Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
⁹ Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
¹⁰ Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.
¹¹ Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
¹²     and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.

1) Why does the Psalmist insist that we “pour out our hearts” to God?
Here the psalmist calls the people, who would have been the Israelites, God’s chosen people, to “pour out their hearts” before the Lord God. We get the image of water being poured out as in Lamentations 2:19, where Jeremiah also pleads with Israel to “pour out their hearts” to God. The “why” behind this outpouring is rooted in God’s character. He is a refuge, a safety, bringing peace, calm, and clarity to our hearts, as alluded to by the word “selah”.

2) What is meant in verse 9 regarding the balances?
When we get desperate and afraid, wracked by fear and loneliness, it’s often our perspective that first deceives us. We begin seeing the world through jaded eyes and begin living based on emotion rather than truth. Here the psalmist reminds his audience that despite appearances of wealth or social standing or possessions, life, like breath, is fleeting for everyone. Only God holds truths that are solid enough to build an unshakeable life upon.

3) What is meant in verse 11 by “once…” and “twice….”?
The Psalms are poetic and full of literary devices. The numbering of things God says is used in various places throughout Scripture and always denotes supreme importance among other things. Here, God having spoken “once” capitalizes on the fact that only one word from God is more than enough because of His ultimate supremacy. We need know nothing else other than the Word God speaks because He is the author of life and all truth. Nothing is swayed that comes from Him. He is steadfast in all He says and does. The “two things” heard are 1) His all-consuming power and 2) His steadfast love.

4) Does the last part of verse 12 support salvation by works?
When studying Scripture, it is crucial that we never pick up a verse and tear it away from its context, and then insert our own preconceived ideas about what it means. “For you will render to a man according to his work” cannot be severed from the previous statements regarding God’s character, especially given that this phrase begins with the word “for”, which refers backwards. Man’s “work” must be seen in context of God’s power and justice as well as His steadfast love (again, made manifest in Christ Jesus). God’s justice says that all of our work is filthy and not good enough to attain salvation or right standing with Him. But because of His love, He offers the free gift of salvation in Jesus’s sacrificial death and resurrection. Our “work” is the act of faith in choosing Jesus or rejecting Him. It’s this work that God will “render” or judge us by.

1) Why does the Psalmist insist that we “pour out our hearts” to God?
Our hearts are the innermost places of our beings, the place where ache, injury, love, joy, delight, fear, secrets, and pain all dwell together. Our hearts encompass everything about us and God asks for all of it, the good with the bad. He is the only true place of complete safety, where intimacy can genuinely flourish. Where do you long for refuge in your heart? Bring it to Him, every part!

2) What is meant in verse 9 regarding the balances?
These verses hit at the core of our insecurities, no matter what they are. Whether we falter when comparing ourselves to others, or struggle with fear about finances or health or livelihood, God’s Word calls us to sink the foundations of our being into the solidity of Himself. He is a strong refuge, He holds all power, His love is steadfast. Take a few minutes to evaluate your own insecurities…..where are you holding onto anything other than the Truth God offers in His Word?

3) What is meant in verse 11 by “once…” and “twice….”?
How deeply do you cling to the very Word of God? It’s one thing to claim it as your source for truth, but another thing to make it the essence of your every day. How vital is your Scripture intake? In the same way, God’s single “Word”, is made manifest in human form through Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent One. He is before all things and in Him, all things hold together. Take a look at Colossians 1:15-20 and John 1:1-18 for some deeper insights!

4) Does the last part of verse 12 support salvation by works?
How deeply have you considered salvation through Jesus Christ? Is it yours? Do you claim Him as your own? Does you life reflect this utter dependency on His sacrifice and are you pursuing Him and His word ever deeper? Every current Christ-follower has had questions and doubts and wonderings along the way of their faith journey. If you’re simply exploring what it means to have Jesus as your Lord and Savior, we’d love to engage with you about those thoughts and questions. Shoot us an email and let’s connect!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Worship!