Psalm 11

Psalm 11 appears to be in chiastic form. The center of the chiasm points to the central idea which is that “the LORD’s throne is in heaven.” The outside edges of the chiasm point to the application which is to take refuge in the LORD because “the upright shall behold his face.” As evil increases and opposition to the LORD grows, some have counseled David to flee and hide. The enemy is increasing. The foundations are being destroyed. There is nothing we can do. Run and hide. But David turns from such counsel. He recognizes that the LORD is still the LORD. He has not stopped being God. He has not abandoned his throne. The LORD has not run and hid. Because “the LORD is in his holy temple,” and he sees and tests or examines all. His throne is in heaven. No matter what happens to the spiritual or political foundations, it does not shake the foundations of God’s temple in Heaven. The evil may be opposed to the godly, but the LORD is opposed to the evil. The evil may shoot in the dark at the “upright in heart,” but God rains coals on the wicked. No matter what happens in this world, it does not shake the foundations of Heaven. It does not shake the throne of God. The simple truth of this psalm is that God never stops being God, and whatever we see here on this earth, the perpetrators of evil will one day answer to God.

 

Perhaps our vision is to short. Like those encouraging David to run and hide, we can only see the danger in front of us. We feel compelled to either attack or flee, but neither is what we are called to do. We are called to stand firm in the truth in light of the fact that God is still God. We need an eternal perspective. We need to see beyond our present comfortable lifestyle to the truths of eternity that govern life. As opposition to the church increases, our temptation is to either respond in frustration and anger, or build the walls higher around us and stay safe. What God has called us to is to be the church, the Body of Christ in a broken world. God is our refuge. Whatever happens in our world, may we never lose that eternal perspective. God has not called us to be safe, he has called us to be faithful.