Psalm 11:1–7

 ¹In the Lord I put my trust;

How can you say to my soul,

“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

²For look! The wicked bend their bow,

They make ready their arrow on the string,

That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.

³If the foundations are destroyed,

What can the righteous do?

⁴The Lord is in His holy temple,

The Lord’s throne is in heaven;

His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

⁵The Lord tests the righteous,

But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

⁶Upon the wicked He will rain coals;

Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.

⁷For the Lord is righteous,

He loves righteousness;

His countenance beholds the upright.

Preamble 

It appears this psalm was written during a time of unrest, during a time when king David was facing some fierce opposition to his leadership. Therefore in seeking the Lord he once again expresses himself (his thoughts) through the written word. This psalm then is his declaring his faith and trust in the Lord to all who counseled him to leave in order to save himself. It is then both deep and personal and is intended to be deeply received by us in our own trials and tribulations. The Spiritual truths contained within it, (like those found in great sermons), are once again the by product of a Godly man who first sought God and now is expressing his faith, trust, and confidence in the Lord our God our only Savior.

Commentary

Vs. 1 In the Lord I put my trust;

How can you say to my soul,

“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

 This psalm opening statement, “In the Lord I put my trust”, is David’s one and only response to those who were “counseling him” to flee and save himself. And that is (and must be) “the battle cry” of everyone who also wants deliverance (or justice) from the Lord. For David knew that he had been established by the Lords hand and doing. He knew he did not become the king of Israel by his own choosing or making, it was God who choose him and took him from the sheepfold and raised him up to establish his throne forever. Therefore, to vacate his post and position assigned to him by God, by his own volition, especially through fear, could never be. For that would be tantamount to cowardice, to forsaking what the Lord had called him and raised him up to do. It would be the same as abandoning his faith in the Lord and listening to the counsels of unbelieving men and women. Something that he (and we) will never do! Therefore above all else David commits himself and his cause to the Lord! 

Now for those of you who know the Bible please do not compare what is stated here to what happened when David sinned and God raised up adversity and adversaries against him from within his own household, namely Absalom. For here David is taking his stand as God would have him do, but even then, when Absalom rebelled against David, as God foretold He would do to him to punish him, David never forsook his position. He once again recommitted himself and his cause to the Lord, who once again brought about his deliverance and returned him to the seat of his throne. Now if want to compare a circumstance similar to what is happening to David here consider Nehemiah who as Governor of the returning captives who also faced ungodly opposition, and when faced with the threat of death, he too did not forsake his position out of fear as they would’ve had him do, but instead he committed himself and his cause to the Lord (see Neh. 6:1-14, 17-19).

Vs. 2 For look! The wicked bend their bow,

They make ready their arrow on the string,

That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.

David now pleads his case to the Lord. For it is not he who assailed them, but it is they who have set him up as their target! For the wicked always set their gaze upon us, upon everyone who believes In Christ and lives uprightly, even when we are totally ignorant of them, of who they are, and what they are plotting against us, they will seek to assail and unsettle us, whether by word or by deed, they will find a cause against us and hate us. Thus, the metaphoric imagery here is to reflect that, to graphically reflect and reveal what David now knows, that wicked men have set him up as their target! Don’t be alarmed then if you also share in this plight, especially when you stand up for what is right in the sight of God, when Christ’s fragrance is revealed in you, for such is our lot down here from those who reject Him, and thus now only sees us as either a "threat" or the "enemy". Thus the conflict and aggression always starts with them, (since we sought none of it), while they themselves make us out to be "a threat" to themselves (or others), to justify their own egregious words, acts, and deeds. 

Vs. 3 “If the foundations are destroyed,

What can the righteous do?”

In David’s simple question/statement there is a profound truth. For if the foundations are destroyed; whether of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; or in a broader sense of the world and its deep dive and rapid degeneration into the immoral cesspool and abysses; then truly what can the righteous do, for this is what they have chosen for themselves, and in choosing that degenerate path they only undermine not only their own personal well being, but also their own societies peace and well being. For where vileness is exalted amongst the sons of men, their the wicked prowl on every side, and so you will have more and more crime and violence, you will have ever increasing social upheaval and unrest, you will have more and more of what everyone who is sound in heart and mind does not want, endless conflicts and instability! Therefore if the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do? Since we will only become the enemy in their eyes, just as Jesus eventually became to them in His generation.

Vs. 4 “The Lord is in His holy temple,

The Lord’s throne is in heaven;

His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

Even so, our hope is not found in this world, in its Godless immoral foundations by which their societies all come unglued, but in the Lord who is in His holy temple, who forever reigns from His Throne in heaven, whose eyes behold all the works of man. For it is He who tests the sons of men, who makes a way for not only our salvation, but also their judgment, if they do not repent and believe! Therefore, He can allow mankind their own way for a season, while bringing about His plans for us all who believe and trust in Him. For the Lord is never unsettled by mankind’s ways, He is never troubled by mere men. For though they join forces and rage fiercely against Him, all their might will fail them when He arises from His Seat and sets His gaze upon them, they will all tremble and fear at the awesome Sight and Presence of the Lord! Woe then to the one who raises his hand against Him!

Vs. 5-6 ⁵The Lord tests the righteous,

But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

⁶Upon the wicked He will rain coals;

Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.

Therefore it is during these times that the Lord tests the righteous, tests us to see if we will remain loyal to Him, or will we capitulate our Godly beliefs and values and go to the world. Never! For the Lord also tests us through these trying times to see what qualities we have within us, to bring about a positive change and instill His holy qualities within us. Being tested by the Lord then is a good thing, because it reveals not only our strengths, but also our weaknesses, so that these too may be strengthened by Him! Now not only does the Lord test the righteous, but He always observes the wicked, remembering all their ways, and keeping all their deeds in His mind, reserved for His time of repayment (Psalm 92:7-9). For the Lord hates those who are wicked, He hates those who love violence, all these His soul hates! Therefore: “Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.” For just as He dealt with Sodom and Gomorrah collectively, so He deals with the wicked individually. Hell (or the lake of fire) then is a very real place, don’t end up there!

Vs. 7 “For the Lord is righteous,

He loves righteousness;

His countenance beholds the upright.”

Because the Lord Himself is Righteous He loves righteousness, His countenance beholds all those who live uprightly. Therefore, everyone who lives uprightly will find a friend in God. Now in saying that it must be remembered that no one is sinless in the sight of God, that "all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Therefore the only way to have everlasting peace with God is through repentance and faith. For the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now gives us what the ancients never had and that is reconciliation with God because of His Son Jesus Christ's death on the Cross and Resurrection from the dead. Thus we now have available to us all (both wicked and righteous people) the regeneration of our persons by His Holy Spirit the moment we repent (i.e. have a change of heart or mind) and believe in God's Son! I urge you then whether you see yourselves as being righteous or wicked to then turn to Christ in faith so that you may have remission of all your sins and new and everlasting life, for this glorious grace of God comes freely to one and all who simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). Therefore do not delay, come home to Jesus Christ today! 

Scripture Quotations

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.