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Hear the Bible COME ALIVE IN SONG!
Hear the Bible COME ALIVE IN SONG!
Psalm 11King James Version
1 In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
Bible Commentary 1 When he penned this Psalm David was under persecution from Saul, who sought his life, and hunted him 'as a partridge upon the mountains'. His timid friends were alarmed for his safety, and recommended him to flee to some mountain where he had a hiding place, and thus to conceal himself from the rage of Saul. But David, being strong in faith, spurned the idea of resorting to any such pusillanimous expedients, and determined confidently to repose his trust in God."2 2 The faint-hearted friends of David say "Observe how the wicked bend their bow and make ready their arrows so that they may treacherously surprise him with secret ambushes."2,3,4 "The uprightness of thy heart will not be thy security."2 3 It was equally correct that the very foundations of law and justice were destroyed under Saul's unrighteous government: but what were all these things to the man whose trust was in God alone? He could brave the dangers, could escape the enemies, and defy the injustice which surrounded him. His answer to the question, "What can the righteous do?" would be the counter question, "What cannot they do?" When prayer engages God on our side, and when faith secures the fulfilment of the promise, what cause can there be for flight, however cruel and mighty our enemies? With a sling and a stone, David had smitten a giant before whom the whole hosts of Israel were trembling, and the Lord, who delivered him from the uncircumcised Philistine, could surely deliver him from King Saul and his myrmidons.2 4 David here declares the great source of his unflinching courage. Jehovah's throne is in the heavens; he reigns supreme. Nothing can be done in heaven, or earth, which he doth not ordain and overrule. He is the world's great Emperor. Wherefore, then, should we flee? If we trust this King of kings, is not this enough? Cannot he deliver us without our cowardly retreat? The eternal Watcher never slumbers; his eyes never know a sleep. His eyelids try the children of men: he narrowly inspects their actions, words, and thoughts. God sees us always; he never removes his eye from us. He pries into the reasons, the motives, the ends of all your actions. My danger is not hid from him; he knows my extremity, and I may rest assured that he will not suffer me to perish while I rely alone on him. Wherefore, then, should I take wings of a timid bird, and flee from the dangers which beset me?2
6 The punishment of the wicked is described by vivid figures denoting abundant, sudden, furious, and utter destruction.4 Snares or grievous plagues or judgments will rain down on the wicked when least expected.5 Sodom and Gomorrah perished by a fiery hail, and by a brimstone shower from heaven; so shall all the ungodly.2 The psalmist here seems to speak not so much of present calamities, as of eternal punishments. This is their portion, and as it were the meat and drink appointed them by God.5 7 The delightful contrast of the last verse is well worthy of our observation, and it affords another overwhelming reason why we should be stedfast, unmoveable, not carried away with fear, or led to adopt carnal expedients in order to avoid trial.2 Jehovah is a righteous God, and therefore loves righteousness wherever he finds it and pleads the cause of the righteous that are injured and oppressed; he delights to execute judgment for them, Ps. 103:6. He, like a tender father, looks upon them with pleasure, and they, like dutiful children, are pleased and abundantly satisfied with his smiles. They walk in the light of the Lord.3 1. Authorized King James Version 2. Charles H. Spurgeon, "The Treasury of David" - http://bible. crosswalk. com/ Commentaries 3. Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible - http://bible .crosswalk.com /Commentaries 4. Jamieson, Fausset, Brown - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible- http://bible .crosswalk. com/ Commentaries 5. John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible - http://bible .crosswalk .com/ Commentaries 6. Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary Vol. 3 pgs 657, 658 7. Psalm 11: Confidence in God's Power by Jason Dulle - http:// www.apostolic .net/biblical studies /psalm11.htm 8. Absolute Confidence by Dr. Tony Ash - http://www. heartlight. org/articles /200301 /20030112 _psalm11.html |
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Expression of trust in YHWH (1a).