What does Psalm 62:8 mean?
David calls on all of Israel—the "people"—and by extension the entire world (Psalm 33:8; 49:1) to follow his example. David relies utterly on God, even when under attack from evil men (Psalm 62:1–4). The Lord is his source of calm and confidence (Psalm 62:5–7). In the same way, others ought to be entirely sincere in their trust of God, holding nothing back. The Hebrew phrase translated as "pour out your heart" implies total surrender to the Lord with one's deepest, most inner self. This implies transparency before a God who already knows our hearts better than we do (Hebrews 4:13; Romans 8:26).Too often, we only pray when trouble strikes, but it is not sufficient to turn to God only when times are challenging. Trust in God should be consistent, in good and troublesome circumstances, in times of plenty and those of need. First Thessalonians 5:17–18 exhorts believers to pray without ceasing and to give thanks in all circumstances.
Psalm 62:5–8 demonstrates David's confidence in God to answer prayer. David identifies God as his source of confidence and assurance. This begins by repeating the same ideas seen in the opening lines of the psalm (Psalm 62:1–2), in slightly different words. By repeating metaphors such as "rock," David emphasizes the unshakable nature of his deep faith. He encourages others to make the same choice: trusting the Lord with sincerity.
David asserts that he places all trust and faith in the Lord God alone. Evil people may slander and attack, but the believer in God can patiently wait for justice. Whether weak or powerful, all people are subject to God's judgment. No deeds will escape the Lord's notice (Hebrews 4:13).
