A Study in Psalms Psalm 11

A Psalm of David. When we feel overcome by the world and ready to give up, we need to remember that we who have put our trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour are God's children; he is watching over us and sees everything that is happening. He loves us and protects us constantly, and we can and should always trust completely in him.

1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

• David is purported to have written this when Saul had come against him time and time again, having even tried three times to kill him with a javelin when he was singing to Saul 1Sa 18:11, 1Sa 19:10, 1Sa 20:33. It was at this time that close friends and advisers of David urged him to leave his country for his own safety.

• We must put our trust in the LORD, not in our own reason, friends, strength, money, or anything else.

• It is safer to trust in God than it is to flee from trouble or difficulty. God is sovereign – everything is under his control and NOTHING can come between him and you

• We need to walk by faith, not by sight. What we see is only a small, temporary part of reality. There is much much more going on that is outside the bounds of the physical realm, as Elisha prayed for God to show his helper (2Ki 6:17) His helper could only see the incredible physical threat that was coming against them from the king of Syria, but Elisha, having eyes of faith, could see that God was in complete control of the situation.

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.

• The wicked will always try to destroy the righteous – they are ready at all times to try to shoot down God's children and destroy their faith (note that the seat of faith in our lives is called the heart)

• They try to destroy the righteous by stealth – their arrows come in many ways. Their shafts are called “Temptation” and their tips are: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19 – 21

3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

• If the faith of the righteous could be destroyed, the righteous would no longer be righteous – this cannot happen – we who have trusted in Jesus Christ as our Saviour have been given eternal life in Jesus Christ: “ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ro 8:38 – 39

• If we can be convinced to take our eyes off Christ; if we can be convinced to walk according to the flesh instead of by faith, then the effectiveness of our foundation in the world is destroyed

4 ¶ The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

• God is not part of this world and is not affected by the world in any way – he indwells each one of his children who are also not part of this world. Each one of us is part of his holy temple. While we are still here physically, we who have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour are spiritually not part of this world. Our home is heaven, where God's throne is. “ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Eph 2:19 – 22

• God clearly sees everything that is happening everywhere; he tests and judges all men

5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

• God tries his children – that is, he allows things and circumstances to come into our lives that stretch us and cause us to exercise our faith, making us grow and work out our salvation

• God hates the wicked and lovers of violence (those who never trust him)

6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

• Great, terrible and horrible wrath and tribulation will come upon those who choose not to trust God.

7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

• God loves his children and watches over us constantly with delight; though we can't see him yet, he always sees us and takes care of us in every way. No matter what we are going through, we can be sure that God will take care of us perfectly according to his plan and what is best for us.