With everything going on in the world these days, it seems only appropriate to take a step back and get some heavenly perspective. The war in Ukraine is nothing short of a travesty. One man seems to have the world by the tail and is determined to do whatever he pleases. Today’s study isn’t about tyrants, though; rather it is taking a look at Who is really in charge, both today and for eternity.
Psalm 11
In the Lord I have taken shelter.
How can you say to me,
“Flee to a mountain like a bird!
2 For look, the wicked prepare their bows,
they put their arrows on the strings,
to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.
3 When the foundations are destroyed,
what can the godly accomplish?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes watch;
his eyes examine all people.
5 The Lord approves of the godly,
but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.
6 May the Lord rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked!
A whirlwind is what they deserve!
7 Certainly the Lord is just;
he rewards godly deeds;
the upright will experience his favor.
How can you say to me,
“Flee to a mountain like a bird!
2 For look, the wicked prepare their bows,
they put their arrows on the strings,
to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.
3 When the foundations are destroyed,
what can the godly accomplish?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes watch;
his eyes examine all people.
5 The Lord approves of the godly,
but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.
6 May the Lord rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked!
A whirlwind is what they deserve!
7 Certainly the Lord is just;
he rewards godly deeds;
the upright will experience his favor.
Things to think about:
· Is this war stirring up anxiety in you about where the world is headed?
o Does it feel like maybe we have reached a tipping point where evil is winning? Are the “morally upright” under attack as David suggests?
o He articulates what many people seem to feel at this point in history, “When the foundations are destroyed, what can the godly accomplish?”
§ Does this describe you?
· David starts off in verse 1 by saying his faith is in God.
o Why is this an important foundational statement?
o His logic then builds to, “if I’m trusting God then why would I run away in fear because powerful people are intent on hurting the morally upright?”
o There is a tendency when circumstances appear to be too powerful or inevitable to run and hide. David clearly rejects this kind of cowardice.
· Verse 4 is really the key here: The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
o Our hope does not rely on whoever is sitting in the Oval Office, rather it is in He Who sits on His Holy Throne.
o How does this truth comfort you in the midst of uncertainty surrounding world events?
· God will not be mocked, whatever a man’s sows, so will he reap (Galatians 6:7)
o God is watching, He sees and knows exactly what is going on.
o Both His judgment and His blessing are coming to those according to their deeds
o Certainly the Lord is just; He rewards godly deeds and the upright will experience His favor
· As we have remarked a number of times, be strong, be of good courage.
o Proverbs 21:30 says, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.”
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