Bible Commentaries
Psalms 11

Verses 1-7

Psalms 11

A PSALM OF THE STEADFAST

Verses 1-7:

Preserving Trust

This Psalm is believed to have been written when some of David’s friends were counseling him to flee from Saul and hide in the mountains. The first three verses seem to be his reply to the advice of his friends.

Verse 1 related David’s resolve that he continually put, placed, set, or fixed his trust in the Lord, a well-founded place, Proverbs 3:3-5; Psalms 2:12. He then asked his friends just how they could appeal to him to flee to the mountains, desert his royal throne, like a bird flying into the mountains to escape trouble in the valleys and plains below? He felt that his trust in the Lord left no reason to despair, La 3:52. Lot’s escape from Sodom was to the mountains, but for little benefit, Genesis 19:17. Even the wicked will find no security in crying for the rocks or the mountains to fall on them, ere it is too late, Revelation 6:15-17.

Verse 2 relates that the wicked should be observed as bow­benders and arrow aimers from the bow-string, resolute on ambushing the righteous or upright in heart, from where they lurked, watching for them from dark places. This refers to those of either Saul or Absalom’s band of followers who seemed intent on depriving David from his throne-rule in Israel, by shooting at him from out of the dark; The counsel of David’s friends may be similar to that of Job’s wife, Job 2:9-10; and of the disciples, John 11:8; and of the Pharisees to Jesus to flee from the Jerusalem and Judean area, Luke 13:31.

Verse 3 rhetorically asks what the righteous can do, if the foundations of Israel’s holy temple and her program of holy worship should be destroyed? They can do nothing honorable, or pleasing to God, if the Divine, Theocratic Government of Israel be destroyed, can they? This foundation of Israel’s Law and worship pointed to Jesus Christ the true foundation of redemption and holy service to an Holy God, through His church, Acts 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:20; 2 Timothy 2:19; Ephesians 3:1-21.

Verse 4 declares that the Lord (Jehovah master) is or exists in His holy temple, where He meets His people with Shekinah glory, even as He still meets them in Spirit power in His church assembly, Habakkuk 2:20; Zechariah 2:13; 2 Chronicles 7:15-18 certify the Divine presence of His sanctified temple to preserve and bless His obedient people. See also Matthew 18:20; Matthew 28:20; John 14:16-17; Ephesians 3:21; Hebrews 10:24-25. The Lord is in heaven from where He concerns Himself for His own in their obedient service today, as He beholds from the throne and blesses His own in His vice-gerency presence of the paraclete of the spirit, as He beholds and meets the needs of His own through His spirit, and by dispensed ministering servants, Hebrews 1:13-14; Psalms 34:7. See also Psalms 2:4; Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:34; Matthew 23:22; Acts 7:49; Revelation 4:2.

Verse 5 asserts that the Lord tries or tests the righteous, as illustrated Genesis 22:1; Malachi 3:3; James 1:12; 1 Peter 4:12. These trials are a proof of His love, designed to bring out the best possible in them, even to their perfection, or maturity in Him, Hebrews 12:6-12. This He did in Abraham, when he offered Isaac, in Joseph through his pit trial at Dothan and his prison testing in Egypt, to Job in his loss of family, property, and health, to Daniel and the three Hebrew children and to Paul with his thorn in the flesh.

Verse 6 affirms however, that the same just and righteous God shall one day rain, cause to fall like rain, snares (entrapments), fire, brimstone, and a terrifying tempest upon the wicked, without their escape. They shall drink the dregs of the bitter cup of His wrath, when they have spurned His grace, mercy, and love too long, Proverbs 29:1; Psalms 75:8; Such is a just retribution for those who set entrapments to snare the righteous and reject the call of God to let Him rule over them, Psalms 9:15; Psalms 10:9; Psalms 38:12; Psalms 64:5; Job 18:9; Job 22:10; Isaiah 24:17-18; Proverbs 22:5. See also Job 18:15; Revelation 14:10; Revelation 21:8.

Verse 7 concludes that the righteous Lord, righteous by His holy nature and deeds, loves and favors the redeemed and the saints, and punishes the sinner, the rebel against heaven and all holy things and holy persons. He looks with a favorable countenance upon His own, the upright, to bless, help, sustain, and use them, as set forth Psalms 21:6; Psalms 33:18-19; Psalms 34:15; Job 36:7; 1 Peter 3:12.