Psalm 11
Often the world will see the trouble we face and give us advice on how to fix it. People say put your trust in money, government or yourself. Sometimes they assume we ought to run in fear from the difficulties we face. David faced the temptation to listen to people who told him to run from Saul when Saul resented and mistrusted him. Verses 1-3 describe David’s dilemma.
“In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
David knew God was his sanctuary, his place of safety. He questioned how his friends could tell him otherwise. He knew Saul was a formidable enemy who was actively trying to kill him. David’s advisors didn’t understand that God was more awesome and fearsome than Saul could ever be. Not only were Saul’s men shooting arrows and throwing javelins at David, but the words of his advisors were trying to shake his faith, his foundation in The Lord. But David like us didn’t have to let those words pierce his heart. He had faith in God to protect him. Ephesians 6:16 reminds us,
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”
David’s faith was based on his assurance of God’s sovereignty exhibited repeatedly in his experience. Verses 4-5 read,
“The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”
The Lord is exactly where He is supposed to be, on His throne. He sees everything that happens to His children. He loves us deeply. There are times when He allows the difficulties, when He permits our enemies and the enemy to throw flaming arrows. He tests our faith, not so that He will know how faithful we are but so we will know that our faith in God is true and good. There is no need to test the lost, they have no faith in Him to reveal. Until they accept Jesus, they are tools of the enemy and God can and will use them to edify His children.
In the meantime the lost await a terrible end. They will be punished for letting the enemy use them and for hurting the children of God. Verse 6 reads,
“Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.”
God is righteous. Sin must be paid for. But for us who have been made righteous by Jesus we will see Him face to face. We will be with Him forever. Verse 7 says,
“For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.”
Do you choose to believe those who say trust money? Do you trust those who encourage you to foster fear? Or do you exercise faith and trust in The Lord your God? God is our Refuge. He is our Strong Tower, our Foundation, our Rock, our Salvation, and our Strength. What do we have to fear? Romans 8:31-35 says,
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”
Nothing and no one is more powerful than The Lord.
Often the world will see the trouble we face and give us advice on how to fix it. People say put your trust in money, government or yourself. Sometimes they assume we ought to run in fear from the difficulties we face. David faced the temptation to listen to people who told him to run from Saul when Saul resented and mistrusted him. Verses 1-3 describe David’s dilemma.
“In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
David knew God was his sanctuary, his place of safety. He questioned how his friends could tell him otherwise. He knew Saul was a formidable enemy who was actively trying to kill him. David’s advisors didn’t understand that God was more awesome and fearsome than Saul could ever be. Not only were Saul’s men shooting arrows and throwing javelins at David, but the words of his advisors were trying to shake his faith, his foundation in The Lord. But David like us didn’t have to let those words pierce his heart. He had faith in God to protect him. Ephesians 6:16 reminds us,
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”
David’s faith was based on his assurance of God’s sovereignty exhibited repeatedly in his experience. Verses 4-5 read,
“The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”
The Lord is exactly where He is supposed to be, on His throne. He sees everything that happens to His children. He loves us deeply. There are times when He allows the difficulties, when He permits our enemies and the enemy to throw flaming arrows. He tests our faith, not so that He will know how faithful we are but so we will know that our faith in God is true and good. There is no need to test the lost, they have no faith in Him to reveal. Until they accept Jesus, they are tools of the enemy and God can and will use them to edify His children.
In the meantime the lost await a terrible end. They will be punished for letting the enemy use them and for hurting the children of God. Verse 6 reads,
“Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.”
God is righteous. Sin must be paid for. But for us who have been made righteous by Jesus we will see Him face to face. We will be with Him forever. Verse 7 says,
“For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.”
Do you choose to believe those who say trust money? Do you trust those who encourage you to foster fear? Or do you exercise faith and trust in The Lord your God? God is our Refuge. He is our Strong Tower, our Foundation, our Rock, our Salvation, and our Strength. What do we have to fear? Romans 8:31-35 says,
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”
Nothing and no one is more powerful than The Lord.
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