Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 11:1 and following. Indeed, God maintains today in the world authorities: governments, magistrates, police… responsible for ensuring order, justice and peace. But in the great distress, everything that contributes to the safety of men: the bases and values of society (“the foundations”) will be overthrown. The question in verse 3 will then put the righteous to the test. Will they give in to the temptation to flee, as the bird flies away to escape danger? No! Their trust is not in an earthly refuge – the mountain – but in the One who is immutable because His throne is in heaven. Friends, what about our faith? If the Lord were to take away our main points of support here on earth: family, friends, health, material goods, could we see in whom we have entrusted ourselves? And if we think about the foundations of truth, we see that they are shaken on all sides in Christendom. What should the right one do? To separate oneself from all that attacks and seeks to destroy the pillars of divine truth. For God’s gaze probes the sons of men (Ps 7:9-10; Luke 7:36-50; Lk 11:14-26; Lk 22:54-62). Disturbing and unbearable thought for “the bad guy”! Happy feeling for “the just”! It is for his good that he is thus scrutinized (Ps 139:23-24).
This psalm is the meditation of a soul that is baffled by external circumstances. The natural bases of the trust of the just, the “foundations” of the social order, kings and judges (Ps 82; Rom 13), are shaken. But God dwells in His place, and this is the relief of the soul. “May God be true and every man a liar.” For here we have the language of the residue afflicted in the last days. But Jesus was their model and forerunner in the pains He experienced from man. What a difference, let us notice, between the world that faith discerns, and the world of the senses or sight: The psalmist declares here that all the visible world falters – the wicked prosper, the righteous are oppressed. But faith discerns a scene where God is found, in all holiness, serenity and power of the throne where he sits and of the temple in which he dwells; God who loves the righteous, hates the wicked, and prepares the judgments that will be based on them when the trial of the righteous has come to an end. These were the two scenes, or the two worlds, that the beginning of the book of Job opens to us: In the visible and sensitive world, the adversary acted as he pleased; in the invisible place, the God of all grace prepared, in his sovereignty, a blessing for his servant. Moses walked “as if seeing him who is invisible.”
Then Ps 11 shows us what the residue must do just when the power of evil is established in the land of Emmanuel. Now Psalms 11 to 15 give us the thoughts and feelings of the residue in that time, that is, as a result of the state of affairs referred to in Ps. 9 and 10. Here are the general features: Ps. 11 presents us with the righteous rejecting far from him the idea of weakening, as if he were destitute before the ungodly wickedness of those who do not fear God: he trusts in the Lord. However, the wicked, with all his strength, seeks the destruction of those who are right of heart. If all human resources, all terrain on which hope could have been established on earth, are lacking, what will the just do? The Lord remains the same, immutable as always: He is at the palace of his holiness; it has its place on earth, a place that faith recognizes, however ruined it may be; and his throne is in heaven. There, no evil has access, and his throne dominates forever. But there is more than that: if Jehovah dwells in a rest that nothing can disturb, because he is the Almighty and if he is raised above all evil, in heaven, he looks to the earth: he governs it, for it is from the earth, and not from the heavenly part of the Church, that it is a question, as indeed in the whole Old Testament. His eyes see, his eyelids probe the sons of men. What a solemn and powerful consolation for those who are in trial. God’s governmental ways are discovered even more to us.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
When all seems lost:
- Trust, examples
2 Kings 18:5 He placed his trust in Jehovah, the God of Israel; and among all the kings of Judah who came after him or preceded him, there was no one like him. Ps 25:2 My God! in you I confide in me: let me not be covered with shame! Let my enemies not rejoice about me! Ps 57:2 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me! For in you my soul seeks refuge; I seek refuge in the shadow of your wings, until the calamities have passed. 1 Tim 4:10 We work, indeed, and we fight, because we put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially believers. 2 Tim 1:12 And it is because of this that I suffer these things; but I am not ashamed of it, for I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he has the power to keep my deposit until that day.
- Persecution, general references
Ps 7:2 Eternal, my God! I seek in you my refuge; Save me from all my persecutors, and deliver me, Ps 119:86, 157, 161 All your commandments are only faithfulness; They persecute me without cause: help me! 157 My persecutors and opponents are numerous; I do not depart from your precepts, 161 Princes persecute me without cause; But my heart trembles only at your words. Ps 143:3 The enemy pursues my soul, He tramples on my life on the ground; He makes me dwell in darkness, like those who have been dead for a long time. Jer 15:15 You know everything, O Lord, remember me, do not forget me, Avenge me from my persecutors! Don’t take me away, while you’re slow to anger! Know that I can stand the stigma because of you.
- Sovereignty of God, the throne of God, symbol of
Ps 45:7 Your throne, O God, is forever; The scepter of your reign is a scepter of fairness. Ps 103:19 Jehovah has established His throne in heaven, and His reign dominates over all things. Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and earth my stepping stone. What house could you build me, and what place would you give me as your home? Mt 5:34 Blessed are the afflicted, for they will be consoled! Rev 4.2 Immediately I was delighted in spirit. And behold, there was a throne in heaven, and on that throne someone was sitting. Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne, and the one who sat on it. The earth and the sky fled before his face, and there was no more room for them.
- Future punishment
Ps 11:6 It rains on the wicked Coals, fire and brimstone; A burning wind is the chalice they share. Ml 3:19 For behold, the day comes, Ardent as a furnace. All the haughty and all the wicked will be like stubble; The day that comes will set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, He will leave them neither root nor branch. Mt 25:46 And these will go to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. 2 Thess 1:9 They will have as their punishment an eternal ruin, far from the face of the Lord and the glory of his strength, Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment rises in the ages of ages; and they have no rest day or night, those who worship the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
From all of the above, we note that Jehovah probes the righteous: the story of Job, the image of what is happening to Israel, teaches us this. Today, the state of affairs that surrounds us is in no way a revelation of God’s government; faith knows that God has the upper hand and that all things work together for the good of those who love God (Rom 8:28); but God does not rule immediately, so that the present state of affairs can show the result of God’s assessment of good and evil here on earth. If this were so, we would see no evil tolerated; the righteous would flourish and prosper in all its ways: but it is quite different. Meanwhile, the Church has her share outside the world, she has the place of her dwelling where Christ went to prepare the place for her; she suffers with him and will reign with him (2 Tim 2:12). But as for all his saints, he tests them; as for the wicked he hates, he will rain on him judgment, traps, fire and brimstone; for the righteous Lord loves righteousness, and his face looks at the righteous man. This, therefore, is the true foundation of faith for that time, while the residue will be in trial. God looks: He tests the righteous and will execute His judgment at the right time. This follows from the fact that” “the righteous Lord loves righteousness.” But if this is the general foundation of the trust and walk of the pious man, the righteous, however, is not insensitive to evil, and he can present it to God, as we see in the next Psalm. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the supreme good of the faithful.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.