Psalm 62

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Psalm 62, is found in the second book of the Psalter, is linked with Jeduthun and his sons and was written as a hymn to be sung in his choir after his manner. The author points out that the speaker of Psalm 62 is a person of some prestige or power - most likely, he is a king. Jeduthun himself had been appointed by King David as one of his three music masters, which gives further confirmation as to the Psalm's Davidic authorship. The paper concludes that, with its refrains of "alone" or "only", Psalm 62 is a celebratory affirmation of the power of trust in God.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Psalm 62 Introduced
The Psalm's Genre and Authorship as Reflected in Text
Psalm 62: Exposition
Translation
Structure
Meanings of Key Words
Themes
Psalm 62: Theological Meaning
Theological Message as Related to the Bible

From the Paper:

"Here, the speaker is evoking the need to separate oneself from the trappings of the material world in order to affirm one's connection to God and the eternal. As the second of these two verses tells us, riches tend to be acquired in immoral ways. It is also inferred in the last line that the more riches one acquires, the more one will be tempted to commit immoral deeds, feeling oneself to be equal to or independent of God. What is more, the acquisition of riches gives us false hope. After all, wealth will not save one from death."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bland, David. "Exegesis of Psalm 62." Restoration Quarterly 17.2 (1974): 82-95.
• Drijvers, Pius. The Psalms: Their Meaning and Structure. London: Burns and Pats, 1965.
• Goeser, Christi. "The Message of the Hebrew Wisdom Literature." Available from http://www.theology.edu/journal/volume3/message.htm. Internet; accessed 26 November 2007.
• Leupold, H.C. Expositions of the Psalms. Columbus, OH: The Wartburg Press, 1959.
• Snaith, Norman H. "The Meaning of the Hebrew 'ak." Vetus Testamentum 14 (1964).

More papers on Psalm 62:

• Research Paper # 96794 : "Psalm 151"
• Analytical Essay # 122860 : "Psalm 103 - An Analysis"
• Analytical Essay # 87567 : "Understanding Psalm 40"

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