Facing Trouble

Series on the Psalms

Text: Psalm 11

Title: Facing Trouble

Introduction

This Psalm is apparently written during that period of David’s life when he was pursued and persecuted by Saul. The Psalm revolves around a particular temptation with which David was faced. It is a temptation with which we are all faced at some point in life. The question is whether we should stand fast or cut and run. The danger is that we will suppose that the way out of every trial is to flee from the circumstances which threaten us. How often we would like to run away from bad situations. I am not suggesting that there is never a time when in the providence of God we should seek new situations. I am only suggesting that this is a temptation that we need to resist because in God’s providential government there is often more to be gained, and more to be learned by facing our troubles. I Corinthians 10:13 comes to mind, No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. We should note that this promise arises out of an Old Testament experience in which the people of God were tempted and tried. In the wilderness experience there was never any expectation that the people would escape the trial. The issue was whether they would endure it with the help of God. Ultimately there is an end to all earthly trials, but the escape which is in view in the promise of I Corinthians 10:13 is explicitly said to be a way to bear up or stand up under the trial. The temptation to David is to run because there is no other solution. Chaos reigns. David refuses to run because he understands the rule, the retribution and the righteousness of God. The The world is turned upside down. The ruler, Saul, who should be upholding justice has made injustice the foundation of his throne! Under such circumstances what can the righteous do but run? Christians have been faced with this dilemma many times in history. We ourselves may wonder sometimes whether evil is called good and good called evil, and it is the case, according to Psalm 10:3. We must not flee because of the rule, the retribution and the righteousness of our God.

I. The Rule of God enables us to persevere

The image suggested by David’s compatriots is that of a bird being hunted. The bow is drawn; the arrow is in place; the aim has been taken; The timid bird flies away. And so must David they say in verses 1-3, In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Chaos reigns. The world is turned upside down. Under such circumstances what can the righteous do but run? Faced with this dilemma when evil is called good and good called evil, David’s answer in verse 1 is simple and he repeats the same thought in verse 4, The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. God is sovereign. As bad as the conditions become the Lord is on the throne. This situation is not outside his control. God rules and overrules in every circumstance. Romans 8:28 says, All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose. As Those who live in the New Testament era we should be much more conscious of God ruling and overruling for the good of his people because our Savior and defender who died for us has ascended to the right hand of God and all power belongs to Him. No conditions can become so bad as to deny God’s sovereign control. What about when bad things happen to good people? The answer is not that God is impotent. When David went out against Goliath the situation seemed impossible, but God delivered that uncircumsized Philistine into his hand. He understands that God is in control.

II. The Retribution of God enables us to persevere

David expresses his confidence not only in the rule of God but in the certain retribution of God’s all seeing judgment in verses 4-6, He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them. The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. There is first of all an accurate examination, and then secondly there is an infliction of just punishment on the basis of that examination. Some of you travel a lot and you have been through customs many times. I’ve been through them in Jordan and Israel, and Canada, but the one I remember best was when we entered the state of California, perhaps because I never expected it. The Guard at the gate solemnly announced that California was an Agricultural State, as if there were no others. Then he asked about any food we were carrying. We were eating lunch which included fresh fruits and vegetables. He said you have two choices. Give it to us or pull over to the side of the road and eat it up. We chose the latter. But I didn’t like it. There’s something slightly unpleasant about such inspections. Brethren we are all on an eternal journey and there is a customs inspector. His examination is more thorough than any earthly customs. I have been through some customs where it seemed to be little more than a formality, but God examines the heart. This is reality. not formality, and God will bring the full weight of the law and its sanctions upon those who disobey him as we read in verse 6. This Psalm is not concerned with whether that judgment is sooner or later, but only with the fact that it is certain. It is the character of God which is uppermost in David’s mind. The wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. This brings us to the final reason David stays the course, God’s Righteousness.

III. The Righteousness of God enables us to persevere.

At heart, the character of God as loving justice and hating iniquity is the refuge of his people. We must never think that our situation is unique. I Corinthians 10:13 reminded us that no temptation has overtaken us but what is common to man. Habbakuk 1:4 says Therefore the law is paralyzed and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous so that justice is perverted. In an earlier time Isaiah wrote in 59:4 and 9 No one calls for justice, no one pleads his case with integrity so justice is far from us and righteousness does not reach us. Centuries before Moses warned about this in Exodus 23. Allow me a parody on a fairy tale. Once upon a time the mother of a little girl called Red Riding Hood asked her to take a basket of fruit to her grandmother, who had been ill and lived alone in a cottage in the forest. A lurking wolf overheard the conversation. He raced to the grandmother’s house to get the goodies for himself. He killed the grandmother, then dressed in her nightgown and jumped into bed to await the little girl. When she arrived, he made several nasty suggestions and then tried to grab her. The child was very frightened and ran screaming from the cottage, but A woodcutter nearby, heard her cries and rushed to the rescue. He killed the wolf with his ax, thereby saving Red Riding Hood’s life. All the townspeople hurried to the scene and proclaimed the woodcutter a hero. But at the inquest, several facts emerged: The wolf was never advised of his rights, the woodcutter gave no warning before striking the fatal blow, the Civil Liberties Union said that, although eating Grandma was in bad taste, the wolf was only “doing what comes naturally” and couldn’t be blamed. The defense claimed that the wolf was incited by persecution because owners of livestock had banded together to exterminate his kind. Dr. Kevorkian testified for the defense and claimed that the wolf had done a service to society because grandma was a useless burden anyway. On the basis of these considerations, it was decided there was no valid basis for charges against the wolf. Moreover, the woodcutter was indicted for unaggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Dear friends there is a refuge. God loves righteousness and hates iniquity. In Him we have hope and we need not flee like a bird to our mountain. So we read in verse 7, For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.

Summary of Psalm 11

In Psalm 11 David resists the temptation to run and hide because the persecution by the wicked is so bad that there appears to be no way out. Instead he places his confidence in a holy God who, loves righteousness and hates iniquity. David’s God rules even in this confused world where the bottom has dropped out because of a complete reversal of values. God will punish the wicked and preserve His people. The knowledge that Christ’s love for us guarantees that God is working all things together for our good must make Christians even bolder.