The Psalms are a source
of great encouragement and comfort to the child of God. In the Psalms one can often find a reflection
of the thoughts of your own heart as well as a right response to those thoughts
when they mirror an attitude of discouragement or defeat. This is just such a psalm.
Psalm 11:1 In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my
soul, Flee as a bird to your
mountain?
The Hebrew for the word trust is referencing YHWH, the self-existent eternal God, as the One to whom
David “flees for protection.” Evidently,
the Psalmist is responding to his advisor(s) who is/are recommending that David
flee to the mountains for safety. We
aren’t told the specific time in David’s life that brought about the writing of
this Psalm, but it must have been a time when he was in danger such as when he
was fleeing from Saul. In David’s mind,
he needs no other protection than that which YHWH provides. It is a powerful statement of faith.
Psalm 11:2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they
may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
In this verse David is
making a statement about cowardly wicked men who make sneak attacks upon
innocent, upright men. This sure brings
to mind the way the terrorists of today act.
David was not a perfect man by any means, but he was secure in his
relationship to the Lord. He knew that
he was an upright man in heart; his desire was to do the things pleasing to the
Lord. Scripture affirms that his
assessment was valid.
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he
raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and
said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which
shall fulfil all my will.
Psalm 11:3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the
righteous do?
David knew that if he
could not live his life according to the faith in God that he claimed as his
support and purpose for living, then he was living a lie. If God is not the refuge and protection of
the man of faith, that man is on his own against the attacks of wicked men.
Psalm 11:4-5a The LORD
is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne
is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous:
David is confident that Almighty
God is on His throne in the temple in heaven. This tells me that he understood
the truth that was depicted in the design of the tabernacle/temple. This is another statement of the
righteousness, power and authority of God our Creator. The “holy temple” speaks of His holy and
righteous character, while the throne speaks of His power and authority. God is aware of the actions of mankind and
maintains sovereign control over His creation.
Context reveals that God’s
testing references His dealings with men of faith. The Hebrew for trieth makes reference to being examined and proven. God is the One in authority. He doesn’t cause wicked men to act wickedly,
but it is only by His permission that their wickedness can be directed against
the man of faith. Is this proving
something to God about that man of faith?
No; He knows all about us—even the thoughts and intents of our
heart.
1Chronicles 28:9 …for the
LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the
thoughts…
It is an opportunity for
a man or woman to grow in their faith as they trust God to bring about His purpose
through that time of testing.
When the Lord tests a
man, it is equated with His love for that person. Why would that be? Because He is working to produce growth in
our faith in Him, which in turn will result in our living better lives in
obedience to Him. Just like any good
parent, God desires His children to be the best that they can be and for them
to store up “treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20).” The fact that testing is ascribed to the
Lord, indicates that He is in control of the type, duration and intensity of
the testing allowed. He knows what His
child can endure and just how much is needed to accomplish His purpose(s) for
that testing. When God tries us, He is
putting us through a refining fire that is meant to purify us and make us more
like Him.
When we consider the
subject of God’s testing of men, I think we usually think about it in the terms
of the individual who is placed in the crucible. What I have learned through the years is that
God’s testing of an individual is most often also a test for many others who
are connected to that individual. For
example, Job’s companions learned from the trials of Job’s testing just as
surely as he did. They found out they didn’t know as much as they thought they
did. Joseph’s brothers learned a very
important spiritual truth because Joseph was tested--God is always in control.
Job 42:7-8 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken
these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is
kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job
hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to
my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant
Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your
folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my
servant Job.
Genesis 45:4-5
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came
near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now
therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve
life.
Psalm 11:4-5b … but the wicked and him that loveth violence
his soul hateth.
When one is wicked and
loves violence, he is identified as an enemy (from the Hebrew for hates) of God. Scripture is very clear about the things that
God hates.
Proverbs 6:16-18
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A
proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that
deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A
false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Note that this list
includes more than overt actions; it includes the attitudes and intents of the
heart.
Psalm 11:6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and
brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this
shall be the portion of their cup.
The terms “fire and
brimstone” make me think of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and of the
lake of fire.
Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah
brimstone and fire from the LORD out of
heaven…
Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of
fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the
second death.
The “horrible tempest” seems to be a
reference to God’s anger. The “portion
of their cup” seems to be a reference to a lethal dose of God’s anger.
Psalm 11:7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his
countenance doth behold the upright.
Just as scripture is
clear about what God hates; it is clear about what He loves.
Psalm 37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment…
Psalm 87:2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion…
2Corinthians 9:7 … for
God loveth a cheerful giver.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…
John 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son…
John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and
have believed that I came out from God.
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth…
Righteousness includes everything that is right, morally
virtuous, pure and holy as defined in the word of God. Although God hates the wicked (involves
willful action and/or thinking), He loves the sinner (the condition of all men
before God); in fact, He loves the sinner so much that He sent His Son Jesus as
the Redeemer. He loves His Son Jesus and
everyone who loves His Son. He loves those
He chastens; if He didn’t care, He wouldn’t bother.
When God
looks down upon the upright, the righteous, He is pleased (from the Hebrew for behold).
He may not always be pleased with some of our actions, but He is pleased
with our desire to serve Him and obey Him.
He is pleased with a repentant and broken spirit when we fail. He is pleased with our desire to share His
truth with others. He is pleased to see
us exhibit faith in His love and His word--not doubt. He is pleased when we show love to others—especially
our enemies.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,
and persecute you….
I was talking
to my granddaughters recently about the Boston bombers. I was pleasantly surprised to hear them say
that we should pray for the one who is still alive. They understood that this doesn’t mean that
we want him or any other terrorist to get away with his sin; it means that we
are trying to connect to the heart of God and trust Him to bring about
righteous judgment.
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