Psalms 62 and 63: The imagery of God as a refuge and rock in Psalm 61 spills over in 62. In this lament, the psalmist uses this image as a refrain: "He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken." v. 2, 6. The image of God as refuge is also repeated. That metaphor is extended in the opposite way when the psalmist portrays enemies battering their victim like a leaning wall and a tottering fence, insecure and about to fall. That image of God as solid, unmoveable, strong and foundational flows through the Old and New Testaments and continues to be reassuring to people of faith.
Another interesting line in Psalm 62: God speaks one, but the psalmist hears twice, multiplying the effects of the voice of God (v. 11).
Psalm 63 introduces a different sort of image: God as nourishment. The psalmist speaks of how his/her soul thirst for God and lips praise God. Later, the appetite is sated: "My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips." (v.5). Quite a different image from that of a heavy rock, yet equally compelling.
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Psalm 62 does not support a prosperity theology – income inequality is not a measure of God’s approbation: “9Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion” (v. 9a). It then goes on to say not to set your heart on riches. I think my comment reveals that social location is very important and that we all read the Bible through the lens of our own biases -- mine being economics.
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