Psalm 11
Psalm 11 Is all about trusting in God when under pressure. As our lives unfold, each of us can point to a few, very short, but key moments, where we made a choice that changed the course of our lives. Many of those choices (while not always black and white) boil down to what is Godly, and what is not. But as shown in Psalm 11, some choices may appear good but are not. And it’s important to discern what is Godly and what is not.
In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
Scholars believe that this chapter could be a reflection of David’s time being persecuted by King Saul. During this time David’s men had come to him with genuine advice, basically saying: there is a gun to your head, and there’s nothing you can do about this situation but run. But David’s reaction at the start of the chapter shows his outrage with this kind of advice. David makes it clear that there is no reason that the Godly should ever fear the wicked and that he definitely won’t make any decision out of fear. Even if somebody as powerful and corrupt as King Saul was conspiring against him, David allowed God to carry out vengeance.
The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
Because David found solace in the righteousness of God, it saved him from making a choice that could alter the entire future of Israel. He rejected fear, while also rejecting malice against those who persecuted him, and instead stayed faithful, allowing God’s will to be done. This creates a great model for us because we can often cower in fear when faced with problems, or try and control everything ourselves. David shows us there’s a more disciplined and Godly option.
Psalm 12 directly connects to this theme when David declares, “Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart, they speak.” Scholars suggest that in Psalm 11, when David’s men urged him to flee, their words may have carried a manipulative undertone. This reflects the “double hearts” David encountered throughout his time as a soldier, having faced numerous conspiracies against him. In Psalm 12, David continues by emphasizing the reliability of God’s actions, further affirming his steadfast trust in Him.