A 3,000-Year-Old Rock Song

It is hard to believe that it has been so long since I posted our last Hebrews study podcast episode.  So much has happened since then!  We enjoyed a summer conference in Canada with the MacMillan family, studying Jude's short epistle, 1 Thessalonians, Proverbs 1-9, and sections from Ecclesiastes.  Our time together was also capped off by a wonderful trip to Victoria on Vancouver Island with the MacMillan family.  Since that time, our family has been spending a considerable amount of time back in the Portland area studying Isaiah, Romans, and James.  In fact, just last weekend, we had the privilege of delving into the first couple of chapters of James with the MacMillan family when they were down for their Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  We are also looking forward to becoming grandparents in April, when our son Chris and his wife Amanda will have their first child.

I wanted to post this song--"Only In God" (Psalm 62)--tonight, inspired by Psalm 62 and written by John Michael Talbot. It is one of the first Christian songs I learned to play on my guitar, and I have been playing it for over 30 years now. The metaphor of God/Christ as a "rock" is found frequently throughout the Old and New Testaments. Originally written as a psalm over 3,000 years ago by King David, one can well imagine why David used this metaphor, as he was often found hiding in caves when pursued by Saul or perhaps even by his own son Absalom. This is a song I have come back to time and again in my life, as it encourages God's redeemed child to look to Him for ultimate safety, protection, and eventual salvation. I hope it encourages you as it has me over these past thirty years of walking with the Savior through the wilderness that is this life.

Here is Psalm 62 in its entirety (NASB):

Psalm 62

For the choir director; according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1 My soul waits in silence for God only;
From Him is my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will you assail a man,
That you may murder him, all of you,
Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
4 They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position;
They delight in falsehood;
They bless with their mouth,
But inwardly they curse.
Selah.
5 My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.
Selah.
9 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie;
In the balances they go up;
They are together lighter than breath.
10 Do not trust in oppression
And do not vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

11 Once God has spoken;
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God;
12 And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord,
For You recompense a man according to his work.