Psalm 11: Security in the Lord rejects fear

For the director of music. Of David.

[Preliminary Comments: A short and simple song written by David in which he rejects fear of those who threaten his life because he feels secure in the Lord.]

v.1 David rejects the wisdom of advisors who suggest he flees danger

v.1 In the Lord I take refuge.
    How then can you say to me:
    “Flee like a bird to your mountain.

v.2 When enemies of the righteous ambush, who can stand?

v.2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
    they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows
    at the upright in heart.

v.3 When life is being undermined, what can you do?

v.3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”

v.4 But the Lord sees everything that is going on

v.4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
    the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth;
    his eyes examine them.

v.5 He sees both the righteous and the wicked

v.5 The Lord examines the righteous,
    but the wicked, those who love violence,
    he hates with a passion.

v.6 He will bring judgment on the wicked

v.6 On the wicked he will rain
    fiery coals and burning sulfur;
    a scorching wind will be their lot.

v.7 Because He is righteous & just He will draw near to the upright [with protection – implied]

v.7 For the Lord is righteous,
    he loves justice;
    the upright will see his face.

[Additional Comments: This psalm realistically faces the dangers of life – they ARE there – but that doesn’t mean we have to be afraid. When we are secure in the Lord, we can be at peace.

After perhaps going back and meditating on individual verses, now read it meaningfully out loud straight through:

¹ In the Lord I take refuge.
    How then can you say to me:
    ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain.
² For look, the wicked bend their bows;
    they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows
    at the upright in heart.
³ When the foundations are being destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?’

⁴ The Lord is in his holy temple;
    the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth;
    his eyes examine them.
⁵ The Lord examines the righteous,
    but the wicked, those who love violence,
    he hates with a passion.
⁶ On the wicked he will rain
    fiery coals and burning sulphur;
    a scorching wind will be their lot.

⁷ For the Lord is righteous,
    he loves justice;
    the upright will see his face.

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: