AP

Psalm 11:1-4.   In the LORD I take refuge.  How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain.  For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.  When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”  The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.  He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. 

In the light of the Apostle Paul’s inspired word to young Timothy: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16), Every part of God’s Word is relevant to our present circumstances; but I find today’s verses from Psalm 11 particularly so.

We find ourselves living in a society whose moral, ethical and spiritual foundations are being destroyed, and the process is well advanced.  It might be tempting for us to listen to Satan’s voice that says, “Look, this battle has been fought and lost.  Same-sex marriage is now legislated for, homosexuality is already fully accepted into our culture to the point that speaking against it is not only an illegal and severely punishable offence, but it is generally considered ‘unAustralian’, late-term abortion is part of a woman’s rights, and the push for euthanasia, now termed ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying’, gains momentum every year.  Why don’t you out-dated Bible-believing Christians just give up the struggle, opt out of the responsibility to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ within society, and ‘flee like a bird to your mountain’?”

It seems that King David was discouraged enough at times to imagine such a voice!  But, in this Psalm, he is quick to silence it, and respond with a declaration of what the real situation is: The LORD is in his holy temple … he is on his heavenly throne … he knows people’s hearts through and through … he is the champion of righteousness and justice (7) … he is able to pour down judgement on all who oppose his ways and his rule (6).

This is why David can begin the psalm confidently with “In the LORD I take refulge”.  This same LORD is the one who has commissioned us to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in his world – a commission we are not free to relinquish.  Let us not be tempted to think otherwise – or, rather, let us remember the apostle James’ advice when Satan does tempt us in this way: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:7-8a).

– Bruce Christian