Knowing The Word in Psalm 11

The Lord Is in His Holy Temple

To the choirmaster. Of David.

11 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2 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; 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Comments

This lamentful psalm acknowledges that the ungodly seek to rid themselves of the godly, and the only place the godly can hide is in the Lord. God’s throne is a symbol of his royal rule and authority to judge. The writer acknowledges that in his own time God will judge the ungodly and bless the godly when they will see his face.

Prayer

As the rain hides the stars, as the autumn mist hides the hills, as the clouds veil the blue of the sky, so the dark happenings of my lot hide the shining of thy face from me. Yet, if I may hold thy hand in the darkness, it is enough. Since I know that, though I may stumble in my going, thou dost not fall.

Source unknown (Celtic)