The Lord Is in His Holy Temple

Overview/Context

David’s friends advise him to flee to the wilderness from Saul’s fury, Psalm 11:1-3. He answers that, having put his trust in God, knowing that he forsakes not those who confide in him, and that he will punish the ungodly, he is perfectly satisfied that he shall be in safety, Psalm 11:4-7.

Adam Clarke Commentary

Psalm 11

To the choirmaster. Of David.

 In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
    “Flee like a bird to your mountain,
² for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
    they have fitted their arrow to the string
    to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
³ if the foundations are destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”
⁴ The Lord is in his holy temple;
    the Lord’s throne is in heaven;
    his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
⁵ The Lord tests the righteous,
    but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
⁶ Let him rain coals on the wicked;
    fire and sulphur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
⁷ For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
    the upright shall behold his face.

Prayer of faith for yourself and people on your prayer list…

• O Lord, we take refuge in you because the wicked are poised to make their attack under the cloak of darkness (Psalm 11:1, 2)
• If the foundations, truth and fairness, are destroyed, what can we do? (Psalm 11: 3)
• We turn to you O Lord as you reign supreme in your Holy Temple (Psalm 11:4)
• You sit on your throne in heaven, you see everyone and everything (Psalm 11: 4)
• You are on our side (Psalm 11:5)
• You will completely destroy the strength of the wicked, the ones who love violence (Psalm 11:6)
• We know that you are righteous and you love righteous deeds (Psalm 11:7)
• This the ultimate truth and comfort: no matter what happens we will behold your face (Psalm 11:7)

Amen

Meditation