In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
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.
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
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: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
This psalm, Psalms 11, offers a powerful message of trust in God's sovereignty, especially during times of trouble and uncertainty. The psalm likely reflects a period of intense pressure in David's life, possibly when he was fleeing from King Saul (as suggested in connection with Psalms 18) or during the rebellion led by his son Absalom (mentioned in Psalms 3). Regardless of the specific historical context, the core message remains relevant: those who trust in the Lord can stand firm against evil, even when the foundations of society seem to crumble.
The Temptation to Flee (11:1-3)
The psalm opens with a direct challenge to David's faith. He is being urged to flee to the mountains for safety, like a bird escaping danger. "In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain”?" (Psalms 11:1). This could be the advice of his counselors or his own fear speaking to him. David's response is a firm rejection of this counsel. He understands that abandoning his God-given responsibility, in his case as king, would have devastating consequences.
The image of the wicked "bending their bows" and "aiming their arrows" (Psalms 11:2) vividly portrays the threat David faces. It's a picture of imminent danger and relentless opposition. The question posed in verse 3, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" is a stark assessment of the situation. This verse has broad applications, resonating with concerns about the erosion of cultural, familial, governmental, and even personal faith. When the fundamental principles of a society or an individual's life are undermined, it can feel as though all hope is lost. The people were afraid that due to the proliferation of evil and lawlessness in society, the nation—its social order and institutions—might crumble (Psalms 11:3).
Tony Evans points out that David rebukes the advice of the faint-hearted and the weak who suggest he should run from danger like a bird fleeing to the mountains to hide (11:1).
God's Sovereign Watch (11:4-6)
In contrast to the temptation to despair, David affirms God's sovereign rule and watchful care. "The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man" (Psalms 11:4). David shifts his perspective from the earthly realm of threat to the heavenly realm of God's omnipotence.
David's eternal perspective is revealed. He knows that God is sovereign, ruling from heaven over the affairs of men. He sees the deeds done on earth, hates the wicked, and will punish them with burning coals and sulfur (11:5-6).
God is not distant or detached; He actively observes and evaluates the actions of humanity. He tests the righteous and hates the wicked, and He will ultimately bring judgment upon evildoers. The imagery of "burning coals and sulfur" (Psalms 11:6) depicts the severity of God's wrath against those who persist in their wickedness. A scorching judgment will fall on evildoers—in God’s appointed time.
The Reward of Righteousness (11:7)
The psalm concludes with a hopeful anticipation of God's favor towards the righteous. "For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face" (Psalms 11:7). This verse offers a stark contrast to the fate of the wicked. Those who live in accordance with God's will can look forward to experiencing His presence and enjoying His blessings.
In contrast to the fate of the wicked, the upright will see God’s face. Because he is righteous, the Lord loves those who perform righteous deeds. Those who follow him will ultimately experience his presence and enjoy his blessings.
Application
Psalms 11 reminds us that true refuge is found in God, not in fleeing from our problems. When faced with fear, uncertainty, or the erosion of values, we can draw strength from the knowledge that God is sovereign, all-seeing, and just. We are called to stand firm in our faith, even when the foundations around us seem to be crumbling. Moreover, David viewed what was happening from an eternal, heavenly perspective and thus challenged the righteous not to be passive in the midst of a decaying culture; rather, they were to be influential and impactful as salt and light. This is a principle that we, too, should apply (see Matthew 5:13-16). By trusting in God's righteousness and pursuing righteous deeds ourselves, we can have confidence in His ultimate protection and blessing. This psalm encourages us to maintain an eternal perspective, remembering that God's justice will prevail and that those who are upright in heart will ultimately see His face.
In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
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.
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
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: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
This psalm, Psalms 11, offers a powerful message of trust in God's sovereignty, especially during times of trouble and uncertainty. The psalm likely reflects a period of intense pressure in David's life, possibly when he was fleeing from King Saul (as suggested in connection with Psalms 18) or during the rebellion led by his son Absalom (mentioned in Psalms 3). Regardless of the specific historical context, the core message remains relevant: those who trust in the Lord can stand firm against evil, even when the foundations of society seem to crumble.
The Temptation to Flee (11:1-3)
The psalm opens with a direct challenge to David's faith. He is being urged to flee to the mountains for safety, like a bird escaping danger. "In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain”?" (Psalms 11:1). This could be the advice of his counselors or his own fear speaking to him. David's response is a firm rejection of this counsel. He understands that abandoning his God-given responsibility, in his case as king, would have devastating consequences.
The image of the wicked "bending their bows" and "aiming their arrows" (Psalms 11:2) vividly portrays the threat David faces. It's a picture of imminent danger and relentless opposition. The question posed in verse 3, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" is a stark assessment of the situation. This verse has broad applications, resonating with concerns about the erosion of cultural, familial, governmental, and even personal faith. When the fundamental principles of a society or an individual's life are undermined, it can feel as though all hope is lost. The people were afraid that due to the proliferation of evil and lawlessness in society, the nation—its social order and institutions—might crumble (Psalms 11:3).
Tony Evans points out that David rebukes the advice of the faint-hearted and the weak who suggest he should run from danger like a bird fleeing to the mountains to hide (11:1).
God's Sovereign Watch (11:4-6)
In contrast to the temptation to despair, David affirms God's sovereign rule and watchful care. "The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man" (Psalms 11:4). David shifts his perspective from the earthly realm of threat to the heavenly realm of God's omnipotence.
David's eternal perspective is revealed. He knows that God is sovereign, ruling from heaven over the affairs of men. He sees the deeds done on earth, hates the wicked, and will punish them with burning coals and sulfur (11:5-6).
God is not distant or detached; He actively observes and evaluates the actions of humanity. He tests the righteous and hates the wicked, and He will ultimately bring judgment upon evildoers. The imagery of "burning coals and sulfur" (Psalms 11:6) depicts the severity of God's wrath against those who persist in their wickedness. A scorching judgment will fall on evildoers—in God’s appointed time.
The Reward of Righteousness (11:7)
The psalm concludes with a hopeful anticipation of God's favor towards the righteous. "For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face" (Psalms 11:7). This verse offers a stark contrast to the fate of the wicked. Those who live in accordance with God's will can look forward to experiencing His presence and enjoying His blessings.
In contrast to the fate of the wicked, the upright will see God’s face. Because he is righteous, the Lord loves those who perform righteous deeds. Those who follow him will ultimately experience his presence and enjoy his blessings.
Application
Psalms 11 reminds us that true refuge is found in God, not in fleeing from our problems. When faced with fear, uncertainty, or the erosion of values, we can draw strength from the knowledge that God is sovereign, all-seeing, and just. We are called to stand firm in our faith, even when the foundations around us seem to be crumbling. Moreover, David viewed what was happening from an eternal, heavenly perspective and thus challenged the righteous not to be passive in the midst of a decaying culture; rather, they were to be influential and impactful as salt and light. This is a principle that we, too, should apply (see Matthew 5:13-16). By trusting in God's righteousness and pursuing righteous deeds ourselves, we can have confidence in His ultimate protection and blessing. This psalm encourages us to maintain an eternal perspective, remembering that God's justice will prevail and that those who are upright in heart will ultimately see His face.