Daily Devotions
Psalms
"What can the righteous do?"
Day 83 – Psalm 11
“What can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3b
PANIC ATTACK
The suggestion given to David of fleeing may be better understood when we read the following text.
“For look! The wicked bend their bow,
They make ready their arrow on the string,
That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Psalm 11:2-3
1. “For look!”
a) This expression speaks of “fear” or “panic”.
b) Alarm was the message given to David.
c) These could be “well-meaning friends” (or counsellors of David).
2. Their reasoning
a) The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string. The enemies of David appear to be ready to strike!
b) “That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart”
i) Who knows just how many wicked enemies there were?
ii) Who knows when they would strike?
iii) Who knows how they would strike?
iv) There was fear of their covert operations!
c) “If the foundations are destroyed?”
i) This was an extrapolated idea.
ii) This was panic thinking.
iii) Were the foundations truly destroyed?
d) “What can the righteous do?”
i) Helpless despair was felt (by David’s companions).
ii) It would seem as if the righteous could do nothing against the wicked!
David disagreed! The righteous can do one very special thing! He can trust in God!