April 10, 2023 -- Psalm 11 -- The Psalm Series: the LORD's power in bewildering times

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

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.

Psalm 11 ESV

There is an expression that is commonly used which goes something like this: the LORD hates the sin but loves the sinner. According to Psalm 11 that expression is wrong. Look at verse 5. The LORD’s very soul, the core of Who He Is, hates the wicked and hates the one who loves violence. There is no wiggle room there.

Yesterday I was speaking with a dear young Christian who recently had been tested. He testified he had stepped out of the sheltering of the LORD by his own willfulness and when he realized the depths of his error he said he knew the appropriate fear of the LORD. If he, at that point, continued in his sin or committed worse sins, he’d know an even greater measure of the LORD’s just anger. How sobering that is. The LORD is awesome and terrible. In a very real sense believers are to be "scared straight" so that we do not toy with evil.

This Psalm was written a few thousand years ago, but it captures for us the bewilderment of our times. Back then, as today, what is right is mocked as wrong and all that is wrong and evil is celebrated as right. The foundations are being destroyed. Dear Christian, do not lose hope! Consider the power of God through-out all ages. His eyes see. Nothing escapes His notice. His eyelids test the children of men. So great is the power of His gaze that the merest blink of His eyes will bring to ruin and defeat the strongest of His (and our) enemies.

Look at the last verse. The LORD is righteous. His Son Jesus Christ is the Righteous One Who came and took the hot, fiery coals of God’s wrath on sin and the scorching wind of His fury so that all who look to Jesus will be saved. All who trust in Jesus are the upright ones. Their very nature has changed because of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! What a Savior.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name! Thank You for the greatness of the salvation You have given in Jesus Christ. Thank You for Jesus’ grace that covers every area our existence and for the Holy Spirit Who applies the work of Jesus to our lives so that in Him we are a new creation. Holy God, preserve Your people. Purify us from all unrighteousness. O LORD, seated in power in the heavens, break the power of sin and wickedness that has a choke-hold on so many of our friends and family members. Give to them the freedom that is found in Jesus Christ alone. Resurrected Jesus, let Your the fame of Your glory cover this earth as the waters cover the sea. Amen.

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