Psalm 11

David takes refuge in the LORD God.

 


 

DAVID TAKES REFUGE IN THE LORD GOD

For the Chief Musician. By David.

 

VERSE 1. In the LORD, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

In the LORD, I take refuge. Lots of people take refuge in anything but God. They turn to gossip, drugs or any number of distractions. But turning to the LORD God seems their Last Resort.

How can you say to my soul. David marvels at this suggestion because it runs counter to his faith in the LORD God.

Flee as a bird. David did not flee like a bird to a mountain. Instead, he fled to the LORD God.

 

VERSE 2. For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

shoot in darkness. David might be describing a literal physical attack. But it is more likely that wicked people are attacking with slanderous words.

at the upright in heart. Wicked people were targeting righteous people, including David.

 

VERSE 3. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

the foundations. That is, the Law and a society based on the Law of the Old Testament.

 

VERSE 4. The LORD is in his holy temple. The LORD is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.

The LORD is in his holy temple. David sees the presence of the LORD God as tied to a specific location.

However, the LORD God is not limited to a specific location. Rather, he is omnipresent. He is present everywhere, at all times, without limit.

 

VERSE 5. The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates.

him who loves violence. David was one of the most violent kings in the history of the nation. He did a whole lot of violent acts.

 

VERSE 6. On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

he will rain. This could also be translated, “may He rain.”

sulfur. This reminds us of God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.

What was the sin of Sodom? Why was destroyed? Many people assume it was due to homosexual activity. However, the Bible provides a different answer. Read more »

In the Bible, fire sometimes came down from heaven. It was a sign. Or it destroyed the wicked. Or it consumed a sacrifice. Or it was a counterfeit miracle. Read more »

 

VERSE 7. For the LORD is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.

 


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PSALMS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 1617, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 3435, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 5253, 5455, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 7071, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 888990, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104105, 106, 107108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148149, 150

Deuterocanonical chapter: 151

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, MemorizeDavid’s Fasting

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.