Psalm 11: Prayer That Trusts God Will Dispel Fear Or Doubt

Psalm 11:1-2  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? 2  For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart 

King David started out in life as a humble, God fearing shepherd boy, tending his father's flocks.

Often his Psalms reflect that humble upbringing and his reliance on God to sustain him during bad weather, to strengthen him when needed to protect his sheep from predatory animals.

God greatly used David as a sweet Psalmist and as a Godly king whose reign served as a model for all other kings to follow.

David expressed a confident trust in Jehovah. 

He ran to Him for refuge from his enemies, and calmed his soul by worshiping in His presence, knowing that the LORD would always protect him.

Oher men may trust in gold, silver or their own strength and skills to sustain and protect them.

David did not trust his own heart, nor his strength nor in any good things he did.

He did not put his trust in Jerusalem's stout walls nor the many soldiers under his command.

Many commentators think that this Psalm was written during the times that David served King Saul in the palace.

Wicked Saul often tried to throw javelins at David because he had an evil spirit within himself.

Even though David faithfully served Saul and proved his loyalty many times, the king did not trust David.

David's hope always rested in Jehovah and this is where our hope should be fixed.

Some men were friends with David and saw how unjustly he was treated by Saul.

They urged him to flee to a safe place rather than depending upon the anointing of God administered to him by Samuel.

Thus, some of David's friends said he should fearfully fly like a bird away from dangers, to a safe mountain.

Yet, the King dismissed their counsels as dishonoring to God, because his hope was in Jehovah.

Thus, David describes the wicked men like Saul, as loading arrows onto their bow to shoot at the heart of those who faithfully follow God.

Behind all evil doers stands the Devil who motivates wicked men to strike against the children of God by using force, inflaming the public against them and generally oppressing them.

Psalm 11:3  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 

Saul was anointed king by God, but cast aside his fear of God, and no longer regarded the truth and justice demanded by God's law.

He sought to destroy the Godly foundations God established for His people by executing a large number of priests who had helped David escape from Saul.

In effect, King Saul was destroying the foundations that God established to uphold governments, societies and families.

1 Samuel 22:12-18  And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. 13  And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? 14  Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? 15  Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. 16  And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. 17  And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. 18  And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

King Saul  was pursuing David and his men, who stopped at the home of a priest in a town named Nob.

This priest gave David and his men food and water, and the sword of Goliath.

Thus, David was able to escape from Saul and later, the king found out about it.

He called the priest and all the other priests who resided in that place, to give an account to him for helping David.

The testimony of the priest about David's character incensed Saul into a great fit of rage, and he commanded his footmen to kill all the priests from Nob.

They refused, knowing that the priests were anointed for the service of God.

Saul turned to a non Jewish wicked man named Doeg, who killed 85 innocent priests that day.

This is the historical context of David's Psalm.

David was guided by the Holy Spirit to answer what the righteous can do when the Godly foundations are being attacked.

Psalm 11:4  The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 

We are to remember that Jehovah is in His holy temple in heaven and that He knows all that goes on in this world.

The word "try" is a metallurgical term referring to smelting metals to removed impurities, so that the purest gold, silver or iron remains.

God tried the children of men. He puts our motives, thoughts, words and actions through the sieve of His holy Word, and all that does not meet His righteous standard is cast off.

Psalm 11:5-6  The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

Thus, while some men who were with David urged him to flee to a far away, safer place, David knew that Jehovah would judge Saul for his wickedness.

God hates those who love violence and He will rain down fire and brimstone upon the wicked when Christ comes as King and Judge, with flaming fires of judgment (See 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Psalm 11:7  For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. 

Therefore, David's faith was unmoveable  because his trust was in the unchanging character of God.

The LORD loves those who are righteous, those who trust Him for salvation. 

His face is always toward the believer, and His ears always attentive to our prayers.

His heart is fully aware of all troubles and afflictions that we face, and He will judge the wicked for their evil acts.

Bob