Psalms 11

Psalms 11THEME: Testing of the righteousThis is a wonderful little psalm of David, ascribed to the chief Musician. We are not told under what circumstances it was written, but obviously it came out of the persecution and trials in the life of David. I am going to give an extended quotation from J. J. Stewart Perowne because I think it is a remarkable statement to be coming from a man who was liberal in his theology. The singer is in danger of his life; and timorous and faint-hearted counsellors would fain persuade him to seek safety in flight. But, full of unshaken faith in God, he rejects their counsel, believing that Jehovah, the righteous king, though He tries His servants, does not forsake them. Not the righteous, but the wicked have need to fear. The Psalm is so short and so general in its character, that it is not easy to say to what circumstances in David’s life it should be referred. The choice seems, however, to lie between his persecution by Saul and the rebellion of his son Absalom. Delitzsch decides for the last, and thinks the counsel (v.

Psa_11:1), “flee to your mountain,” comes from the mouth of friends who are anxious to persuade the king to betake himself, as he had before done when hunted by Saul, to “the rocks of the wild goats” (1Sa_24:2). It is in favor, to some extent, of this view that the expression in v. Psa_11:3, “when the foundations are destroyed,” points to a time when lawful authority was subverted (The Book of Psalms, p. 166). This is one time when I agree with a liberal. I think this psalm has reference to the time he fled from Absalom. Here is another expression from the heart of this great king:

Psalms 11:1

This is the advice psychologists will give you today. They will tell you that what you need to do is get away from your problems. Go off somewherewhat you need is a rest. Flee from your present circumstances, as a bird to the mountain. My friend, getting away from it all does not solve a thing. Years ago, in my southland, the lady of the house was complaining to her wonderful housekeeper about wanting to get away from it all. Her housekeeper said, “What are you trying to get away from? This beautiful home? Your lovely children? Your wonderful husband? No matter where you go, you are going to have to lug yourself along.” You can never run away from yourself. How true that is! People would tell David, “Flee as a bird to your mountain,” but that was not the way to solve his problems. In our mechanical society and very monotonous culture it is very tiring to sit in an automobile for seven hours on a freeway. Flying in an airplane is a wonderful experience; but after you have been across the country and around the world, flying gets monotonous. You are way up in the air where there is not much to see or do. Actually, I think it is a good thing for a person to get away from the busy life and the noise of the city and the traffic to find a restful place to relax. But if you are trying to run away from your problems or from some situation that you ought to face, this is not good advice. You should not run away because of fear. Many who were counseling David to run away and to get out of the country were afraid for his life, because Absalom, this son of his, was trying to kill him.

Psalms 11:2

Those who were following Absalom were willing to kill David if they had the opportunity. There was great bitterness on both sides. When Absalom came in battle against his father, David did not leave the land. David retreated in order to reconnoiter and then came against his son with his army. David gave specific instructions to his three captains: “Remember my boy Absalom and don’t harm him. I want him safe.” Absalom made a big mistake in fighting his father and the veterans who were with him, because David was a seasoned warrior and knew all the tricks of the trade.

He knew how to fight in the woods and the mountains. Absalom and his men were not as experienced, and they lost. Not only was there bitterness on Absalom’s side, it was also on David’s sidealthough not in David’s heartbut Joab, one of David’s captains, when he had the opportunity, put a dart through the boy and killed him. There was bitterness on both sides. The death of his son broke David’s heart. I don’t think he ever recovered from that. When Absalom tried to take over, David fled from Jerusalem. Law and order had disappeared. No longer was there worship of the living and true God.

Psalms 11:3

This is still a good question to ask. Today the authority of the Word of God is being challenged on every hand. As I write, we have the “new morality,” which is sin that the Bible has condemned from the very beginning. The problem is, What can the righteous do? I will tell you what they can do. Listen to the psalmist:

Psalms 11:4

God is watching us today. He is testing us. And the only place we can turn is to Him. When the foundations are taken out from under us, the righteous have God to cling to. Abraham reached that place. When it says that Abraham believed God, it means that Abraham threw his arms around God and just held on. He believed God. And these are days when we can believe God and hold on to Him. It is time for many of us who cannot sing the Hallelujah Chorus to at least say it. How wonderful is our God!

Psalms 11:5

“The LORD trieth the righteous” is better translated “the Lord tests the righteous.” God knows who are His own, and He will test His children. He tests me and He may be testing you. And that doesn’t mean He hates us. He is testing us for our good and His glory. “But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.” If you think God is just lovey-dovey, you had better read this and some of the other psalms again. God hates the wicked who hold on to their wickedness. I don’t think God loves the devil. I think God hates him, and He hates those who have no intention of turning to Him. Frankly, I do not like this distinction that I hear today that, “God loves the sinner, but He hates the sin.” God has loved you so much that He gave His Son to die for you; but if you persist in your sin and continue in that sin, you are the enemy of God. And God is your enemy. God wants to save you, and He will save you if you turn to Him and forsake your iniquity. Until then, may I say, God is not a lovey-dovey, sentimental, old gentleman from Georgia.

Psalms 11:6

The cup of iniquity is filling up in our day. And God is allowing it to fill up; He is doing nothing to hinder it. The wicked are prospering. He makes it rain on the unjust as well as the just. In fact, it looks to me like they are getting more rain than anybody else. This is their day.

Psalms 11:7

The Lord loves righteousness. In time of trouble when the foundations are removed, we are to look from earth to heaventhe upright will behold His face. What a wonderful picture this is!