Now you might say, well, verses 5 and 6 look a lot like 1 and 2. What is the difference? How have things changed? Well, they are very similar, but there are significant differences here, probably not well enough brought out in the translation. But there are three, again, differences here than what he had said earlier in verses 1 and 2.
For instance, the first one. The verb wait. He does say that he waits in verse 1, but this time the verb is a command. It is now imperative. It is not that he said that my soul silently waits for God. Now he is saying, "My soul waits silently for God," and for God alone. He is giving himself a command. He is bolstering himself to remain confident in God. The second thing, in verse 5, the psalmist waits not for salvation from God, but now he waits for hope. Notice that in verse 1, he said, "From Him comes my salvation." That is what he is waiting for. But in verse 5, he says, "For my expectation is from God." Or hope, my hope comes from God. I do not know if if we could say that his trust is slipping a little bit. I do not know, but he is giving himself a pep talk actually here and he is doubling down, you might say, on his trust and confidence in God. "Soul, wait for God. Wait for His salvation. No, wait for hope that He is going to work for me!" And he gets it.
The third thing that is different in this little section (I do not know if you had noticed this when I was reading through it earlier, I did not notice its meaning earlier when I was putting my notes together, but a commentary brought it out), but the adverb in verse 2 has been removed. In verse 2, it says, "I shall not be greatly moved." That is a modifier. I will not be moved that much. I will not be severely moved. But in verse 6, he says, "I shall not be moved," but much more confident, much more positive. It really suggests I will not be moved at all. I am going to be planted right here. I am going to wait for God, and He is going to do what needs to be done. He will be my hope.
So, those three changes make this section a confident exclamation of hope that God will fight his battle. Like I said, he has given himself a pep talk and now he is absolutely sure that God is going to work for him.
Verse 7 then builds on this confidence as he repeats that God is with him and He is all these things, my salvation, my glory, the rock of my strength, and my refuge. He is giving himself these images again, these illustrations of what God is like. That He is a Savior. He is his light and glory. He is indomitable like a rock. He is the rock of his strength, and He is a refuge to run to in times of trouble. So you can see how he is using this to convince himself and bolster himself that God is going to act, and He is going to act in his behalf, for his benefit.
And then in verse 8 we get to an exhortation to those who are around him, those who are listening to him, those who may be going through the trial with him. "Trust in Him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us. Selah." Consider this. Think about this. You can apply this to yourself in your life as well. So he says, trust in Him always, never fail in your trust in God. Pray for His help. He is listening. He wants to hear you. He wants to hear what you are going through. And He equally wants to provide refuge and safety for His people. He is on our side. Trust Him. He says it; His promises are sure.
