Psalms 11

Psalms 11:1-7

God Our Refuge and Defense Psalms 11:1-7; Psalms 12:1-8 The first of these is a debate between fear and faith, and dates from Saul’ s persecutions. Timid friends, anxious for David’ s safety, urged him to flee to the mountains. Such counsels of expediency are frequently given to the servants of God, Nehemiah 6:1-19. Luther’ s diaries are full of such references. But unless our duty is performed, we must stand our ground; we “ can do no other.” We must remember that God’ s love is with us, and that He always exchanges glances of love with His suffering ones. Compare Psalms 11:7 with Exodus 3:7. The opening words of the next psalm appeal for help in bad and evil days. See Micah 7:2. A double heart is literally “ a heart and a heart,” Psalms 12:2. Let us be true in act and speech, else we forfeit the Spirit of truth, Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9. Our sighing will make God arise, Acts 7:56. We shall be helped and kept, Psalms 12:7 and Isaiah 54:17.

The righteous LordWhen John Welsh and his fellow-captives were summoned from their prison on the Firth of Forth, to appear before the court, they sang this Psalm as they walked by night under guard to their trial. It is worth reading in the rugged Scotch version. The Psalm is a debate between fear and faith, and probably dates from the time when David was being persecuted by Saul.

Psalms 11:1 The counsels of expediency. Timid friends, anxious for his safety, urged him, not simply to flee to the literal mountains, which he did, but to desert the cause of God, and to renounce his faith–which he never did. Birds escape the dangers of the plains by winging their flight to the caves or woods of the hills. Such counsels of expediency were frequently given to Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:1-19). And the enemy has ever sought to dislodge the faithful servants of God by fear (Job 2:9-10; Luke 13:31). Luther’s diaries abound in similar references. And there is much force in the reasons alleged. The bow is already being bent; the darkness is in favor of evil stratagems (Psalms 11:2, R.V.); and the foundations of social order are undermined. Righteousness cannot avail! Why should it not be relinquished?

Psalms 11:4-7 The answers of faith. The revolutions of earth cannot shake His throne. He permits the Evil One some license that the righteous may be tested (Job 1:1-22; Job 2:1-13; Luke 22:31-32). And when the limit is reached which His love apportions to His people’s trials, then their persecutors will first be entangled in snares, from which they shall not escape, and then overwhelmed as Sodom was. But in the meantime, whilst in the midst of per­secution and sorrow, let the righteous remember that the eye of God not only beholds their patience, but exchanges glances of tenderness with his suffering ones (Exodus 3:7).