Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 62:1

"My soul waiteth in silence for God only: From him [cometh] my salvation." — Psalms 62:1 (ASV)

Truly—Indeed; really. The state of mind indicated by this particle is that of one who had been seriously contemplating a subject, who had looked around on his own actual condition, who had taken an estimate of all his resources and all his means of reliance, and who had carefully examined his own state of mind to see what his real trust was and what his real feelings toward God were.

Having done all this, he at last breaks out with the expression: “My soul does sincerely confide in God. I have no other resource. I have no power to meet my foes, and I am sure—my inmost soul testifies—that my real trust is, where it ought to be, in God. I see nothing in myself on which to rely. I see so much crime, falsehood, and treachery in people that I cannot confide in them. I have had so much painful experience of their insincerity and baseness that I cannot rely on them. But I do see that in God which leads me to trust in Him, and I am sure that my heart truly does rely on Him.”

My soul waits upon God—Margin, is silent. The Septuagint asks, “Is not my soul subject to God?” So does the Latin Vulgate. Luther translates it, “My soul is still (calm) in God.” The Hebrew word—דומיה (dûmı̂yâh)—means “silence, quiet, rest,” and then, a silent expectation or hope.

The idea here is, “Truly toward God is the silent waiting of my soul.” That is: “In Him alone do I trust. There is calmness of mind. I have no apprehension as to what can happen. My mind is at peace, for I feel that all is in the hands of God, and that He is worthy of entire trust and confidence.”

This feeling is what exists when we have entrusted all to God; when, having entire confidence in His power, His goodness, His wisdom, and His mercy, we commit the whole case to Him as if it were no longer our own.

Such is the calmness, the peace, the quiet, and the silence of the soul when all is left with God. See the notes at Isaiah 26:3 and Philippians 4:6-7.

From him cometh my salvation—That is, my safety is from Him; my security is with Him. It is true, also, that all that is ever implied in this word salvation, whether pertaining to this life or the life to come, is derived from God.