Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1 In the Lord I put my trust;
How can you say to my soul,
“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

2 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.

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 behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.

5 The Lord tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals;
Fire and brimstone and a burning wind
Shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the Lord is righteous,
He loves righteousness;
[His countenance beholds the upright.

Psalm 11:1-7

1. The Context of this Psalm

When the Wicked threatens the Righteous

2. Common human responses

a) To flee from danger

b) To feel despair because foundations are being destroyed

A DIFFERENT APPROACH TAKEN

1. To exercise Trust in the Lord

2. To expel fear from the heart

3. To exude confidence in the Lord

DRAWING ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE LORD

The Lord is in His holy temple,
The Lord’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.

Psalm 11:4

1. Confidence in the Lord

a) He is in His holy Temple

b) The Temple is His throne in heaven

2. Courage in the Lord

a) His Sovereignty

b) His power and authority

c) His Protection

d) His faithfulness in watching over the sons of men

DIVINE PLAN OF GOD AGAINST THE WICKED REVEALED

4 The Lord is in His holy temple,
The Lord’s throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.

5 The Lord tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals;
Fire and brimstone and a burning wind
Shall be the portion of their cup.

Psalm 11:4-6

1. God tests the sons of men

a) The righteous

b) The wicked

2. God’s Judgment of the wicked

a) The Wicked

b) The Violent

c) There is Divine hatred for them

d) On the wicked He will rain coals

e) Even fire and brimstone

f) And burning wind

g) This would be the fate of the unrepentant wicked

DIVINE PLAN OF GOD CONCERNING THE RIGHTEOUS REVEALED

For the Lord is righteous,
He loves righteousness;
His countenance beholds the upright

Psalm 11:7

1. The Righteousness of the Lord

a) His righteousness is one of His divine attributes

b) He loves Righteousness

2. The Lord’s Countenance

a) His righteousness countenance is to be noted

b) His favourable countenance would behold the Righteous

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To exercise Full Trust in the Lord

2. To walk in paths of righteousness

3. To draw encouragement in knowing that God watches over us in His Holy Temple

4. To be fearless even when enemies threaten