Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
Psalm 62:10 continues David’s instruction about where men must and must not place their trust. He has already said, “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (v.8). He then warns that men of low degree are vanity and men of high degree are a lie (v.9). Verse 10 adds another false refuge: wealth, whether obtained wickedly by oppression and robbery or increased in a man’s possession. The next verse gives the reason: “power belongeth unto God” (v.11). This is instruction sung before God, teaching worshippers to refuse confidence in money and power so their hearts may rest wholly in Him.
“Trust not in oppression.” David forbids confidence in oppressive power. Isaiah gives the same warning in full: “Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:” (Isaiah 30:12). Oppression uses power against others for selfish advantage. Men may trust intimidation, position, money, force, influence, or the ability to make weaker persons yield. David commands God’s people not to make such power their refuge.
The warning fits the whole psalm. David had enemies seeking to cast him down from his excellency, delighting in lies, blessing with their mouths while cursing inwardly (v.4). Yet his soul waited upon God alone (vv.1,5). He would not answer wicked methods with wicked methods. Oppression may appear successful for a season, but temporary gain is poor evidence of safety. Verse 11 declares that power belongeth unto God. Any strength a man uses against others remains beneath the power of the Judge who sees him.
“And become not vain in robbery.” Robbery adds unlawful taking to oppressive trust. God’s law says, “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15). A man may increase his goods by taking what belongs to another, but possession does not turn theft into blessing. What was gained by sin gives no sound ground for confidence. The psalm has already called men of low degree vanity and men of high degree a lie (v.9); robbery is another empty support. “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death” (Proverbs 10:2).
This warning reaches beyond the open thief. Scripture condemns dishonest gain, withheld wages, false dealing, unjust weights, and taking advantage of others (Leviticus 19:13,35-36; James 5:4). The form may look respectable while the substance remains robbery. A man must not congratulate himself because his theft was clever, lawful in appearance, or difficult to prove. God sees how riches were gained, and stolen gain cannot shelter its owner from Him.
“If riches increase.” David now addresses riches themselves. The word “if” recognizes that riches may increase. Scripture does not condemn possession simply because it grows. Abram “was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2), and the LORD later gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10). The danger is not increase itself, but what the heart does with the increase. A man may gain honestly through labor, inheritance, providence, or wise stewardship and still trust what he possesses.
Moses warned Israel against this very pride: “And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Increase tests the heart. Paul therefore commanded, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” (I Timothy 6:17). Riches may increase, but confidence must remain in God.
“Set not your heart upon them.” This is the chief command governing riches. David regulates not only what a man owns, but what rules the man’s heart. Riches may be in the house without ruling the heart. But once the heart is set upon them, they become a rival refuge. Psalm 49 describes men “that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches” (Psalm 49:6). Their wealth cannot redeem a brother or pay God a ransom for him (Psalm 49:7). Money is useful within its appointed place, but helpless beyond it.
The Lord Jesus pressed the same duty plainly: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). He also warned how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God (Mark 10:24). Christ does not condemn lawful possession, but He forbids the heart from serving wealth. God must have the trust, allegiance, and affection that riches tempt men to give them.
This is practical duty, not the ground of legal justification. A man is not justified before God because he handles money wisely or refuses covetousness; legal justification is entirely by the grace of God and the work of Christ. But a living child of God must mortify covetousness, “which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5), and keep earthly goods beneath the Lord in his heart.
Do not trust oppression, stolen gain, growing accounts, or accumulated possessions. “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God” (v.11). Use what He gives you, give thanks for it, and keep your heart fixed upon the Giver rather than the riches that can disappear.
Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
Psalm 62:10 continues David’s instruction about where men must and must not place their trust. He has already said, “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (v.8). He then warns that men of low degree are vanity and men of high degree are a lie (v.9). Verse 10 adds another false refuge: wealth, whether obtained wickedly by oppression and robbery or increased in a man’s possession. The next verse gives the reason: “power belongeth unto God” (v.11). This is instruction sung before God, teaching worshippers to refuse confidence in money and power so their hearts may rest wholly in Him.
“Trust not in oppression.” David forbids confidence in oppressive power. Isaiah gives the same warning in full: “Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:” (Isaiah 30:12). Oppression uses power against others for selfish advantage. Men may trust intimidation, position, money, force, influence, or the ability to make weaker persons yield. David commands God’s people not to make such power their refuge.
The warning fits the whole psalm. David had enemies seeking to cast him down from his excellency, delighting in lies, blessing with their mouths while cursing inwardly (v.4). Yet his soul waited upon God alone (vv.1,5). He would not answer wicked methods with wicked methods. Oppression may appear successful for a season, but temporary gain is poor evidence of safety. Verse 11 declares that power belongeth unto God. Any strength a man uses against others remains beneath the power of the Judge who sees him.
“And become not vain in robbery.” Robbery adds unlawful taking to oppressive trust. God’s law says, “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15). A man may increase his goods by taking what belongs to another, but possession does not turn theft into blessing. What was gained by sin gives no sound ground for confidence. The psalm has already called men of low degree vanity and men of high degree a lie (v.9); robbery is another empty support. “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death” (Proverbs 10:2).
This warning reaches beyond the open thief. Scripture condemns dishonest gain, withheld wages, false dealing, unjust weights, and taking advantage of others (Leviticus 19:13,35-36; James 5:4). The form may look respectable while the substance remains robbery. A man must not congratulate himself because his theft was clever, lawful in appearance, or difficult to prove. God sees how riches were gained, and stolen gain cannot shelter its owner from Him.
“If riches increase.” David now addresses riches themselves. The word “if” recognizes that riches may increase. Scripture does not condemn possession simply because it grows. Abram “was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2), and the LORD later gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10). The danger is not increase itself, but what the heart does with the increase. A man may gain honestly through labor, inheritance, providence, or wise stewardship and still trust what he possesses.
Moses warned Israel against this very pride: “And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Increase tests the heart. Paul therefore commanded, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;” (I Timothy 6:17). Riches may increase, but confidence must remain in God.
“Set not your heart upon them.” This is the chief command governing riches. David regulates not only what a man owns, but what rules the man’s heart. Riches may be in the house without ruling the heart. But once the heart is set upon them, they become a rival refuge. Psalm 49 describes men “that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches” (Psalm 49:6). Their wealth cannot redeem a brother or pay God a ransom for him (Psalm 49:7). Money is useful within its appointed place, but helpless beyond it.
The Lord Jesus pressed the same duty plainly: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). He also warned how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God (Mark 10:24). Christ does not condemn lawful possession, but He forbids the heart from serving wealth. God must have the trust, allegiance, and affection that riches tempt men to give them.
This is practical duty, not the ground of legal justification. A man is not justified before God because he handles money wisely or refuses covetousness; legal justification is entirely by the grace of God and the work of Christ. But a living child of God must mortify covetousness, “which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5), and keep earthly goods beneath the Lord in his heart.
Do not trust oppression, stolen gain, growing accounts, or accumulated possessions. “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God” (v.11). Use what He gives you, give thanks for it, and keep your heart fixed upon the Giver rather than the riches that can disappear.