Psalm 11

I imagine there have been many eras throughout history when it looked like the world was on the edge of collapse and disaster… only to have peace arrive and quiet things down once again. So, this era may be no different, but when I watch the news or read the newspaper, it’s easy to believe that the world is hurtling ever closer to a total, chaotic meltdown. And when Earth’s final events begin to take place, the Bible says that God’s friends will be in the crosshairs.

That’s why I love the opening of this psalm: “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?’” (vs 1-3)

What David’s saying here is that security is not about geography. Because the Lord is his refuge, he is just as safe in the midst of evil as he is on a mountaintop. In fact, it is clear that those who are suggesting that David run away don’t really understand anything about the true foundation David stands on—for that foundation cannot be destroyed. The righteous don’t stand on a foundation that is capable of crumbling. Instead, they cling to the only foundation that is secure while everything else crumbles.

You see, Satan would like us to believe that any given human being only has two options when it comes to trouble—fight or flight. But in this psalm, David illuminates God’s option—faith. Not fight. Not flight. Faith. That’s what allows God’s friends to stand in the storm.

In my mind, this takes the theme of yesterday’s blog even further. We are used to thinking that the closer we come to God, the more we trust and obey Him, the less trouble we should have. But it’s just the opposite. The closer we come to God, the more we trust and obey Him, the more trouble we can endure.

Job, still being fresh in our memories, was a great example of this. Satan accused God of putting a hedge around Job, and I would say there were actually two hedges around him: an outer hedge and an inner hedge. Satan was allowed to trample all over Job’s outer hedge—the hedge of wealth, health, and relationships. But, without Job’s permission, Satan couldn’t touch his inner hedge—the hedge of faith and trust in God. As long as we hold firm to that foundation, nobody else can shake it.

God is a solid foundation. In Him, we are totally secure—right where we’re at, no matter what. When the world falls apart around us, we don’t have to choose between fight and flight. We can choose faith: “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.” (vs 4)

And everything is okay.