Psalms on Sunday: Psalm 11

This short psalm builds on the idea that God is a judge who sees everything.

Verse 1 addresses an enemy, saying that the speaker trusts God, so why is this antagonist telling the speaker to run and hide like a frightened bird? Verses 2-3 shows wicked people acting like archers, hunting the righteous with their hidden arrows. If the righteous people lost God's protection, what could they do to defend themselves from such attacks?

But verse 4 shows that God's protection is still with the righteous people. He may be on his throne in heaven, but he sees everything that humankind does down on earth. He judges the righteous to be worthy of good things, but he hates the wicked, and he will return horrible punishments to the wicked people as their rightful due.

Verse 7 ends with the speaker emphasizing how God loves to look upon those who do right.

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¹In 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.

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

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.

⁵ 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.

⁷ For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
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