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GREAT EXPECTATIONS (Psalm 62)

The famous Charles Dickens wrote a classic novel about a young orphan named Pip. Perhaps you have read it. It is called “Great Expectations,” and it deals with the ambition of the human heart.

We live in a world filled with ambitious people who have great expectations. But when those expectations are rooted in men, they will always lead to disappointment. That is why we have such a disappointed world of people who have come to the end of themselves.

The only truly great expectations you can have in life that you know will be fulfilled are from a great God — the expectations that are rooted in faith. Psalm 62 teaches us something about this.

Most of our expectations in today’s world are lower and lower because they are based on the wrong things. But if you get your heart and eyes on the greatness of God, your expectations get raised.

Verses 1-2: “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.”

Verse 5: “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.”

Notice the word “only” in each of these passages. This psalm was written during Absalom’s rebellion, and I can only imagine the hurt in David's heart at that time. His son tore the kingdom from him and ran him out of town in fear for his life. But that was when he wrote that his only hope was in the Lord.

The great Bible commentator Alexander McLaren claimed Psalm 62 as his favorite. He said that Psalm 62 is “too high for most Christians.” He meant that most of us live our lives with expectations on people, circumstances, and ourselves. We reach that high level of living from having everything rooted in God.

This psalm has been referred to as “the God-only psalm,” and some have called it “the Reformation psalm” because the idea during that critical time in history was that God’s Word is the sole authority - not church tradition or man’s dogma. We must all reach a God-only and Christ-only point in our lives.

There are other uses of “only” in this passage that are noteworthy. Verse 4 says, “They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.”

The wicked have only one goal - tear down and destroy. Do not expect lost men in a wicked, depraved society to produce good things. The Bible says in James 1:20, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” You cannot start with flesh and get spirit or start with death and get life. Sinners sin because they are sinners.

In verse 6, we see the word “my” used three times - Spurgeon said this word “put the honey in the honeycomb” in this psalm. God is not just a salvation; he is my salvation. Read it to yourself. This is what puts the sweetness in life.

It gets personal in verse 5, showing us the only person we should trust and wait on is the Lord. We put expectations on people, forgetting that even the best of people are still sinners. No person on this planet can fulfill the deepest needs in your life. Only God can do that. Stop waiting on something or someone else, and get your expectations on the Lord.

Great expectations are always based on His Person. This psalm is just a description of the greatness of our God. Let’s go back again and again to who He is.

Great expectations must be bathed in prayer. This entire psalm is a prayer. It is a powerful prayer. When you feel disappointed, bring that into the presence of God and pray some big prayers. It is an expectation rooted in faith.

Great expectations are built on His promises. Psalm 62 is filled with the promises of God. Interestingly, it is almost identical to Psalm 39. Why would David do this? Because we need to go back to the same principles and promises over and over again.

David has his troubles, and so will you. He had his enemies, and so will you. But David discovered that if he put his expectations in the Lord, he would never be disappointed.

The Bible says in Jer. 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” I have learned over the years that it might not always be according to what I expect to happen, but if my expectation is in the Lord and it is what He wants to happen, it will always be right.

The question should not be, “What do I expect?” It should be, “What does God expect?” He is the One with the expected end; all I have to do is trust Him for it. The expectation of the wicked will be cut off someday, but those who put their faith and trust in God will never be disappointed.

Verses 9-10: “Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”

A simple idea is expressed here: Don’t trust people (verse 9) and don’t trust things (verse 10).

Verses 11-12: “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.”

He said it in Psalm 39 and again in Psalm 62. We need to hear it often. Put your expectations in God alone. Only He has power and mercy. Only He will meet the deepest need of your life.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Expectation is the child of prayer and faith.” Live a life of prayer and faith today, and you will learn the secret of living a life of great expectations.