Psalm 62 8

Psalm 62:8 kjv

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalm 62:8 nkjv

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Psalm 62:8 niv

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:8 esv

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Psalm 62:8 nlt

O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge. Interlude

Psalm 62 verses

Psalm 62 8 Meaning

Psalm 62:8 serves as a profound exhortation from the psalmist to all God's people. It is a dual command to cultivate unwavering, constant trust in the Lord regardless of life's circumstances, and to openly and sincerely express their deepest emotions, thoughts, and needs before Him. This complete reliance and unburdening are grounded in the assurance that God Himself is the ultimate and reliable sanctuary, offering enduring security and protection to His people.

Psalm 62 8 Context

Psalm 62 is a Davidic psalm, deeply rooted in the psalmist's personal experiences of distress and betrayal. The psalm opens with David firmly declaring his soul's trust and waiting for God alone, contrasting this with the deceptive and violent nature of his adversaries (Ps 62:3-4). He reaffirms his exclusive dependence on God for salvation, rock-like stability, and strength, despite the treachery of men who "topple" him (Ps 62:1-2, 5-7). The specific historical context could be David's flight from Absalom, facing both disloyalty within his own household and opposition from his enemies. Verse 8 marks a shift from the psalmist's personal resolve to an imperative addressed to the wider "people" ('am), extending the learned wisdom and secure confidence to the entire covenant community. It stands as an admonition against trusting in fleeting human powers, wealth, or status (Ps 62:9-10) by emphasizing the absolute sovereignty and power of God, from whom all power and steadfast love originate (Ps 62:11-12). This verse serves as a culmination, inviting the reader to embody the same trust David models.

Psalm 62 8 Word analysis

• Trust (בָּטַח, bāṭaḥ): This Hebrew term signifies more than intellectual belief; it implies a firm, confident reliance, an active leaning upon, a secure refuge taken in someone. It denotes a settled expectation that God will indeed deliver and keep His promises. This command contrasts with trusting in human capabilities, political power, or material wealth, which are unreliable.
• in him: Directly points to God as the sole object of trust, establishing an exclusive reliance that permits no alternative. The focus is entirely on the divine Person.
• at all times (בְּכָל־עֵת, bəḵol-ʿēth): Emphasizes constant, enduring, and unceasing trust, not merely in moments of crisis but throughout life's entire journey—in times of joy and sorrow, prosperity and adversity. It underscores a continuous posture of reliance.
• O people (עַם, ʿam): A direct address to the nation of Israel, God's chosen covenant community. This broadens the psalmist's personal declaration of trust into a universal summons for all of God's followers to adopt the same attitude of complete dependence.
• pour out (שָׁפַךְ, šāpaḵ): This vivid verb implies an unreserved, unrestrained, and often intense outpouring. Like pouring liquid, it signifies emptying one's self completely. It denotes emotional honesty and vulnerability, suggesting deep emotion—be it grief, confession, supplication, or praise—freely released.
• your heart (לֵב, lēḇ): In Hebrew thought, the "heart" encompasses the entirety of a person's inner being: intellect, will, emotions, desires, and conscience. To pour out one's heart is to present one's whole self, all inner struggles, joys, and thoughts, without reservation, before God.
• before him (לְפָנָיו, ləfānāw): Implies being in the divine presence, an intimate, personal encounter with God. It speaks of a direct relationship where one is fully known yet completely accepted.
• God (אֱלֹהִים, ʾĚlōhīm): The generic name for God, here referring to the one true God of Israel, affirming His absolute authority, power, and sovereignty. It reminds the reader of His inherent capability to be a true refuge.
• is a refuge (מַחֲסֶה, maḥăseh): A shelter, a safe place, a stronghold, a protective dwelling. This metaphor highlights God as the ultimate source of safety, security, and defense against all threats and dangers. It implies that in Him, one finds impenetrable protection and rest from life's storms.
• for us: Reiterates the collective experience and communal benefit of God's protective nature. It underlines that God is a refuge not just for the psalmist, but for all His people who come to Him in trust and prayer.
• Selah: A musical or liturgical instruction, likely meaning to "pause," "lift up," or "consider." It calls for reflection and meditation on the preceding words, emphasizing their profound significance and inviting a personal response.

• "Trust in him at all times, O people": This phrase constitutes a foundational command for constant, active faith. It shifts the psalm from personal declaration to communal exhortation, urging sustained dependence on God's character and power in every season of life, countering any inclination to rely on fleeting human aid or self-sufficiency.
• "pour out your heart before him": This is a call for radical honesty and vulnerable communication with God. It emphasizes an unfiltered release of all inner burdens—grief, fear, joy, confession—acknowledging God's omniscient presence and His willingness to hear the deepest cries of the human spirit. It is an act of surrendering internal turmoil.
• "God is a refuge for us": This declaration provides the ultimate justification and motivation for the preceding commands. It grounds the imperatives of trust and open prayer in the unchanging, protective nature of God. He is portrayed not as a temporary hiding place but as an ever-present, unwavering stronghold for His people, ensuring their ultimate safety and security.

Psalm 62 8 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of human unreliability (mentioned in previous verses like Ps 62:9-10, "men of low estate are but a breath") and God's steadfastness is critical for understanding Ps 62:8. The psalmist experienced the betrayal and emptiness of human schemes, which deepens his exhortation for others to abandon reliance on anything temporal and to firmly fix their hope and open their lives to the eternal God. The structure of the psalm itself progresses from the psalmist's personal declaration of trust (Ps 62:1-2, 5-7) to a public invitation (Ps 62:8) and then a didactic lesson on human frailty and divine might (Ps 62:9-12), culminating in God's attributes of power and steadfast love. "Selah" functions as a liturgical pause that emphasizes the transformative power of genuine trust and intimate prayer, prompting the congregation or individual to internalize these truths rather than just hear them. The emphasis on "God is a refuge" points not just to physical protection but also spiritual, emotional, and psychological safety in the character and presence of God Himself, allowing His people to find true rest and peace amidst chaos.

Psalm 62 8 Commentary

Psalm 62:8 powerfully articulates the essence of a vital relationship with the living God: one characterized by unwavering reliance and authentic communication. It calls believers to maintain a posture of constant trust in God, acknowledging His unwavering character and sovereignty, regardless of their shifting circumstances. This "trust at all times" moves beyond mere intellectual assent to an active, daily surrender and reliance upon His wisdom and power. Furthermore, the command to "pour out your heart" encourages absolute transparency and intimacy in prayer, inviting the faithful to unburden themselves completely of every joy, sorrow, fear, or confession. This act is not merely speaking to God but releasing the entirety of one's inner being before His discerning and compassionate presence. The foundation for such profound trust and open vulnerability is affirmed by the unchanging truth that "God is a refuge for us." He is depicted as the ultimate stronghold and shelter, a safe harbor for His people amidst life's storms. This serves as both the justification for their faith and the guarantee of their security, compelling believers to cast all their anxieties upon Him, knowing He truly cares.

Examples:

• When faced with overwhelming anxiety, consciously choosing to surrender every specific fear and unknown to God in prayer, rather than spiraling in worry.
• In moments of deep sorrow, finding release by weeping and expressing all grief to God, acknowledging His presence as the comforting One.
• Upon realizing personal sin, choosing to honestly confess it to God, rather than hiding, trusting in His forgiveness and cleansing.