For the LORD is righteous; He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face.
Psalm 11:7
Psalm 11 speaks directly to a moment of crisis, when fear and doubt creep in while everything around David seems to be going wrong because of wicked enemies. David starts off with a declaration of his trust in the LORD: “In the LORD I take refuge” (v. 1). This is David’s response to being told to “flee like a bird” (v. 1) in the face of danger. He refused to flee anywhere other than to the LORD. Why? Because his hope is not found in his circumstances but in the sovereignty and power of God.
People looked at David and saw chaos – wicked men lurking in the shadows, preparing to strike out at the righteous (v. 2). They questioned what the righteous could do once “the foundations are destroyed” (v. 3), yet David’s confidence was not shaken. His response was to turn his gaze upward, away from the troubles and wicked enemies, declaring, “The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven” (v. 4). His foundations are too high and too deep to be in danger of crumbling or shaking! From His throne, He sees all, tests all men’s hearts, and brings judgment on the wicked while vindicating the righteous.
Psalm 11 culminates in a beautiful promise: “The upright shall behold His face” (v. 7). For those whose trust is in the LORD, there is not only refuge now but the ultimate reward of seeing God face-to-face. This hope is unshakable because it rests on the unchanging character of the LORD, who is righteous and loves justice (v. 7).
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 11
Jesus fulfills the promise of Psalm 11. In His life, He endured the attacks of the wicked, standing firm in the face of betrayal, violence, and the cross. He is the ultimate example of trusting the Father as a refuge. On the cross, He bore the judgment we deserve, drinking the cup of wrath described in v. 6 so that those who believe in Him can experience the joy of seeing God’s face (1 John 3:2).
Jesus triumphed over sin and death through His resurrection, ensuring that the righteous will one day be vindicated, and His return will bring ultimate justice, proving that no wickedness escapes His notice.
Reflection
In times of crisis, where do you turn for refuge? Psalm 11 challenges us to put our trust in the LORD not human solutions or fleeing.
Let the hope of seeing Jesus face-to-face sustain you as you navigate the challenges of life.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
Won’t you take the challenge?
Just Keith Harris 