Place no trust in extortion, or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. Place no trust in extortionWealth gained by oppression, threats, or abuse of power cannot provide lasting security. God sees the wrong done to the vulnerable and calls His people to practice justice, mercy, and integrity (Micah 6:8). Those who use power to take from others may gain temporary advantage, but they stand under God’s judgment. Isa 33:15-16 He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity,… or false hope in stolen goods. Theft violates God’s command and destroys the trust necessary for life within a covenant community (Exodus 20:15). Ill-gotten wealth offers only a false refuge, for “treasures of wickedness profit nothing” (Proverbs 10:2). God Himself, not dishonest gain, is the sure source of provision and protection. Pro 21:6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist,… If your riches increase, Material increase may come through labor, inheritance, opportunity, or God’s providence. Scripture does not condemn possessions themselves, but it warns that prosperity can expose the heart’s true allegiance. Rich believers are called to generosity, readiness to share, and hope in God rather than in wealth (1 Timothy 6:17–19). Psa 49:16-17 Do not be afraid when a man grows rich… do not set your heart upon them. Riches must never become the object of trust, desire, or identity. David directs the worshiper away from every unstable source of confidence and toward God alone, who is strength, refuge, and faithful love (Psalm 62:7–8, 11–12). Jesus likewise warned that the heart follows its treasure; lasting security belongs to those whose treasure is in God (Matthew 6:21). Mat 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 62, David was the second king of Israel and a man after God's own heart. His life was marked by both triumphs and trials, providing a rich backdrop for his psalms. 2. Israel The nation to whom the psalm was originally addressed, often facing challenges related to wealth, power, and trust in God versus trust in material possessions. 3. Extortion and Stolen Goods These represent unethical means of gaining wealth, which are condemned in this verse. They serve as a warning against placing trust in ill-gotten gains. Teaching Points Trust in God, Not WealthWealth is temporary and unreliable. Our ultimate trust should be in God, who is eternal and unchanging. Ethical Living Pursue wealth through honest and ethical means. Ill-gotten gains lead to spiritual and often material ruin. Guard Your Heart As riches increase, be vigilant not to let them capture your heart. Our affections should be set on things above, not on earthly wealth. Contentment and Generosity Learn to be content with what you have and use any increase in wealth to bless others, reflecting God's generosity. Eternal Perspective Keep an eternal perspective, recognizing that material wealth is fleeting and that true riches are found in a relationship with God. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Psalm 62:10 challenge our modern views on wealth and success?2. In what ways can we ensure that our trust remains in God rather than in material possessions, especially when our wealth increases? 3. Reflect on a time when you were tempted to gain something through unethical means. How does this verse speak to that situation? 4. How can we cultivate a heart that is content and generous, even in a culture that often equates success with material wealth? 5. What practical steps can you take to maintain an eternal perspective on wealth and possessions, as encouraged by other scriptures like Matthew 6:19-21 and 1 Timothy 6:17? Connections to Other Scriptures Proverbs 11:28This verse warns that those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. It echoes the theme of misplaced trust in wealth. Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus teaches about storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth, emphasizing where one's heart should be. 1 Timothy 6:17 Paul advises the wealthy not to be arrogant or to put their hope in wealth, which is uncertain, but to put their hope in God.
People David, Jeduthun, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Confidence, Evil-doing, Extortion, Faith, Goods, Heart, Hope, Hopes, Increase, Increased, Increaseth, Oppression, Pride, Profits, Rewards, Riches, Robbery, Stolen, Thereon, Though, Trust, Vain, Vainly, Wealth, WronglyDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 62:10 5014 heart, human Library April 3. "My Expectation is from Him" (Ps. Lxii. 5). "My expectation is from Him" (Ps. lxii. 5). When we believe for a blessing, we must take the attitude of faith, and begin to act and pray as if we had our blessing. We must treat God as if He had given us our request. We must lean our weight over upon Him for the thing that we have claimed, and just take it for granted that He gives it, and is going to continue to give it. This is the attitude of trust. When the wife is married, she at once falls into a new attitude, and acts in accordance with the … Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth Waiting Only Upon God Justice. Forgiveness and Retribution. Waiting on God My High Tower Remembrance and Resolution. --Ps. Lxii. Thou Shalt not Steal. The Heart of Man and the Heart of God The Songs of the Fugitive. Nineteenth Day for the Holy Spirit on Christendom The Love of the Holy Spirit in Us. The Daily Walk with Others (ii. ). The Chorus of Angels The Unchangeableness of God But Concerning True Patience, Worthy of the Name of this virtue... Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis In Death and after Death Psalms Links Psalm 62:10 NIVPsalm 62:10 NLT Psalm 62:10 ESV Psalm 62:10 NASB Psalm 62:10 KJV Psalm 62:10 Commentaries Bible Hub |



