Psalm 11 Devotional

No Need to Flee

“The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.”Psalm 11:4 (BSB)

In Psalm 11, David hears what sounds like reasonable advice. The wicked have their arrows on the string, the foundations seem to be crumbling, so fly away like a bird to the mountains (11:1-3). But David has already answered: in the LORD he takes refuge. Why run to the hills when he has a better shelter?

Then he lifts his eyes from the threat to the throne. The LORD still occupies his holy temple and his throne in heaven, and his eyes examine every person (11:4). He tests the righteous, opposes those who love violence, and will bring judgment on the wicked (11:5-6). The psalm ends with the reason for all this confidence: the LORD is righteous and loves justice, and the upright will behold his face (11:7). David's courage is not a matter of temperament. It rests on who reigns. When the foundations seem shaken, the first question is not what we can do but who sits on the throne. That does not make danger vanish, but you need not run from it in panic.

To think about: What situation tempts you to flee in fear, and how does remembering God's throne change the way you face it?