That’s a good question! God gave us a solid foundation of Law and Order to live by. That said, what do we good people do when we see it collapsing? What do we do when we see it rotting away or infected with the cancer of evil? That’s what David talks about in this short, yet powerful psalm. Let’s dig in…
Psalm 11
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
2 The wicked are stringing their bows
and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.
They shoot from the shadows
at those whose hearts are right.
3 The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
What can the righteous do?”4 But the Lord is in his holy Temple;
Psalm 11 NLT
the Lord still rules from heaven.
He watches everyone closely,
examining every person on earth.
5 The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.
He hates those who love violence.
6 He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,
punishing them with scorching winds.
7 For the righteous Lord loves justice.
The virtuous will see his face.
A Pep Talk for Good People
Let’s break this down verse by verse…
- His first statement is an affirmation. “I trust in the Lord for protection.” I wrote that down on a piece of paper and taped it to the wall so I see it as soon as I wake up in the morning. We need to focus on God first thing in the morning.
- Next, his friends or advisors are telling David to flee to the mountains for safety! Why? Because the wicked are ready to attack with bows and arrows. Shooting from the shadows, we can’t see them. Like the sniper perched on a rooftop looking down ready to shoot.
- And who are they shooting at? Good people. “People whose hearts are right.”
- Then, another fact: “The foundations of law and order have collapsed.” The spirit of lawlessness abounded back then and it is very active right now in today’s world. I’m sure you’ll agree.
- So, we ask the question, “What can the righteous do?” What can good people do? David tells us next.
- God is still in control! He rules from Heaven! Therefore, God sees everything and watches closely.
- He examines EVERY person on earth! That means you, too! The good guys and the bad guys. NOTHING gets past Him!
- He hates anyone who loves violence and evil.
- Judgment will come to them in the end. What David describes in verse 6 sounds like a replay of God’s justice on Sodom and Gomorrah, but it’s also what will happen in the End Times. “As in the days of Lot”, Jesus said.
- Finally David ends with a promise — good people will see the face of the Lord who loves justice.
Affirmations from Scripture
Let’s start with one of my favorite proverbs…
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
Paul wrote about the the “Man of Lawlessness” and the “Spirit of Lawlessness”…
7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 NLT
Who is holding it back? The Holy Spirit who lives in the hearts of all born-again believers. Moreover, when we are removed — that is, raptured — from the world, then the Antichrist, the Beast, the Son of Perdition, the Son of Satan — whatever you want to call him — will be revealed. Until then, we need to put on the whole Armor of God.
One of the pieces of armor is…
…the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
Ephesins 6:16 NLT
Paul also wrote…
7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 NLT
John wrote…
4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
1 John 4:4 NLT
Likewise, John also wrote the end of the story! Above all, the Book of Revelation is not meant to scare us, but to give a confident HOPE to born-again believers. This world is NOT all there is! As we read in the last chapter…
3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:3-5 NLT
That, again, is the CONFIDENT HOPE that can only be obtained if you are a true, born-again Christian.
How to Pray Psalm 11
This is just a suggestion. Put this psalm in your own words or feel free to use mine….
Lord, Jesus, I trust in You and You only for protection. I know the devil is constantly prowling the earth looking for good people to devour. I hold up the shield of faith to stop the devil’s flaming arrows. I know the foundations of law and order have collapsed. Our world is falling apart. Evil is everywhere. I know you hate those who are evil and wicked and who love violence.
Jesus, I believe You rose from the dead and are sitting and ruling from Heaven. You are all-seeing and all-knowing. Nothing can hide from You. Very soon You will come back for us believers so we can be with You where you are in Heaven. In the end, You will bring your judgment and justice to the world. Maranatha! Come, Jesus, Come! Amen.
Giselle Aguiar, a paraphrase prayer on Psalm 11
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
