Psalm 11 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
The chief musician was most likely Asaph. King David played the harp and sang as well as wrote the songs, but it would have been Asaph that added other instruments as well as vocalists so that these songs or psalms could be sung in the Tabernacle during the services.
Verses 1-2 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.
King David started this psalm by stating that it was in the LORD that he put his trust. Trust for what? For everything, including his life, his position as king of Israel, his ability as a warrior to overcome enemies, his personal relationships, his walk with God, and so forth. He speaks to his soul and asks if when facing difficulties, should he run away? He uses the analogy of a bird who, when startled or threatened, flies away to a high place where there is safety from hunters and predators. So often in King David’s life he was hunted by men who wanted to kill him, the primary man being King Saul. So David was acquainted with trouble, with fear, and with the constant threat against his life. He also was aware that the wicked hunted and wanted to destroy the righteous. This is a main theme that can be found in many of the Psalms.
Application: Christian believers need to be like King David and put their trust in the LORD, not just for the big things that come along to challenge the emotions and stability in life such as health issues, accidents, financial crises, marital stressors to name a few, but the little things such as how to relate to one’s boss or what to buy when shopping or should a particular road be taken when driving somewhere. The LORD is interested in every detail of His people’s lives because He loves and wants to guide all who put their trust in Him.
Verse 3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The Hebrew word translated as “foundation” is “shathah” and it means foundation, support, or stay. King David has stated that his trust is in the LORD and that trust is his foundation or that upon which he stands and draws strength and wisdom. Without that trust and faith in the LORD the righteous would have nothing to which to cling, nothing to support them in times of trouble. Jesus told the parable as recorded in Matthew 7 of two men who built houses, one on sand and the other on rock. They were probably both very nice houses, but the one built on a foundation of sand fell during a time or storm, whereas the one built on rock weathered the storm. Likewise, those people who have their faith built upon the rock of Jesus Christ will weather all the storms of life, but those who have their faith in other things or people will not weather the storms of life but be destroyed in some manner, with the ultimate destruction being physical death and eternity in Hell.
Application: What is a foundation? The English definitions are “the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level: an underlying basis or principle: the action of establishing an institution or organization on a permanent basis, especially with an endowment.” For the Christian believer, the foundation upon which faith resides is the LORD Jesus Christ who is the Word and who provided the Word of God in the form of the Bible. The most valuable possession a believer has is the Bible. Through Jesus Christ it is the foundation of the Christian Faith as it is the load-bearing aspect for all the trials and temptations of life, it is the underlying basis or principle of Christian Faith, and it is through Jesus Christ that the Church was born and functions with the “endowment” of the Holy Ghost/Spirit given to all who believe the Gospel message. So the foundation of the righteous who belong to Jesus Christ is the LORD and His Word or Bible. Upon this each Christian believer must stand and on nothing else. Jesus Christ and His Word is the Rock. “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 18:2
Verse 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 foundation of the righteous or those who belong to the LORD will never be destroyed as the LORD is, was, and will forever be in His holy temple which is Jesus Christ and all who believe in Him and obey His voice. Jesus said as recorded in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” He was not referring to the temple in Jerusalem but was referring to His own body which is the Temple of God. He is the corner stone and all believers are lively stones fitted together to form a spiritual temple. In the Old Testament under the Old Covenant, God had a temple for His people. In the New Testament under the New Covenant, God has a people for His temple. Furthermore, He inhabits the Heavens and because He is omnipresent, He can see all of mankind at one time. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Verse 5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
According to King David, the LORD has hatred for those who love to use violence as a means to an end and for their own pleasure and He has hatred for the wicked in general. He also tries or tests the righteous. Why? Because testing will prove the sincerity of people and testing will grow people’s faith and mature them in their spiritual walk. The more often people who are truly converted and following the LORD are tested by trials and tribulations, the stronger they become and the more they trust their God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Application: Have you ever wondered why some people love to watch violent “sports” and violent movies and why people will spend hard earned money to buy tickets to go and watch two men (or women) beat each other up in a ring or a cage or spend money on a two hour movie where 13 people are brutally killed in the first 10 minutes? Why do some people enjoy cock fights and dog fights and why do people seem to enjoy the carnage of a vehicle crash at auto races? Perhaps because of the sin nature that the Bible says mankind inherited from Adam and Eve when they rebelled against God. Regardless of the reason, wicked people are in abundance and violence worldwide is at an all time high. Is the world reflecting the state or condition that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah exhibited before God destroyed them? Is the world reflecting the state or condition of the people during the times of Noah where there was violence in the land? Are we living in days that are shortly going to usher in the second coming of the LORD Jesus Christ? Think about it.
Verse 6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
King David would have known Hebrew history and the true story of the destruction of the nation Egypt and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, cities that were destroyed by God with fire and brimstone, and he would have known the story of righteous Noah and the flood. God will not be mocked and He has promised judgement and punishment to the wicked and they will receive that which they have reaped.
Verse 7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
The LORD has His face on His people which means that He is constantly watching those who are His. It is a comforting truth to know that God Almighty is always watching and watching out for all believers, and King David knew this and took comfort in this knowledge and so ends this Psalm on a positive note.
Application: God loves His chosen people, the Israel of God, who are all those who follow Him by faith and who are Abraham’s children because of their faith.