Psalm 11

It is easy to become pessimistic concerning evil in the world. It often seems as though evil goes on and on without restraint. We experience evils such as terrorism, sniper shootings, drunk driving, corporate fraud, and other evils of society. It becomes tempting to throw in the towel on any hope for righteousness that endures. It becomes tempting to flee to a safer place. Evil seems to go on rampant and unrestrained.

This is how David felt when he wrote Ps 11. In the face of evil, his number one temptation, based on the advice of his “friends,” was to flee (11:1). He describes the seemingly rampant spread of evil which threatens the very foundations of life (11:2). David’s main complaint is not so much concerned with evil in general but rather specifically when the wicked aim their evil arrows at the righteous (11:3). It is this insult to innocence that causes David to pen Ps 11.

But in reality evil is not unrestrained. It may seem rampant and uncontrolled at the present but God is righteous and loves justice (11:7). God does not allow evil to go on without due punishment. Though David begins this psalm with an initial complaint, his complaint quickly turns to trust when he remembers that God is enthroned in heaven (11:4). In the original Hebrew this verse begins with a strong contrasting statement – “But.” That is to say that God is not ignorant of the schemes of the wicked. He sees them from above although we may wonder if he sees them at all. God is still in charge though we do not always see it. God sits in his “temple” (a reference to his heavenly dwelling) inspecting the actions of both the wicked and the righteous (11:4). The imagery behind the Hebrew words suggests that he squints his eyelids in order to get a closer inspection. God is not ignorant of the evil in our world; he is inspecting it so that he may judge it (11:6). David reminds us at the end of this psalm that God is righteous and just and will not tolerate evil. Evil will be judged in God’s time.

This psalm calls us to trust in God’s justice (11:7). He will punish evil and cast the wicked out of his sight. But the righteous will dwell in his presence (11:7). Psalm 11 is a psalm of trust that calls us to remember that God reigns above in spite of the evil below. Although we may not always see his will being done on earth as it is in heaven, we ask and we trust that it will be done soon (Matt 6:10). God inspects the actions of humanity and reacts accordingly. The wicked will suffer a similar fate as Sodom and Gomorrah (11:6) while the upright will rest in his glorious presence.

The next time you are tempted to become pessimistic about the evil in our world, memorize Ps 11:4-5. These two short verses were written to provide a proper perspective on how the righteous should view evil. Remember, God is not ignorant of the world’s evil. He rules, inspects, and judges it.

Psalm 1

Psalm 1 is the perfect introduction to the remainder of the book of Psalms (also called the Psalter). It is an expression of the difference between the “righteous” and the “wicked.” Psalm 1 offers a sharp contrast between those who seek God and those who ignore him. The remainder of the Psalter reiterates this contrast. Thus, Ps 1 functions like a preface by giving a reference point for the rest of the book. The main idea in Ps 1 is “instruction” (Hebrew – torah). It describes one who is open to the instruction of the Lord.

“Blessed” (1:1) describes the individual who is content to walk with God rather than with the wicked. He/she delights in the “instruction” (torah) of the Lord (1:2). Given their openness to be instructed by God, those who are righteous are then “fruitful” (1:3). The righteous are like trees planted by streams of water which have a place to be grounded, to take root, to be nourished, and to grow.

But the “wicked” are not so (1:4). The wicked have no such foundation. They arrogantly believe that they can sustain themselves. But they are like “chaff,” the waste product that is blown away by the wind after the fruitful wheat has been harvested. The righteous are fruitful but the wicked are fruitless. Not only is the contrast made between the fruitful righteous and the fruitless wicked, but also between the contentment of the righteous and the misery of the wicked. The wicked are not “blessed.” Because they reject the instruction of the Lord they exist in a constant state of discontent and frustration.

John Calvin described the righteous in Ps 1 as those who have a “teachable spirit.” In a very real sense a “teachable spirit” is what Ps 1 means by being “blessed” and “righteous” – open to God’s instruction and willing to grow toward the full measure of the stature of Christ.

May we all delight in the instruction of the Lord as we strive to become reflections of Jesus Christ. May we all have teachable spirits.