Psalms, chapter 11, comments: what can the righteous do?

 

Psalm 11:1 ¶  «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? 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. 3  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

 

In verse 1 David makes a curious remark. Matthew Henry concluded that David was using the bird allusion as a metaphor of a bird fleeing the fowler to safety as David expressed defiance at a temptation to follow the advice of friends as Saul made attempts to kill him. In other words, “I trust God, why do you suggest I flee?”

 

But David did have a mountain refuge from Saul if this is even about that time before David was king. The simile is used flee AS a bird with as or like being used in a simile to contrast two very unlike things. David is advised to not trust in the Lord but to flee like a bird to his mountain refuge.

 

1Samuel 23:14  And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.

 

Whether verse 2 is a metaphor as some commentators claim in that David was being assailed by slanderous lies, likened here to arrows, or literally that Saul wanted to kill him, which is more likely, this is a lamentation that the wicked are always trying to kill the righteous. David feels unsafe and hated.

 

For verse 3, in the context of the passage, David would be talking about the ruin of the nation, perhaps even when Absalom rebelled against him. If the king fled, the context would say, what can be done? What can people do if all authority collapses, for the king was the political foundation of any kingdom. In a kingdom patriotism is all about doing the king’s will, fighting for the king, praying for the king, and submitting to his authority as God’s spokesman on earth. The king was the foundation of any kingdom.

 

From a prophetic point of view we should consider the events future to David but not quite upon mankind yet. These are some examples of acknowledging that trust is placed in God.

 

2Chronicles 14:11  And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

 

2Chronicles 16:8  Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.

 

Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

 

From our personal point of view as well, we are to stand firm or should, in the face of adversity. The foundation of our faith is belief in the Resurrection of Christ and of trusting on God. If we do not trust in God the foundation of our faith is on sifting sand. Remember what Jesus will say about obedience to His own words.

 

Matthew 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

 

On a similar note we have a civil war going on this country between the previous order, called the Judeo-Christian moral tradition plus the Protestant work-ethic and Marxism. The former exalts moral behavior hard work, individual rights, self-reliance, and personal responsibility, accountability, and reliability. The latter, in its social form often called Cultural Marxism regards those things as racist, oppressions, and unjust. The former evolved from oppression of minority groups to a philosophy of equal opportunity for all. The latter regards only the fantasy of equal outcomes, no personal accountability for one’s actions, and the dominance of the collective over the rights of a minority or an individual. The former espoused majority rule-minority rights and the latter only acknowledges the collective will, a disregard for private property, and a contempt for God and faith in Him.

 

If the foundations be destroyed what CAN the righteous do?

 

Psalm 11:4 ¶  The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5  The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 7  For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

 

Here, David acknowledges the location of God’s throne, the center of authority over all the universe. He also asserts that God is watching mankind, paying particular attention to him and his doings.

 

To try is to test or prove, to see if someone or something is worthy or up to the task set for it or them.

 

Psalm 26:2  Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

 

Exodus 16:4  Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

 

Note how ironic it is that David, a king who was not permitted to build God’s house wherein He would dwell with the Israelites;

 

1Chronicles 28:3  But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.

 

…speaks of condemnation of violent men as those whom God hates. But, these are people intent on doing David harm.

 

Another important point is the mention of God’s soul by David. God the Father is the soul of God, the seat of will and self-identity, while the Holy Ghost is the very mind and heart of God moving in creation called the Holy Spirit in action as the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ, and the Son of God is God’s physical existence, His image, His body. It is through the latter that we experience His connection with us and it is there, at the Lord Jesus Christ, that we who have bodies commune with God. Without the physical image of God as our Saviour there is no connection in our minds and hearts, in our spirits with an invisible, incorporeal God of the universe. It is through Christ that we reach God and through Him only. From Job 19:25 through Adam and Eve’s encounter with the preincarnate Christ, Moses, and Samson’s parents, Jacob and Gideon’s among others’ encounters with Him we have the proof that God gives mankind His image, His appearance, to connect with.

 

From David’s perspective, in his dispensation, it is clear that God loves the righteous but who is righteous before God? The prophetic take on this could be that only Jesus Christ is truly righteous. God loves the Christian through Christ now whereas He loved all mankind at the Cross.

 

For prophecy also we can see God’s judgment through history all the way from Sodom and Gomorrah’s fate to the end in Revelation.

 

Revelation 14: 9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

 

For us personally, this is a guide and a warning. Americans and particularly our European ancestors loved violence and were known for their warlike aspirations. We conquered the world. There is an undercurrent in our country where those who dominate and even exploit others are lauded and exalted. America loves violent entertainment, violent sports, and even those who are generally not violent loving in their own lives vicariously live through actors and athletes who express the violent aspirations of our soul. I am not referring to being strong or defending one’s self or an innocent third-party. I am not talking about killing a predator or vermin who endangers your family or food supplies or killing because you have to in order to survive. I am talking about the thrill of pulling a trigger and killing something not out of hunger or fear but of the sheer joy of extinguishing a life. I am talking about getting excited about the knockout, the good hit, the good guy who guns down several bad guys. I’m talking about our love, my love, of violence as perhaps not being pleasing to God.