Psalm 11 is yet another of David’s
songs composed for the choir master or the chief musician. The content
expresses his resolute trust in God, despite being counselled to act contrary
to it. The backdrop to this Psalm could well be found in 1 Kings 18-19. It all
started with the praise the people of Israel ascribed to him after he returned
from battle in victory. When Saul heard the praise given to David, concluded
that the people esteemed him more than the king himself, he became jealous. So
he sought to kill David on several occasions. Fortunately David had a good
friend in Jonathan, Saul’s son. Besides, he also had his wife Michal, Saul’s
daughter, on his side. So when Saul, his father-in-law sought to kill him, his
trusted friends were there to provide the advice. And he was counselled to flee
for his life like a bird fleeing its predator.
But David’s whole trust was in the Lord.
So he began by expressing his complete trust in God. Unlike many, he would not trust
in himself, not in his wisdom, nor his wit, nor his weapon. His trust in God
was explicit and unqualified. For He is his refuge. Although counselled to run
for his life, he refused. He chose to stay put. His counselor had revealed the
wicked enemies’ plot to destroy him, though he had been upright. Here we are
told that the wicked enemies had stationed themselves, their bow already bent
and ready to shoot at his heart in the cover of the darkness.
Without factoring God into the
equation, many had resigned to the fact that there was absolutely nothing the
righteous could do. Especially so when the foundations of the society had been
destroyed and law, order and justice are absent. In those situations, the lives
of the righteous will be exposed and threatened. The only recourse it seems then
is to flee. But for David, He factored God into his life. He was sure that God
was in total control. Hence his decision on what to do in time of trouble was
entirely different. He refused to run. He chose to stay put and trust God. And
that was what he determined to do, unless God indicates to him otherwise.
In verses 4-7. David provides us
the reasons for his confidence in God. Like David, we too must firmly believe
that God is still in control. He is still on the throne. His eyes are still on
the people, and He sees and evaluates everyone’s life and deeds. He distinguishes
between the wicked and the upright. Those with evil design and practice evil
will meet with violent end. Whereas the upright will be rewarded. The best
reward in life, of course, is to have an intimate relationship with God, and
have access into His presence to behold His face.
What do we take away from psalm 11?
Life is not a rose garden. We have sunshine and we also have rain. We have joy and
we also have pain. But it’s undeniable that God’s eyes are upon us all the
time. He knows exactly what we are going through. We need not fear our
circumstances. They are God’s instrument to mold us. Using those circumstances,
God wants to help us to measure the level of our strength, faith and trust in
Him. And many a time He does it through well-meaning-but-foolish advice of
people who are close to us. The test of our faith life is: will we abandon
ourselves to Him in absolute and total surrender? Yes, even when we have no
inkling about the outcome. Remember Hebrews 11:6, “And without
faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must
believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek
Him.”
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