Psalm 11 on page 548 in the Church Bibles.
In the Lord I take refuge.
How then can you say to me,
flee like a bird to your mountain?
For look, the wicked bend their bows.
They set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?
The Lord is in his holy temple.
The Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth.
His eyes examine them.
The Lord examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence.
He hates with a passion.
On the wicked, he will rain fiery coals
and burning sulphur.
A scorching wind will be their lot.
For the Lord is righteous.
He loves justice.
The upright will see his face.
What's our brother ready to come and give us our message?
Thank you.
If you'd like to keep your Bibles open to page 548.
We're going to look at this psalm through together
and it would be useful if you could look down to it as we go along.
Let's pray first of all.
I'm very conscious that we need God's help to,
help me to be clear for one,
and help us all, myself and yourselves,
to understand and take to heart what God is saying to us today.
So let's pray.
Father, we thank you for your word.
We thank you for the blessing it is to read it together.
We thank you, Lord, for the great examples
and teaching that you give us of how to live our Christian lives.
So we do pray that you would speak to us now.
You would enable me, Lord, to be clear.
And, Lord, you would help us all to be obedient to your word.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Here in Psalm 11, we've got two questions
from two different sources.
And each source asking that question
is seeing exactly the same situation
but drawing opposite conclusions.
And each question reveals the questioner's heart.
I don't know whether you caught that,
so I'm going to read it again
because it's quite dense.
I know what I've just read to you.
There are two questions
from two different sources in this psalm.
Each source, each person asking that question
sees exactly the same situation
but draws completely opposite conclusions.
Each question that's asked,
both questions that are asked,
reveal the questioner's heart.
Well, let's see if we can unpack a bit of that
as we go through.
The first question in this psalm
is in verse 3,
and it's a question posed by David's friends,
his advisors,
and it's this.
When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?
So this psalm was written about 3,000 years ago.
So in those times,
God's people were asking that kind of question,
and we still ask that question today,
but we might phrase it in a different way.
Today we might say something like,
when biblical principles,
which underpin our society,
when they're thrown away,
when they're forgotten,
what hope is there?
So whether it's politicians,
or sadly church leaders,
or society in general,
when those principles
of integrity, honesty, justice, fairness,
are no longer the bedrock of their actions,
what hope is there?
Well, David answers that question,
and I need to give you a bit of context here.
So this is the title of the psalm,
as I see it.
It's basically what it's about.
And we see that this question
is being asked by David's friends.
Notice, not his enemies,
being asked by his friends.
Why are they asking this question?
Well, the situation that David finds himself in
is that his enemies, in verse 2,
are trying to destroy him.
They're described as shooting Addo,
shooting arrows from the shadows.
So this is a,
we're not told a specific encounter,
but we know this is deadly opposition to David.
His enemies are out to literally,
physically destroy him,
to kill him.
His advisors then are telling him to give up,
to run.
And if you look down there at verses 1 to verse 3 in your Bibles,
you'll see what they say is in speech marks.
Can you see the speech marks there?
So in short,
what David's friends are saying to him is,
run.
There are people out to kill you.
You cannot cope with this situation.
All is lost.
Run.
And then they use this strange phrase,
flee like a bird to your mountain.
We could see this as saying something like this.
As birds fly up to safer ground when they're frightened,
so you should seek the safety of the mountains.
Escape while you can.
If you don't believe that's a fact,
that birds are scared by sudden noises,
then all the pigeons that sit on our roof,
if you stand in the car park,
and you make a car backfire,
or perhaps you just drop something heavy,
they all fly up,
and they fly up to what they think is safer ground.
Well, that's what David's friends are saying to him.
So a question for you, okay?
Assuming the situation was as bad as the advisors thought,
was this good advice they were giving,
or was it bad advice?
Should he run?
Should he hide?
Or should he stand his ground against an enemy he couldn't combat?
Well, from his advisor's point of view,
and from what they could see,
this was clearly good advice.
And they try and convince David of this,
in the words of this psalm.
In verse 2, they say,
can you see these words?
They say,
for look.
In other words,
look at the situation you are in.
But David could see that,
rather than being good advice,
this looking was the root of their problem.
They were judging the situation by just what they could see,
and no more.
So what was David's response?
His response here is the second question in the psalm,
was,
how can you say this?
He says there in verse 1,
In the Lord I take refuge.
How then can you say to me,
flee like a bird to your mountain?
I'm taking refuge in the Lord,
says David,
therefore I need not worry or fear.
David's response is what,
a similar response to what we read in 2 Corinthians 5, 7,
where it talks about the Christian,
God's person,
living by faith,
not by sight.
I was reading two chronicles in my Bible readings yesterday,
and I came across a really interesting verse,
which is very similar here to what the situation David faced.
But this is King Hezekiah years earlier,
sorry,
years after this,
saying a similar thing,
when the hordes of the Assyrian army were closing in on Jerusalem,
and again,
they were completely outnumbered by the Assyrians,
and people no doubt would have said to Hezekiah,
all is lost.
But Hezekiah said this,
I'll read them to you if you want to look them up,
you can on page 465,
but I'll read this to you.
Be strong and courageous.
This is what Hezekiah is saying to his people.
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or discouraged,
because the king of Assyria and the vast army with him,
for there is a greater power with us.
Literally,
greater power than us is,
there are more with us.
For there is more with us than with him.
With him is only the arm of flesh,
but with us is the Lord our God,
to help us and to fight our battles.
So those words there,
with him is only the arm of flesh,
but with us is the Lord our God.
That changes the dynamic,
that changes the situation entirely.
David's version of this,
of what Hezekiah said is,
the Lord is my refuge,
why should I fear?
And David spells out there in verses 4 to 7,
why he is not afraid,
why he doesn't think he should fear.
In verse 4,
he says that God is reigning in heaven,
that he sees all.
And in verses 4 and 5,
he sees the righteous and the wicked.
So he sees the situation.
Verse 6,
he will judge the wicked.
And verse 7,
he brings justice to the righteous.
We know that because he says,
they will see his face.
He doesn't say to his friends,
what you are seeing is wrong.
You must change your glasses,
if they had glasses in those days.
What you are seeing is wrong.
No, he can't say that,
because what they are seeing is true.
He can't say,
you are understanding this wrong.
No one is really out to get me,
because they could see it with their eyes.
But he does say,
God is bigger than this situation.
The Lord is in control.
He sees all that is going on.
And he will deliver the righteous.
And he will judge the wicked.
It's not just that he realises
that God is in control
and he need not fear.
But there's another element to this.
He refuses to run
and therefore be deflected
from what purposes God had for him.
whatever the opposition is
he was going to face.
So what does this psalm
have to say to us today?
We see from the title,
if you look back at your Bibles there,
just above verse one,
you see the title
for the director of music of David,
that this was a song,
this was written as a song,
and it's a song to be sung,
sent to the director of music.
And this psalm,
as well as other psalms,
was to be sung
by all of God's people.
This psalm was in the
Israelites' songbook,
if you like.
They used it in worship.
And why was it so important?
Why was it put here in Scripture,
not just for the Israelites to sing,
but for us to reflect on today?
Well, I think there are two truths here,
which is important for believers
of any generation,
for every one of us sitting here this morning.
The first is that whatever our circumstances
look like,
God is fully in control,
so we can fully trust him.
The second thing,
as David was seeing,
we must not be deflected
from God's purposes for us.
We're going to look at these
a little bit closer,
just these two points here.
God is in control.
In particular,
God's control is shown
by verses four to seven.
The fact that he sees,
and he doesn't just see,
but he has the power,
and the will,
and the purpose to act.
We're told that he sees the righteous,
and will save them.
He sees the wicked,
and will judge them.
So,
take time to think right now
that God
sees
and understands
you completely
this morning.
He sees
maybe your anxiety
about your
present situation,
about work,
family problems,
financial hardships.
Maybe you have
housing issues,
or maybe you suffer
with poor health.
Well,
God sees those things,
and according to this psalm,
he will save you.
Though he may not
take the issue away,
his promise
is to be with you
through it,
and to be
your refuge,
as he was to David.
This word refuge
comes repeatedly
through the psalms.
I wouldn't do
a count of it.
I'd need more fingers
than I could
count on.
It comes time and time again
in the psalms,
this idea of
God being our refuge.
And it's describing
a place
of safety.
If you've trusted
Christ,
then you are
in the safest place
you can possibly be.
You're in his shelter.
You're under
his protection.
A story
in Genesis chapter 6,
it's the truth,
it's history,
is Noah's Ark,
where Noah,
you remember
from your Sunday school days,
brought the animals
into the ark.
And
this is an illustration
here,
the ark is an illustration
of what David's
saying,
that in the Lord
he takes refuge.
If you've taken
refuge in God,
you're safe
no matter what
floods,
what trials
you may face.
He faces them
with you.
But if you haven't
taken refuge in Christ,
not only
do you have
to face
life's trials
alone,
but you also
have to face
God's judgment
alone.
But God
has provided
a way
that we can
take refuge
in him.
So God
sees his people,
but God
also sees
those
who are wicked.
In this psalm,
they're described
as those
who love
violence.
That's how
they're typified
there in verse 5.
But the word
wicked
also describes
those who are
quite content
to live their
lives with
little reference
to God
or with no
reference to God.
Those of us
who insist
on living
apart from him.
The warning
to us today
and the fearful
thing is that
God will grant
those people
the desire
of their heart,
but they will
come under
his judgment
as we read
there in
verse 6.
God is in
control.
God is bigger
than our
situation.
He sees
and he acts
to save the
believer
and judge
the unbeliever.
God is bigger
than our
God.
The next thing
that I think
this psalm mainly
says to us is,
don't be deflected
from the purposes
God has for you.
I'll take you back
now to another
Old Testament story,
the story of Jonah.
God had a mission
for him,
didn't he?
Do you remember
what that was?
It was the preach
to the people
of Nineveh.
Jonah.
But instead,
he ran away
to Tarshish
in the opposite
direction.
He did the opposite
to what David
was doing.
David would not
let his circumstances
or those around
him deflect him
from God's
purpose,
but Jonah
did.
David's purpose
here was to
be king
and to lead
his people.
We've been seeing
that through
2 Samuel,
haven't we?
David was God's
anointed.
It was God's
purpose for him
to be a good
king,
to lead his
people.
How can he do
this if he runs
away?
So it's important
that he stands
his ground
and he fulfills
God's purpose
for him.
But for us
sitting here
or standing
here this morning,
what is God's
purpose for us?
What does God
call us to?
Well,
personally,
what has God
called you to?
Maybe you
haven't thought
of this in
quite those terms
that God
has a purpose
for you.
But he does
and he has
called you
to be faithful
to that.
Now,
if you're not
a Christian
this morning,
the Bible
says that the
first thing
that God
calls you
to is
repentance
so that you
may know
his forgiveness
and that you
may come
into his
family.
Jesus said
in Mark
chapter 1,
the time
has come,
the kingdom
of God
has come
near,
repent
and believe
the good
news.
That's
everyone's
starting point.
It's my
starting point
when I was
a kid of
13,
and God,
I opened
my eyes
to this.
We need
to repent
and put
ourselves
right with
God.
But if you
are a
Christian,
I wonder
what you
think God
has called
you too.
There are
generally
things that
God has
called us
to.
Matthew 5
tells us
that we're
to shine
as lights,
we're to
live a good
life so that
God is
glorified.
2 Corinthians
chapter 2
tells us
that if
we're a
Christian,
we're to
be the
aroma of
Christ to
those around
us.
Or chapter
5 of 2
Corinthians,
we're to
be reconcilers,
to call
other people
to be
reconciled
to God.
But in
Psalm 11,
I think
what God
is primarily
calling us
to is
to persevere,
to endure,
to keep
the faith,
not to
give up.
If you
have your
Bibles,
if you'd
like to
turn to
page
1180,
you'll
find that
that's
Philippians
chapter 3
and there's
four verses
there that
I'd like
us to
read.
I'll read
it to
you.
And this
is key
to this
idea of
endurance,
perseverance.
Philippians
chapter 3
verse 12
and this
is the
apostle Paul
speaking.
verse 13
I press
on to
take hold
of that
for which
Christ
Jesus
took hold
of me.
Brothers
and sisters,
I do not
consider myself
yet to have
taken hold
of it,
but one
thing I do,
forgetting what
is behind
and straining
forward to
what is
ahead,
I press
on toward
the goal
to win
the prize
for which
God has
called me
heavenward
in Christ
Jesus.
So what's
the goal
that Paul
is talking
about here
in Philippians
chapter 3?
Well the
earlier part
of the
chapter,
Paul describes
it as
knowing Christ
better and
better in
this life.
That was
his goal,
that was
his aim,
that was
his great
purpose.
So even
more than
being the
great apostle
that he
was and
preaching to
the Gentiles,
his greatest
goal was to
know Christ
better.
Now if
anyone knew
Christ,
you would
think it
was the
apostle Paul.
Jesus had
revealed himself
to him on
the road to
Damascus,
as we know,
and he was
the foremost
of the
apostles as
we see him
now.
But his
goal,
he wasn't
satisfied
until he
could know
Christ
better and
better.
I wonder
whether that
is our
goal this
morning.
What is
this heavenly
prize Paul
is looking
forward to
in Philippians
3?
Well it's
Christ.
There's no
other,
more than
wanting the
goal of
heaven,
more than
wanting
anything he
could hope
for.
It was to
have Christ,
to see
him face
to face.
David says
a similar
thing at
the end
of Psalm
11,
verse 7.
He says,
for the
Lord is
righteous,
he loves
justice,
the upright
will see
his face.
death.
So if
Jesus is
the centre
of all
this,
we ask
ourselves
a question,
how was
Jesus the
fulfilment
of this
psalm?
We've seen
in the
psalm that
God saves
his people
and he
brings
judgment
on the
wicked.
When we
look at
the death
and the
resurrection
of Jesus,
we see
there both
God saving
people and
God bringing
his judgment.
This time,
not on the
wicked,
but on the
perfect son
of God.
You're
probably
familiar with
Isaiah chapter
53,
verse 5
says this,
he was
pierced for
our transgressions,
he was
crushed for
our iniquities,
the punishment
that brought
us peace
was on
him,
and by
his wounds
we are
healed.
So the
cross wasn't
a dreadful
accident,
it wasn't
that Jesus
couldn't help
himself,
but as he
was hanging
there on
the cross,
he was in
our place,
bearing the
judgment of
God on
our sin,
so that
we can be
forgiven and
saved from
the judgment
that we
deserve
ourselves.
So his
death and
resurrection
shows us
the salvation
and the
judgment of
God,
both at the
same time.
But secondly,
Jesus is the
fulfillment of
this psalm
because we
see in
Jesus the
perfect example
of one who
would not be
deflected from
God's purpose
for him,
his father's
calling on
his life.
And we
see what
that was
exactly in
Matthew
chapter 20
verse 28,
the son of
man did
not come to
be served,
but to
serve and
to give his
life as a
ransom for
many.
That was
Christ's
calling,
man,
that was
to do
his father's
will and
to give
his life
a ransom
for many.
And we
see in
the life
of Jesus
that he
was tempted
and he
suffered far
more than
we are
to give
up.
It's
strange to
think that
in a way,
isn't it?
Because Jesus
the perfect
God-man,
we know
he was
tempted,
but he
was also
tempted to
give up
the cross.
When the
devil tempted
him in
Matthew
chapter 4,
he was
given three
temptations,
wasn't he?
The first
was to
turn stone
into bread,
but all
three
temptations
was temptation
to go
against what
God wanted
for him.
And therefore
to sin.
If Jesus
had sinned,
his substitution
on the cross
would be no
use for us
because he
wouldn't be
the perfect
man.
So the
devil tried
to deflect
him from
this by
making him
sin,
but he
would not
yield to
those
temptations.
The temptation
to jump
off the
temple roof.
What would
have happened
if Jesus
would have
said,
well,
sure,
I will
be safe,
let me
just do
this one
thing.
What would
have happened
if he had
done that?
Well,
he probably
would have
had the
adulation
of the
crowd.
He would
have been
put forward
as some
kind of
the true
Messiah,
the true
one sent
from God.
Of course
he was,
but he
wouldn't have
been allowed
to go to
the cross.
He wouldn't
have suffered
in our
place.
So
throughout
Jesus'
life,
there were
things that
would throw
him off
his mission
to the
cross.
Even his
close friend
and disciple
Peter,
Matthew
chapter 16,
when Jesus
told him
that he
was going
to suffer
and be
killed,
what did
Peter say?
Never,
Lord,
this shall
never happen
to you.
Do you
remember
what Jesus
said to
Peter?
Get behind
me,
Satan,
you are a
stumbling
block to
me.
Peter was
a stumbling
block because
he was
inadvertently,
he didn't
really understand
the full
impact of
this,
but he
was distracting
Jesus,
he was
deflecting
him off
of God's
path for
him.
Jesus had
to go
through to
the cross.
Luke 9
51,
and this
is the
last verse
in this
section,
and we're
coming to
a close
now.
We read
this,
as the
time approached
for him
to be
taken up
to heaven,
Jesus
resolutely
set out
for Jerusalem.
So when
he knew
his death
was imminent,
he didn't
run,
he set
out to
the place
of his
execution.
Why was
he resolute?
Why would
he not be
deflected?
Well,
because he
was doing
his father's
will,
and in
doing that
he could
bear the
judgment
that the
wicked
deserve,
as it's
set out
there in
verse 6
of Psalm
11.
So just
in conclusion
now,
God sees
and understands
whatever
difficulties
we're
facing,
whatever
difficulties
you're
facing
at the
moment,
and he
also sees
those
difficulties
that you
can't see
that are
going to
happen to
us in
2025.
But as
we step
into that
new year
very soon,
let's
remember
that everything
is in
his care
and under
his control.
No matter
how frightening
it may seem
to us,
no matter
how out
of control
we may
seem,
everything
is under
his care
and under
his control.
We need
not fear.
walk that
road with
Christ,
press on
to trust
him more
and more
and to
know him
better.
In other
words,
persevere.
if you
have your
Bibles,
the last
reading we're
going to
have is
on page
1210,
1210.
It's
Hebrews
chapter 12
and I'm
just going
to read
to you
two verses
and the
reason we're
closing with
this is
because it
speaks of
perseverance
on the
journey
and it
tells us
that our
encouragement
won't be
from things
going well
for us
but our
encouragement
will be
from looking
to Christ.
Verse 1
Hebrews 12
Therefore,
since we are
surrounded by
such a great
cloud of
witnesses,
let us
throw off
everything
that hinders
and the
sin so
easily
entangles
and let us
run with
perseverance
the race
marked out
for us.
Fixing
our eyes
on Jesus
the pioneer
and perfecter
of faith
for the joy
set before
him
he endured
the cross
scorning
in shame
and sat
down at the
right hand
of the throne
of God
consider him
who endured
such opposition
from sinners
so that you
will not
grow weary
and lose
heart
let's pray
father we do
thank you for
our lord
jesus christ
we thank you
that he's
made a way
for us
to be right
with you
thank you
father that
you have
called us
to look
to him
to persevere
to keep
going
and we
pray that
as we
face this
coming week
and as we
face 2025
that lord
you would
help us
to persevere
to keep
looking to
jesus
the author
and perfecter
of our
faith
in his
name we
pray
amen