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PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Eleven: Overcoming When Human Institutions Unravel At The Hands Of Sinners
(Psalm 11:1-7)
  1. Introduction
    1. It is commonly believed by Christians worldwide that today's marital, family, governmental and economic institutions are more spiritually corrupt than they used to be. In fact, it is getting harder and harder to succeed without one's turning to sinful methods since so much wrong exists in society.
    2. Well, are the godly supposed to flee to an enclave of their own order, leaving the wicked in fallen society to themselves, or should they fight, or WHAT?! What can the upright do when these institutions unravel at the hands of sinners in society, making competing as an upright party in an uneven field very tough?
    3. Psalm 11:1-7 addresses this concern with divine insight.
  2. Overcoming When Human Institutions Unravel At The Hands Of Sinners, Psalm 11:1-7.
    1. David addresses some well-meaning but timid friends who apparently have urged him to flee to a mountain nest or refuge to escape a danger, Leupold, Exposition of the Psalms, p. 125 with Ps. 11:1b.
    2. He responds with the exhortation that He has put his trust for refuge in the "I AM", in the Lord, 11:1a. How then can he logically flee from the problem when he is already at refuge in God, 11:1b?!
    3. The problem David faced was the inability to REMAIN godly and still succeed were the social and governmental institutions around him to unravel via the wicked, making the playing field unfair, Ps. 11:2-3:
      1. David declared that the wicked were preparing intentionally to destroy the upright in heart, Ps. 11:2.
      2. In so doing, they would cause the foundations of law and order to be destroyed, Ps. 11:3a.
      3. However, if these foundations which the upright needed for order and equity in their lives were to be destroyed so that only by brutal sin could one HUMANLY survive, David asked what were the upright to do, or how could they even operate as godly in such an atmosphere, Ps. 11:3b.
        1. The word "foundations" refers to the order of law and order in society itself. Apparently, the efforts of Saul to destroy David were so anarchical that law and order was almost nonexistent, Ibid., p. 126.
        2. The word "do" is better rendered "morally, legally and ethically work", coming from the Hebrew word pa'al, Harris, Archer & Waltke, eds., Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, II, p. 730.
        3. In other words, David was worried that if the structure for law and order dissolved because of the godless, how could the godly succeed in godliness without themselves becoming anarchists!
    4. The reason David chooses not to flee or fight SINFULLY is that His "I Am" Lord has some offsetting qualities for the humanly hopeless situation at hand: (Ps. 11:4-7)
      1. David's "I Am" still immutably operates separate from sin, in holiness so that the disorder of the wicked cannot bring Him down and totally ruin law and order even on the earth, Ps. 11:4a.
      2. David's "I Am" still operates in orderliness, dwelling in His rightful place -- in the temple, Ps. 11:4b.
      3. David's "I Am" is sovereignly ruling from heaven, which is above this fragile earth, Ps. 11:4c.
      4. This immutably sinless, orderly, sovereign "I Am" scrutinizes both the godless and the upright in all of their minute motives and actions, Ps. 11:4d-5a.
      5. This immutably sinless, orderly, sovereign "I Am" rejects the godlessly violent and will rain down severe judgment upon them, Ps. 11:5b-6.
      6. This immutably sinless, orderly, sovereign "I Am" loves the righteous so that they will see His face in fellowship and blessing, Ps. 11:7:
        1. The phrase "His face beholds the upright" alludes to the Priest's blessing for the temple worshippers, Num. 6:24-26: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
        2. Thus, the immutably sinless, orderly sovereign "I Am" is here pictured giving His blessing in His temple to the upright in heart as their reward opposite the judgment He rains down upon the wicked!
Lesson: No matter how uneven the playing field of life seems to be with the onslaught of social foundation unraveling by the wicked, there is a God who is unaffected by the anarchy of the wicked, and He sovereignly operates in orderliness to punish the wicked and alternately bless the upright. Our part is simply to trust in His POWER rather than becoming distraught at the POWER of the wicked so as sinfully to FLEE or to FIGHT! This life's uneven playing field is GOD'S business -- not ours!