There are moments in life when we are tempted to believe that things are falling apart, that our lives will imminently unravel in the face of trials that we cannot control.
King David speaks clearly to such scenarios in Psalm 11, in which he responds to an ominous claim from an unknown, perhaps representative, person. This person declares, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted the arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps 11:2–3). This claim appears as a frantic attempt to run from an apparent threat against God’s people. It thus carries a sense of panic.
David, on the other hand, appears incredulous in response to this claim. He first declares, “In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say [this] to my soul?” (Ps 11:1). In other words, Why in the world would you say such a thing?! Do you really think that the foundations of our life are in danger? David thus balks at the panicked response of this unknown person. Anchoring David’s response is the fact that his refuge is in the Lord; his hope and security rest firmly in his God. He therefore feels no need to fear, despite the seemingly ominous situation in which God’s people found themselves.
David then highlights the ultimate reason why such anxiety is unwarranted. Immediately after recounting this unknown person’s worrisome response to a perilous situation, David states emphatically, “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man” (Ps 11:4). In other words, Even if it appears like the foundations of the righteous are being destroyed, they’re not. God is on his throne. He rules over all things and is not surprised one bit by the raging of the wicked (Ps 2).
Our response to trials and hardships should thus always be: Our God is on the throne and in Him our foundations are secure. There is no scenario in which our God will be shaken—no storm, no trial, no hardship. And because he is not shaken, we are secure. “Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Ps 46:2–3). “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isa 54:10).
So, in those moments when it feels like everything might come crashing down, remember—Our God reigns, and his reign is good. The foundations of the righteous are, in fact, secure, and “the upright shall behold his face” (Ps 11:7).
Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay