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Spiritually Speaking => Pastor Al Moak's Study => Manna For The Soul => Songs of Worship & Psalm 119~Psalms Studies => Topic started by: Al Moak on April 14, 2003, 07:24:41 PM

Title: Psalm 11
Post by: Al Moak on April 14, 2003, 07:24:41 PM
Psalm 11

This is a song about a war.  In it David the king tells about receiving various kinds of advice, some of which tells him that he should "flee as a bird to" his "mountain" (possibly a mountain fortress outside Jerusalem). The thought is that he could be safe there.

David's answer to this advice is in three parts.  First, he points out that fleeing to such a mountain fortress won't do any good, because the "bow" of the wicked is already "bent," so that if David exited Jerusalem he would be shot the minute he got outside the gate.  Secondly, David points out that if he left, then Jerusalem itself would be taken by the enemy.  This would be disastrous, because Jerusalem is the hub, the center, or to use the language used here, the "foundation" of Israel, and if it's taken by the enemy, there really wouldn't be much use fighting any longer - Israel would already be defeated.

Besides, thirdly, David doesn't need to "flee."  Why? Because "The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men."  In other words, the Lord knows all about David's predicament, and He can, at any time, bring His righteous wrath upon David's enemies - and then the war truly would be over!

David points out that "the Lord tests the righteous - but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.  Upon the wicked He will rain coals - fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup."  In saying this David's just expressing the fact that he doesn't need to worry, because the Lord can and will take care of the wicked enemy.  In other words, if David, is righteous, then the Lord will uphold him.  As he says, "the Lord is righteous.  He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright."  David needn't worry.

So David leads the people in singing this psalm so that they too might place their trust where it really belongs - not in fortresses, not in armor, not in horses, but in the Lord.  All they have to do is to be sure they are righteous before Him Who alone is their safety.

How about you?  Do you get worried about what human beings can do to you?  Your best course of action is to busy yourself in becoming more and more righteous in God's sight.  When you're doing that, no human being can harm you, for God will take care of you quite adequately!  Fleeing won't help, but righteously trusting God will.

Title: Re: Psalm 11
Post by: Marilyn on August 19, 2004, 10:17:09 AM
QuoteHow about you?  Do you get worried about what human beings can do to you?  Your best course of action is to busy yourself in becoming more and more righteous before God.  When you're doing that, no human being can harm you, for God will take care of you quite adequately!  Fleeing won?t help, but righteously trusting God will.

I don't really "worry" about what others can do to me because I am in Gods Hand and no one can pluck me from His hand. If a situation comes up I just begin to pray and it always works out for me. "
Romans 8:28 "All things work together for the good of those you love the Lord and are the "Called" to His purposes".

God has called me to Him and in Him I  have my trust, in Him I have my strength, in Him  I have everything that I need. When God has blessed someone as much as he has blessed me it is only in Him  that I stand amazed. He will  take care of me and I KNOW in my knower.[/b]
Title: Re: Psalm 11
Post by: Al Moak on August 19, 2004, 10:59:39 AM
And you know what?  Even that trust, even that "knowing" is of God - He gives us that, too.