The late American Evangelist D. L. Moody used to tell a story of trust. This one particular incident for Moody occurred while he was attending meetings in Mobile. While there, he visited a neighbor on a pleasant evening and the couple was sitting on the front porch enjoying each other’s company and beauty of the evening. After a time, a man stood and placed one of the children upon a ledge nearly eight feet in height and told the lad to jump. Unhesitatingly, the boy leaped into the arms of his awaiting father. Another boy was raised up and was told to jump. Without flinching, this boy also leaped without fear into the arms of the father. Then, the man picked up an older boy, this one larger and more sturdy than the previous two. He called up to the boy and told him to jump, but the boy failed to move. Suddenly, the boy was stricken with terror and started to cry. The man did everything he could to appease the startled child but it was no use. The boy refused to jump, despite the urges and pleadings of the man to do so. Curious as to why the first two boys jumped without hesitation but not the latter, Moody asked the man, "How was it that those two little fellows jumped so readily into your arms and the other boy wouldn’t?" The man responded simply, "The first two are my children and the other boy does not know who I am."

I am often reminded of this particular illustration of trust whenever I read the glorious words of the psalmist offering sagacious advice for what one ought to do when in time of need—that is, to place trust in the heavenly Father. Just as those two young boys placed their confidence in their father implicitly, the psalmist commands us to place our trust in the one true God. Specifically, we read in Psalm 62:8 the exhortation to, "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."

Authorship of Psalm 62 is attributed to David. More specifically, this "Thanksgiving Psalm" is also sometimes referred to as a "song of trust," that is to say, almost a praise chorus that is lifted up to God for His faithfulness, protection, and preservation of His servants. One could call this particular type of psalm a testimonial for all that the Lord has done by demonstrating a special favor to those who were undeserving. Trust is a key dimension of this psalm in general and verse eight in particular.

Trust in him at all times. David has witnessed the continual protection and deliverance from his enemies. Time and again he has found comfort in knowing that God has spared his life and preserved him from the danger of those who would do him harm. David was not unaware of the reality of the danger he faced so he placed his confidence in the one who always proved to be his Rock. Here David wishes to express his understanding with the people by instructing them in what to do—"trust in him at all times." The psalmist beseeches the faithful in the congregation with the expression, "O people," and urges them to follow him in his expression of turning to the Lord—not just in time of need—but rather, at all times. The foolhardy place trust in themselves while the wise understand that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7).

Pour out your heart before him. The metaphor employed in this phrase conveyed to the readers a way of properly conducting themselves before God. That is, the psalmist instructed the people to hold nothing back when beseeching God. Instead, they were to lay out all of their wishes and desires and present their prayers and petitions before the throne of grace. Charles Spurgeon noted in his Treasury of David that individuals are to, "Pour it out as water; not as milk whose color remains. Not as wine, whose savor remains. Not as honey, whose taste remains. But as water, of which, when it is poured out, nothing remains. So let sin be poured out of the heart, that no color of it may remain in external marks, no savor in our words, no taste in our affections." The main point the psalmist is making is to share with others that they should not hold anything back but should instead lay out their wishes and wants before God.

God is a refuge for us. Here is the reason why the Hebrew people were to trust in Him and to pour out their hearts before the Lord. Whatever He might seem to be to others, to David, God was the great shelter that provided comfort and rest for all. Notice here that the psalmist does not say to turn to other men—regardless of whether or not they are powerful kings, rulers, or someone else in the place of great prominence. The one who places his faith, hope, and trust in a finite creature will only ultimately find himself in a great state of disappointment. If one depends upon someone else that one will see a time when he is left victim to the vacillations and untrustworthiness that are inherent in all fallen creatures.

Neither was the psalmist, however, advocating turning to one’s own riches nor was he indicating putting trust in one’s own position. In fact, his phrase indicates the exact opposite. The idea presented with these words testifies to the fact that God and God alone is the one and only person upon whom individuals need and can depend. He is great enough to shelter those who seek refuge in Him.

These instructions of hope are then followed by the word, "Selah," a term that designates what was just said should be meditated upon in awe and respect for the preceding words. And when it is understood that the great Sovereign does all of these things for His children, it is enough to grant peace for being sheltered and taking refuge in Him. Today, however, the believer has another word that perhaps expresses a similar meaning, that being, "Amen."

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