Friday, July 8, 2005

Calmness of Soul in the Midst of Attack

In the LORD I put my trust.
(Psalm 11:1)
David, psalm writer, begins with this confident declaration. His mind is made up, his heart is set. He is addressing those who would try to stir up his soul with their fear. But his peace will not be disturbed.
How can you say to my soul,

“Flee as a bird to your mountain.
For look! The wicked ready their arrow to the string.
That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?”
(Psalm 11:1-3)
David is not buying into that. He will not be fooled to join in with them and wallow in fear.

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” they ask.

David’s answer is rock solid:
The LORD is in His holy temple,
The LORD’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.
(Psalm 11:4)
God has not budged one inch. He is where He has always been. What is more, He knows exactly what it going on. It has not escaped His notice. It has not come as a surprise. He does not have to stop to rethink and figure out what to do. He is observing what lengths men will go to perpetrate evil, or oppose it.
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.
(Psalm 11:5-6)
Perverse and cowardly men have done great evil in London this week. But their evil will come back multiplied upon their heads, and upon all who aid and comfort them. For God has seen, and He will let the law of the harvest do its work upon them.
For the LORD is righteous,
He loves righteousness;
His countenance beholds the upright.
(Psalm 11:7)
The foundations of the righteous cannot be destroyed, because God is the foundation. You might think that this is about London, or England, or the United States of America. But it isn’t. It is about God! For all who do evil are fighting against God, in whom there is no evil.

This thing is all about God, and He has not abdicated His throne. He reigns forevermore, and He will soon set things right.
Q: What can the righteous do?
A: The LORD reigns.
Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).

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