Trust in the Midst of Threat and Chaos
Durant, Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Psalm 11:1–7 (ESV) 1 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?”
4 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. 6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Psalm 11:3 (NLT) The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”
Psalm 11:3 (MSG) The bottom’s dropped out of the country; good people don’t have a chance”?
Psalm 11 does not just offer an answer the question, this psalm is the answer. This psalm is itself a radical and countercultural expression of trust in the midst of threat and chaos.
Psalm 11: Trust in the midst of Threat and Chaos
Stanza 1 (vv. 1-3): Statement of trust followed by faithless advice.
Stanza 2 (vv. 4-7): Statement of trust in response to faithless advice.
Stanza 1: Trust when faced with Threat and Chaos
Stanza 1 (vv. 1-3): Statement of trust followed by faithless advice.
Psalm 11:1a (ESV) 1 In the Lord I take refuge…
Psalm 11:1a (NKJV) In the Lord I put my trust…
Psalm 11:1 (NLT) I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
Using the image of a fleeing bird evokes a sense of both homelessness and isolation. It also captures a sense of powerlessness that the righteous can feel in the face of evil, especially when the wicked’s agenda is to deceptively take the righteous out.
Psalm 11:2 (ESV) 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…
Psalm 11:2 (NLT) The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right.
Psalm 11:2b (NKJV) That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
The scene being painted is one where the wicked are using violence and deception to get the upright in heart, the righteous, out of the way in order to control society. The advice of the faithless is when you feel powerless in the face of deceptive evil, flee away for a sense of safety. It captures the temptation of the righteous and upright in heart to relinquish the public square to those who use deception and violence to control society.
Psalm 11:1–3 (ESV) 1 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?”
The conclusion of the faithless advice is to look at the landscape of life, society, world events and conclude that the foundations of the world are being destroyed, and once destroyed by the deceptive and violent wicked, what can the righteous do in that situation? It’s a fair question, and one that seems very relevant to the moment we are in now.
Stanza 2: Trustful Response in 4 Phrases:
When presented with the powerless situation in which the righteous sit, the psalm does not try to argue that there are indeed steps the righteous can take to address the situation, or earthly options available to confront evildoers. Rather, the psalm confesses faith in the Lord.
Stanza 2 (vv. 4-7): Statement of trust in response to faithless advice.
Psalm 11:4a (ESV) The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; (1)
This is not primarily a statement about the Lord’s geographic location, but it’s a confession that the Lord actively reigns, and is the one who possesses both the power and character to counter the wicked.
Ephesians 1:19–22 (NLT) 19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
Psalm 11:4b (ESV) his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. (2)
This phrase names God as an active force on the earth. By stating that God does see, it’s a confession that God is a relevant and active power in the present situation.
Hebrews 4:13 (ESV) And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Romans 14:10b-12 (ESV) …For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Psalm 11:5 (ESV) The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. (3)
Psalm 11:5 (NLT) The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.
This is an assertion that God is the ultimate judge. Built on the previous statements, it’s confessing that the presence and wisdom of God leads to a more just and equitable world. God alone possesses the wisdom to discern both righteousness and wickedness, and the character to embrace the righteous and reject the wicked.
James 1:12 (ESV) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
1 Peter 1:6–7 (NLT) 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
Psalm 11:6 (ESV) Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
The “portion of their cup” is an image that most likely refers to wicked’s fate. It communicates the trust that in the imbalanced equation between the righteous and the evildoers, God is the factor that will even all the sums.
Psalm 16:5–6 (ESV) 5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. 6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Psalm 11:7 (ESV) For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; (4)
the upright shall behold his face.
This sums up and concludes the matter: the Lord’s character is one of righteousness. He loves to see His character mirrored in the deeds of His people, and to them He shows His face.
Isaiah 33:5–6 (NLT) 5 Though the Lord is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness. 6 In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.
Psalm 25:14 (ESV) The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
Conclusion: Coming to the Table of the Lord
When we do not observe earthly recourse in the face of evil, this psalm reminds us that there is always a heavenly recourse, which invites us to turn to the Lord and make Him our refuge.
The Scriptures testify that God sees and reaches into the here and now — even when it does not seem to the case. What can the righteous do in the face of evil? The righteous confess trust in God’s righteousness and embrace the hope that the righteous will see God’s face.
2 Peter 3:8–13 (ESV) 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
The new creation has already broken into the now — can you perceive it?
Footnotes
Psalm 11:1 — cross reference with Psalm 7:1, 16:1, 18:1-3, 25:19-21, 31:1-5, 46:1-3, 61:1-3, 62:5-8
Ephesians 1:19-22 — See also Matthew 28:18-20, as well as Philippians 2:10-11
Psalm 11:4b — “God does see” is contrasted with Psalm 10:11, where the wicked states “God does not see…”
Psalm 11:6 and 16:5-6, cross reference with Psalm 116:12-13 and Matthew 20:22
Psalm 11:7, “the upright shall behold his face” — cross reference with 1 John 3:1-3, we shall see Him as He is…
2 Peter 3:12 — cross-reference with Hebrews 12:25-29, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, and Haggai 2:4-9