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how does jesus' teaching about anxiety or worry relate to this psalmist's trust?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Psalm 62:5-8

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor is with God. My strong rock, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

Psalm 62 is a psalm of David, expressing his deep trust in God amidst opposition and uncertainty. It speaks to a personal relationship with God as the sole source of stability and hope, encouraging listeners to turn to God completely.

What does it mean to place all your expectation in God when faced with uncertainty?

Then — the setting

Psalm 62 is attributed to David, likely composed during a period of distress or political instability, perhaps during Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18) or another time when his position was challenged by powerful enemies. The setting is ancient Israel, where David, as king and shepherd, faced both personal threats and national responsibilities. The psalm functions as a public declaration of faith, but also as a personal meditation, encouraging both himself and his people to find security in God alone, rather than in human power or deceit.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament, particularly the Psalms, frequently portrays God as a refuge, rock, and source of trust in times of trouble. This aligns with a foundational understanding of God's steadfastness and faithfulness in the Hebrew Scriptures. In the New Testament, Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6:25-34 build upon this theme, redirecting the focus from material worries to trusting God's provision, using metaphors of birds and lilies. While the psalmist trusts God for physical salvation and protection from enemies, Jesus extends this trust to daily necessities and the very core of one's being, inviting a deeper, more pervasive reliance on God's care. Both passages call for a reorientation of one's focus from anxieties to God's character and kingdom.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Matthew 6:25-34
Jesus speaks against anxiety about daily needs, urging trust in God's provision similar to how the psalmist trusts God for salvation.
Philippians 4:6-7
Paul encourages prayer and supplication with thanksgiving instead of anxiety, promising God's peace for those who do.
Proverbs 3:5-6
This proverb advises trusting in the LORD with all your heart, not relying on your own understanding, echoing the psalmist's sole reliance on God.

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