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Psalm 62's central message is to trust in God with all one's soul and to wait silently for him. Throughout this Psalm, God is described as a rock, a fortress and salvation to those who trust in him. David also contrasts God's reliability with the unreliability of people, who may be deceitful and may be overcome by worldly pursuits of riches. The psalm concludes with a reminder that God exhibits an enduring and merciful love, while also offering a hopeful assurance of divine justice.

Psalm 61 provides some strategies for enduring seasons of discouragement and distance from God by showing us how to cry out in prayer and take refuge in him. David reminds us that God is both strong and tender—our rock, tower, dwelling place, and sheltering wings. God is experienced as a refuge through his promises which find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Christ was the one who experienced the ultimate exile from sin so that we would never have to. In the gospel of Christ we find security, hope, and joy that leads us back to God in worship.

In Psalm 60, David provides a roadmap for dealing with hard things. While it can be difficult to understand, God is ultimately in control of what a person faces in life and often uses times of struggle to reveal sin, build faith, and strengthen our trust in Him. During suffering and setback, God’s people should not lose sight of their purpose in the world – to faithfully proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ until he returns. Recalling God’s sovereignty and past goodness can help us endure suffering while we patiently wait for God’s deliverance. And finally, our ultimate hope in the midst of hard things is God alone, who will someday restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us (1 Pet 5:10).

The picture of a shepherd with his sheep is a beautiful image of our relationship with God. Thankfully, the metaphor is not a cowboy rounding- up cattle, or a bookish theologian merely providing right answers. We don’t need to be driven like cows and we desperately need more than accurate information. We need the experiential loving care of a good shepherd. In Jesus, we have a good shepherd who cares for his sheep by leading, providing, protecting, and laying his life down as a sacrificial Lamb for sinners (John 10:11-15). “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall never lack what I need.”

In Psalm 86, David cries out to God with a heart distressed by trouble and anguish. Yet, woven through this cry are confessions and celebrations of God's graciousness, goodness, and steadfast love. The attributes of God provide David comfort, joy, and thankfulness even though he faces times of trouble. In this prayer David shows how God wants us to pour out our hearts to him and to rely on his perfect character.