mark 8:33), therefore follow Me, that you may learn not what is human, but what is divine. Thus, this righteous man, preparing to leave the earth, proclaimed, I will not be swayed any longer, but to remain with Christ is far better (Philippians 1:23). One who begins to be with Christ cannot fall into sin, for for the righteous, death signifies the end of sin, not the end of life.

When we commit minor and infrequent sins, it is akin to plants swaying gently in a soft breeze—only slightly disturbed. However, as our transgressions multiply and intensify, the turmoil and agitation within us also heighten. Thus, even though I may falter as a human, I will not be greatly disturbed, for I find strength in the embrace of my Savior. Another commentator observes that anyone who succumbs to vice experiences turmoil. Yet, this does not happen instantaneously; the initial disorder arises from thoughts stirred by passions. Subsequently, if these conflicted thoughts lead to corresponding actions, a powerful disturbance and downfall ensue. Therefore, when confronted with sinful desires or any other tumultuous inclinations, one should seek divine assistance to restrain the urge to act, embracing a devout thought to prevent a severe upheaval.

This profound sentiment is even more clearly articulated in the Hebrew text: "Let silence be to thee before God, O my soul!" This silence embodies humble submission, reflecting a state where the faithful rest in God's assurances, attentively hear His word, adhere to His will, and diligently rein in any inner turbulence that may arise within them.

Furthermore, it is insufficient for the faithful to conquer temptations through a single encounter, for Satan is quick to regroup and reengage in battle. Thus, David often calls upon God for assistance, invoking many descriptive titles to plead for aid, seeking multiple defenses to ward off the assaults of the enemy. When he concludes the verse by stating, "I will not move much, or fall grievously," he implies that although he may be rocked by the common frailties of humanity, through God’s support, he will not ultimately fall; and even if he does stumble, such a fall will not be disastrous, for God will extend His hand to uphold him and restore him to his feet.