Jeduthun, in the superscription of Psalm 62, was, as noted in the Beyond Today Bible Commentary on Psalm 39, one of David's three choir leaders (1 Chronicles 15:41-42; 1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Chronicles 25:6; 2 Chronicles 5:12) who was also known as a seer or prophet (2 Chronicles 35:15)--often thought to be synonymous with Ethan (1 Chronicles 6:44; 1 Chronicles 15:19), representing the Levitical family of Merari. The name Jeduthun also appears in the superscription of Psalm 77.

Psalm 62 has three stanzas (verses Psalm 62:1-4, Psalm 62:5-8, Psalm 62:9-12)--the first two of which begin almost the same (verses 1-2, 5-6). David here says that he will silently wait for God's deliverance and refers to God, as in the previous psalm, as his rock of protection and source of salvation. As the end of verses 2 and 6 declare, he will "not be greatly moved"--that is, "shaken" (NIV).

David's need here is urgent. Arrogant foes conspire to "cast him down from his high position" (verse 4)--to topple him from the throne--through deceit and intrigue. He asks them how long they will attack him (verse 3a). The meaning of the second part of verse 3 is not clear however. Either he is announcing to the conspirators what will befall them as in the NKJV: "You shall be slain, all of you, like a leaning wall and a tottering fence." Or he is further lamenting their attack on him, referring to himself as the vulnerable one: "Would all of you throw him down--this leaning wall, this tottering fence?" (NIV; see also NRSV; Tanakh).

In any case, David is confident of God's protection and ultimate deliverance. He gives others the advice he himself follows: to trust God at all times and pour out one's heart to Him (verse 8)--for God is an unfailing refuge. Men, no matter what their position, are inconstant and unreliable--and not the place to put one's trust (verse 9). It is futile to hope in their evil way of doing things or to trust in the wealth they pursue as a source of help in all of life's circumstances (verse 10). Real power belongs to God (verse 11)--along with mercy to those who serve Him and the means to compensate each person according to the choices they make in life (verse 12; compare Matthew 16:27).

That God has spoken once and David heard it twice (Psalm 62:11) is explained as a form of expression in Old Testament times. As The Nelson Study Bible notes on verse 11: "It is a convention of wisdom literature to use a number and then raise it by one (Proverbs 30:11-33). The point here is that David has heard the message with certainty."