IN THE LORD I TAKE REFUGE
Key verse: 1a
NIV
Psalm 11
For the director of music. Of David.
1 In the Lord I take refuge.(A)
How then can you say to me:
“Flee(B) like a bird to your mountain.(C)
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;(D)
they set their arrows(E) against the strings
to shoot from the shadows(F)
at the upright in heart.(G)
3 When the foundations(H) are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;(I)
the Lord is on his heavenly throne.(J)
He observes everyone on earth;(K)
his eyes examine(L) them.
5 The Lord examines the righteous,(M)
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.(N)
6 On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;(O)
a scorching wind(P) will be their lot.
Cross references
- Psalm 11:1 : S Ps 7:1
- Psalm 11:1 : S Ge 14:10
- Psalm 11:1 : Ps 50:11
- Psalm 11:2 : S 2Sa 22:35
- Psalm 11:2 : S Ps 7:13; S 58:7
- Psalm 11:2 : Ps 10:8
- Psalm 11:2 : S Job 33:3; Ps 7:10
- Psalm 11:3 : Ps 18:15; 82:5; Isa 24:18
- Psalm 11:4 : S 1Ki 8:48; Ps 18:6; 27:4; Jnh 2:7; Mic 1:2; Hab 2:20
- Psalm 11:4 : S 2Ch 6:18; S Ps 9:7; Mt 5:34; 23:22; S Rev 4:2
- Psalm 11:4 : Pr 15:3
- Psalm 11:4 : Ps 33:18; 66:7
- Psalm 11:5 : S Dt 7:13; S Job 23:10
- Psalm 11:5 : S Job 28:28; Ps 5:5; 45:7; Isa 1:14
- Psalm 11:6 : S Ge 19:24; S Rev 9:17
- Psalm 11:6 : S Ge 41:6; S Job 1:19
- Psalm 11:7 : S 2Ch 12:6; S Ezr 9:15; 2Ti 4:8
- Psalm 11:7 : S Ps 9:8; 33:5; 99:4; Isa 28:17; 30:18; 56:1; 61:8; Jer 9:24
- Psalm 11:7 : S Job 1:1; Lk 23:50
- Psalm 11:7 : Ps 17:15; 140:13
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Lord Is in His Holy Temple
To the choirmaster. Of David.11 In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
(A)“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked (B)bend the bow;
(C)they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if (D)the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”[a]
4 (E)The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's (F)throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids (G)test the children of man.
5 The Lord (H)tests the righteous,
but (I)his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
(J)fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be (K)the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he (L)loves righteous deeds;
(M)the upright shall behold his face.
Read full chapter
Footnotes
- Psalm 11:3 Or for the foundations will be destroyed; what has the righteous done?
Cross references
- Psalm 11:1 : [1 Sam. 23:14, 19; 24:2; 26:19, 20]
- Psalm 11:2 : Ps. 7:12; 64:4; [Jer. 9:3]
- Psalm 11:2 : Ps. 21:12; 58:7; See Ps. 7:10
- Psalm 11:3 : Ps. 82:5; Ezek. 30:4
- Psalm 11:4 : Ps. 18:6; Mic. 1:2; Hab. 2:20
- Psalm 11:4 : Ps. 2:4; Isa. 66:1; Matt. 5:34; 23:22; Acts 7:49
- Psalm 11:4 : See Job 23:10
- Psalm 11:5 : Gen. 22:1; James 1:12
- Psalm 11:5 : Ps. 5:5
- Psalm 11:6 : Gen. 19:24; Job 18:15; Ezek. 38:22
- Psalm 11:6 : Ps. 75:8; [Job 21:20]
- Psalm 11:7 : See Ps. 33:5
- Psalm 11:7 : [Ps. 17:15; 140:13; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 22:4]
11 In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
(A)“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked (B)bend the bow;
(C)they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if (D)the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”[a]
4 (E)The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's (F)throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids (G)test the children of man.
5 The Lord (H)tests the righteous,
but (I)his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
(J)fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be (K)the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he (L)loves righteous deeds;
(M)the upright shall behold his face.
Footnotes
- Psalm 11:3 Or for the foundations will be destroyed; what has the righteous done?
Cross references
- Psalm 11:1 : [1 Sam. 23:14, 19; 24:2; 26:19, 20]
- Psalm 11:2 : Ps. 7:12; 64:4; [Jer. 9:3]
- Psalm 11:2 : Ps. 21:12; 58:7; See Ps. 7:10
- Psalm 11:3 : Ps. 82:5; Ezek. 30:4
- Psalm 11:4 : Ps. 18:6; Mic. 1:2; Hab. 2:20
- Psalm 11:4 : Ps. 2:4; Isa. 66:1; Matt. 5:34; 23:22; Acts 7:49
- Psalm 11:4 : See Job 23:10
- Psalm 11:5 : Gen. 22:1; James 1:12
- Psalm 11:5 : Ps. 5:5
- Psalm 11:6 : Gen. 19:24; Job 18:15; Ezek. 38:22
- Psalm 11:6 : Ps. 75:8; [Job 21:20]
- Psalm 11:7 : See Ps. 33:5
- Psalm 11:7 : [Ps. 17:15; 140:13; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 22:4]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. What can the righteous do? (1-3)
David seeks refuge in the Lord as a principle of life. But his faint-hearted counselors urge him to flee from his enemies who are closing in on him and ready to shoot their arrows at him. In despair they say, 'When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?' What can we do when the moral and spiritual foundations in our nation crumble? In fear and for safety, flee or compromise or stand firmly on the truth?
2. The Lord is righteous (4-7)
Instead of having fear and despair, David sees the living God who is in perfect control over the world. He knows that God observes everyone. God knows every thought and sees every action. God first tests (ESV) the righteous and the wicked. Then he will rain the shower of wrath upon the wicked. But the righteous God loves justice and welcomes the godly to his presence. For David, trusting God is the safest way rather than fleeing in fear and hopelessness. Considering who God is, we are to take refuge in the Lord and will see his face in the end.
Prayer: Lord, when the foundations are being destroyed, help us to have a fresh view of you who sees all things and judges the wicked and enables the upright to see your face
One Word: The upright will see his face
