John Calvin Commentary Psalms 62:5

"My soul, wait thou in silence for God only; For my expectation is from him." — Psalms 62:5 (ASV)

Nevertheless, my soul, be thou silent before God. A slight inconsistency might appear here, since he encourages himself to do what he had already declared he had done. His soul was silent before God; so what was the necessity for this new silence, as if he were still agitated in spirit?

We must remember here that our minds can never be expected to reach such perfect composure as prevents every inward feeling of uneasiness. Instead, they are, at best, like the sea before a light breeze, fluctuating noticeably, though not swollen into waves. It is only with a struggle that a saint can compose his mind. We can very well understand how David would urge more perfect submission upon a spirit that was already submissive, urging himself to advance further in this grace of silence until he had put to death every fleshly desire and completely submitted himself to God's will.

Moreover, how often will Satan renew the anxieties that seemed to have been effectively driven out? As creatures of such instability, liable to be carried away by a thousand different influences, we need to be confirmed again and again.

I repeat, there is no reason to be surprised that David here calls upon himself a second time to preserve that silence before God which he might already seem to have attained. For, amidst the disturbing impulses of the flesh, we never reach perfect composure.

The danger is that when new winds of trouble arise, we lose the inward tranquility we enjoyed. Therefore, it is necessary to learn from David's example by establishing ourselves in it more and more.

He adds the reason for his silence. He had no immediate response from God, but he confidently hoped in Him. My expectation, he says, is from God. It is as if he had said, "God will never disappoint the patient waiting of His saints. Undoubtedly, my silence will meet with its reward. I will control myself and not make that improper haste which will only delay my deliverance."