Psalm 11
"THE SONG OF THE STEADFAST."
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
DIVISION. From 1 to 3, David describes the temptation with which he was assailed, and from 4 to 7, the arguments by which his courage was sustained.
Q. What is this psalm about?
C.H.S.
“These verses contain an account of a temptation to distrust Godâ€
Q. Have you ever been tempted to distrust God.
Then this psalm is for you!
Psa 11:1
In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
The Temptation Stated
“how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?â€
Cf. Neh 6:10-13
Nehemiah understood the Proverb;
Pro 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
The Only defense against such temptation
“In the LORD put I my trustâ€
Note:
The phrase “My Trustâ€
This is only found 13 times in scripture
11 times in the psalms.
Psalms 7:1; 11:1; 16:1; 25:20; 31:1; 56:4, 11; 71:1, 5; 73:28; 141:8;
Psa 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.
The Motive Identified.
The wicked desire the destruction of the righteous.
Note:
1. What the Wicked do.
“For, lo, the wicked bend their bowâ€
2. Their preparation.
“they make ready their arrow upon the stringâ€
3. Their intent.
“that they may privily shoot at the upright in heartâ€
{Thomas Fuller}
“This verse presents an unequal combat betwixt armed power, advantaged with policy, on the one side; and naked innocence on the other.
First, armed power: "They bend their bows, and make ready their arrows," being all the artillery of that age;
secondly, advantaged with policy: "that they may privily shoot," to surprise them with an ambush unawares, probably pretending amity and friendship unto them;
thirdly, naked innocence: if innocence may be termed naked, which is its own armour; "at the upright in heart."
Note:
What the wicked are according to Scripture.
Abominable branches Isa_14:19;
Ashes under the feet Mal_4:3;
BeastsPsa_49:12; 2Pe_2:12;
Blind Mat_15:14;
Briars and thorns Isa_55:13; Eze_2:6;
Carcasses trodden under feet Isa_14:19;
Chaff Job_21:18; Psa_1:4; Mat_3:12;
Clouds without water Jud_1:12;
Corrupt trees Luk_6:43;
Dogs Pro_26:11; Mat_7:6; 2Pe_2:22;
Dross Psa_119:119; Eze_22:18; Eze_22:19;
Early dew that passes away Hos_13:3;
Evil figs Jer_24:8;
Fading oaks Isa_1:30;
Fools building upon sand Mat_7:26;
Fuel of fire Isa_9:19;
Garden without water Isa_1:30;
Goats Mat_25:32;
Grass Psa_37:2; Psa_92:7;
Lions greedy of prey Psa_17:12;
Melting wax Psa_68:2;
Morning-clouds Hos_13:3;
Moth-eaten garments Isa_50:9; Isa_51:8;
Passing whirlwinds Pro_10:25;
Raging waves of the sea Jud_1:13;
Reprobate silver Jer_6:30;
Scorpions Eze_2:6;
Serpents Psa_58:4; Mat_23:33;
Smoke Hos_13:3;
Stony ground Mat_13:5;
Stubble Job_21:18; Mal_4:1;
Swine Mat_7:6; 2Pe_2:22;
Tares Mat_13:38;
Troubled sea Isa_57:20;
Wandering stars Jud_1:13;
Wayward children Mat_11:16;
Wells without water 2Pe_2:17;
Whited sepulchres Mat_23:27;
Psa 11:3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
A Fundamental question asked.
What can the Righteous do if the foundations be destroyed?
{ Joseph Caryl.}
Joseph Caryl (1602-March, 1673)
Joseph Caryl’s greatest work was a 12 volume commentary on the book of Job.
"If the foundations be destroyed," etc.
The civil foundation of a nation or people, is their laws and constitutions.
The order and power that's among them, that's the foundation of a people; and when once this foundation is destroyed,
"What can the righteous do?" What can the best, the wisest in the world, do in such a case? What can any man do, if there be not a foundation of government left among men? There is no help nor answer in such a case but that which follows in the fourth verse of the Psalm, "The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men;" as if he had said, in the midst of these confusions, when as it is said (Psalm 82:5), "All the foundations of the earth are out of course;" yet God keeps his course still, he is where he was and as he was, without variableness or shadow of turning.
DIVISION. From 1 to 3, David describes the temptation with which he was assailed, and from 4 to 7, the arguments by which his courage was sustained.
Psa 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.
The place we must look
Note,
1. Where the Lord is.
The LORD is in his holy temple
2. Where the Lord’s throne is.
the LORD'S throne is in heaven
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. (Psalms 121:1)
Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. (Psalms 123:1)
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. (Isaiah 40:26)
3. What we must remember.
his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
There is one other passage that uses the phrase “His eyes beholdâ€
Psa 66:7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
Psa 11:5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
The Contrast declared.
The Lord tests the righteous but hates the wicked.
Hateth=heb
saw-nay'
A primitive root; to hate (personally): - enemy, foe, (be) hate (-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.
psalm 139
Psa 139:21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
Psa 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
An important question
Does this contradict the words of Jesus.
“Love your enemiesâ€
Would Jesus have said Love God’s enemies?
Q. Why does the word of God tell us that God hates the Wicked?
The whole point of this statement is to assure the suffering saint that God is not neutral or indifferent to their situation
This needs to be used in Evangelism.
The Church has ignored this truth.
Psa 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 end of the Wicked declared
Note,
God will do this personally.
he shall rain snares
C. H. S.
As in hunting with the lasso, the huntsman casts a snare from above upon his prey to entangle its head or feet, so shall the Lord from above with many twistings of the line of terror, surround, bind, and take captive the haters of his law.
God will do this without mercy
fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest
God will do this without remedy
this shall be the portion of their cup.
Psa 11:7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
The reason given
Why does God do the terrible acts of verse 6.
Two reasons are given.
1.For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness
2. his countenance doth behold the upright.
Or put in a different way,
Because of himself and because of his people.
The Apostle Paul might have had this psalm in mind when he wrote in Romans 8
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Or John
1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Or Paul again
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. |
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