Living in an age of opinions, comments and judgments makes it easy to lose our way. The value of something is determined by what people say ”. From looking at what's going viral, the criteria for someone's success, even who deserves respect. In the midst of this torrent, many people get caught up in imagery and lose themselves. Psalm 62 comes as a cry from someone who tries to survive in a world full of noise, who still chooses to be silent and put his hope in God.

Textually, Psalm 62 emphasizes one key word that is repeated many times, אַךְ (’ak: only). The psalmist declares that only in God is rest, protection and salvation. In verses 2-3, he gives a testimony of faith born out of fragile experience; while in verses 6-7, he moves from a statement of calm to a cry of deep faith. The change in verb tense from indicative (faith is seen as a basic belief born out of experience) to imperative (faith becomes a dynamic inner struggle) shows that faith is not a mere concept, but an inner struggle that is constantly renewed when faced with threats.

This psalm was born out of a context where the people were dealing with enemy pressure and a shaking political situation. There is disillusionment with people, both rulers and groups who are only good at strategizing, which is ultimately described as "the wind". In such situations, people often lose their authenticity because they are dissolved in the prevailing social norms at that time, so they forget to ask who their true self is. So, the psalmist invites the people to go beyond "the word of the people" by finding the center of his life in God. From there comes the courage to live authentically, not just going with the flow, but rooted in a relationship with the Source of Life.

Friends of the Bible, being authentic means having the courage to remain calm in the midst of often misleading public opinion, having the courage to put your hope in God, not in power or wealth, and having the courage to live honestly without imaging and without seeking validation from others. The authenticity of faith is measured not by the judgment of others, but by the firmness of our hearts before God. Practically speaking, being authentic can start with small steps: setting aside time every day for personal reflection and prayer, evaluating the motivation behind every action, and daring to say "no" to social pressures that demand pretense. With these simple steps, we learn to walk firmly, honestly, and freely, leading an authentic life before God.