When the Foundations Crumble

Psalms 11:1-7

Jim Davis

“The twentieth century has seen the collapse of order in the West. With the Reformation, the order of the Bible replaced the order of the church. Then with the Enlightenment, the order of reason replaced the order of the Bible. Today, however, reason as an absolute has fallen under the attack of the irrational, of relativism . . . and of the naked will to power. Indeed, it seems that traditional foundations have all but crumbled and left humankind standing alone in an empty universe.” (Donald M. Williams, The Communicators Commentary, Psalms 1-72, Word Books, Publisher, Waco, Texas, 1986. pg 99.)

The above quote written in 1986 describes the ongoing changes shaking foundational belief systems today. The first decade of the 21st Century is passed and things aren’t getting any simpler. We find ourselves in the midst of a collapsing world order. The constant change of our world challenges us to the core of our being. The invariable change rippling through churches is daunting. What we once thought Christianity should be is being replaced by ever changing personal self-willed ethics. It leaves us bewildered as we look for a place of refuge in a crumbling world order. 

Sometimes I think I have the answer. Simply go back to ostensibly better days when things were much simpler. Simply roll the clock backward. Yet, I realize, we must face the challenges head on. The psalmist is asked a question in Psalms 11:3, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The question comes out of despair. It is asked by one who feels the choices are slim to none. It is a rhetorical question. And whoever asks the question has just given this advice. 

Psalms 11:1b-3
"Flee like a bird to your mountain. 
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings 
to shoot from the shadows 
at the upright in heart. 
3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?" 

Someone questions the psalmist with this advice. In the seemingly impossible circumstances shouldn’t we flee to the mountains? What else can the righteous do? The world is forever collapsing around us. Our sojourn on earth isn’t any different than the faithful in the long ago. We are no different than Abraham’s nomadic tribe facing the dangers of the nomadic desert ranges. Our lives are caught up in a world bent on evil. If it isn’t the political chaos, it is economic pandemonium. The axis of world powers is in a state of upheaval. From the Madoff scandals to Wall Street failures the social structure is disappearing. Churches, which were once thriving fellowships, are collapsing. Impersonal mega church organizations are replacing community churches. The family unit is being challenged to the core. Single parent homes and same sex marriages are thriving to become the norm.  

To whom or to what shall we turn? Should we seek to flee the troubles we face? Shall we seek to devise an ingenious plan to save ourselves? The psalmist gives his answer to the advice given to him.

Psalms 11:1-7
1 For the director of music. Of David.

In the LORD I take refuge.
How then can you say to me:
"Flee like a bird to your mountain. 
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings 
to shoot from the shadows 
at the upright in heart. 
3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?" 

4 The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
He observes the sons of men;
his eyes examine them. 
5 The LORD examines the righteous,
but the wicked and those who love violence 
his soul hates. 
6 On the wicked he will rain 
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot. 

7 For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice;
upright men will see his face. NIV

I Will Take Refuge in the Lord

The psalmist replies, “In the Lord I take refuge.” David lived much of his life out on the hillsides and in caves fleeing from his enemies. Give David the choice of where to meet his enemies in battle. He would always choose the bush over the walled cities. He always made his enemies fight on his terms. Many may have attributed David’s success in battle to his uncanny ability to flee to his remote hiding places for refuge. His adviser may feel he is merely encouraging David to do what he has always done—flee to the mountains. 
David reminds his people that the Lord is his refuge. David never hesitated to say that his Rock, his Fortress, his Hiding Place and his Refuge was God. Without God there was no refuge—no safe place. There is nothing wrong with personal planning as long it focuses on God. David was ingenious when it came to fighting his enemies, but he knew his plans would not succeed without God’s help. God was his only source of help.

The advice given the psalmist is countered saying, “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.” It seems the faithful of old were always reminding themselves who was in charge. No matter how desperate the situation gets we must remember the sovereignty of the Lord reigns supreme. 

1 Samuel 2:8-9
"For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; 
upon them he has set the world. 
9 He will guard the feet of his saints, 
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. NIV

The prophets reminded Israel of God’s promises. Too often, we think of the promises to the patriarchs as vague distant promises from the past. This is not the case. Micah prophesied over 1,000 years after God made his promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4). Yet, he is claiming those promises for himself and Israel. 

Micah 7:20
20 You will be true to Jacob, 
and show mercy to Abraham, 
as you pledged on oath to our fathers 
in days long ago. NIV

The name Jacob and Abraham in this passage stands for the whole of Abraham’s descendants—all of Israel. Israel’s faith was built upon God’s promise to Abraham. Micah saw the promises made to Abraham valid for all time. Micah understands the Lord reigns supreme—the Lord was still in his holy temple. 

God’s promise to Abraham was to every child of Abraham’s descendants. It is clear that believers today are the children of Abraham. “Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:6-8). It applies to the faithful and the unfaithful. We are free to claim or reclaim the promises made to Abraham for ourselves through choosing to believe in Christ. When we read this passage we must see ourselves included in the names Abraham and Jacob.

The promise Micah was clinging to is in the following verses:

Genesis 12:1-3
12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 

2 "I will make you into a great nation 
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing. 
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth 
will be blessed through you." NIV

This may seem to be an ancient promise for a time much different than ours. Yet, this promise is as real for every believer today as it was for Abraham. God is in his holy temple and he can bring these promises to fruition through each one of us. Untold millions can be blessed through your life today as you reclaim the promises made to Abraham. We can reclaim these promises through Jesus Christ. We can be blessed and bless others as we cling to these never ending ever present ancient promises. 

Galatians 3:26-29
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NIV

God Is Very Personal

The writer of Psalms understands the validity of God’s promise. Therefore he takes refuge in God. The psalmist says, “He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them. The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates” (Psalms 11:4b-5). God observes us individually. His eye is upon each one of his children. 

God promised Abraham saying, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse” (Genesis 12:3). We often only see the big picture as we look at the nation of Israel developing from Abraham’s seed. Yet, God’s promise to Abraham was very up close and personal as God blessed and protected him.

There are times we feel forsaken by God. There are times when others think God has forsaken us. Psalms 42 reveals a time when the psalmist longed for God to reveal himself. His thirst for God was almost unbearable. 

Psalms 42:1-3
42:1 For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God. 
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God? 
3 My tears have been my food 
day and night,
while men say to me all day long,
"Where is your God?" NIV

His soul tearfully longs day and night for God to reveal himself. Those around the psalmist believe God has forsaken him. They ask, “Where is your God?” He feels forgotten. 

Psalms 42:9-10
9 I say to God my Rock,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?" 
10 My bones suffer mortal agony 
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
"Where is your God?" NIV

He longed for the good old days.

Psalms 42:4
4 These things I remember 
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving 
among the festive throng. NIV

Whenever the nation of Israel was in rebellion to God, he never lost sight of those seeking him. He never lost sight of those in rebellion to him. He sent the prophets to preach the message of salvation. In the midst of it all the prophets reminded Israel of God’s faithfulness to his promises to lure them back to God. 

Psalms 107:33-38
33 He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing springs into thirsty ground, 
34 and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there. 
35 He turned the desert into pools of water 
and the parched ground into flowing springs; 
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle. 
37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards 
that yielded a fruitful harvest; 
38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish. NIV

We may read these verses and fail to see the big picture. God was salvaging his chosen people in the midst of collapsing world orders. Egypt was reeling on her heels due to the exodus of her labor force—the walls of Jericho came tumbling down—the cities of Canaan were in ruin. Evil was reaching its full potential (Genesis 15:16). God gathered his people in the wilderness of Sinai. God was on his throne making room for his people as they crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. 

When the foundations beneath our feet crumble God may feel as distant as these 3500 year old promises. However, God is on his throne—the Lord our God reigns. When you feel alone and forsaken remember:

Remember Jacob when he had only a stone for a pillow.
Remember Joseph becoming second in charge of Egypt in spite of his betrayal and false imprisonment.
Remember Ruth gleaning from the fields in the midst of famine.
Remember Gideon mustering every ounce of strength and courage he had to save Israel from the Philistines. 
Remember Esther forced to become a member of the king’s harem simply saying, “If I die, I die.”
Remember Daniel who survived through the collapse of Israel, Babylon and the rule of the Medes. Although he was serving at the very throne of those kings in their decline, he survived all of them. 

Mediating on Simpler Times

To muster up strength for the present David often recalled simpler times. In psalms 23 David recalled how God had been his shepherd through the dark valleys and turbulent waters. He reminds himself of those days as he is about to go up against Goliath (1 Samuel 17:34-37). 

Maybe we need to return to simpler times in our thoughts when we feel as though our salvation is slipping away. Recall how you felt when you first came to Christ through the watery grave of baptism. Remember how relieved you felt coming out of those waters redeemed by the blood of Christ. It wasn’t because of anything you had done—but simply what Christ has done. We are still redeemed—if you don’t feel that great about how you have lived, simply repent and ask God to forgive. The angels will rejoice with you—why shouldn’t you rejoice. God is overjoyed as lost sheep return to the fold. 

So what if the foundations are crumbling from underneath our feet. God is our refuge.

Psalms 11:4, 7
4 The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
He observes the sons of men;
his eyes examine them. 

7 For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice;
upright men will see his face. NIV

Conclusion:  

The Lord gave us a sound, yet simple theology to live by no matter how bad things get. 

Micah 6:6-8
6 With what shall I come before the LORD 
and bow down before the exalted God? 
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, 
with calves a year old? 
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, 
with ten thousand rivers of oil? 
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, 
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. 
And what does the LORD require of you? 
To act justly and to love mercy 
and to walk humbly with your God. NIV

Actually it is a return to simpler days. Shall I seek to redeem myself in my circumstances by becoming more religious? Shall I give burnt offerings or ten thousand rivers of oil or sacrifice my children on the altar. Shall I go to church more, give more money or start a shelter for the homeless. What does God require—to act justly—to love mercy—to walk humbly with God? 

Psalms 46:1-11
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble. 
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way 
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 
3 though its waters roar and foam 
and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells. 
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day. 
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah  

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth. 
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire. 
10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth." 

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. NIV