foundations Psalm 11:1-7NKJ
ILL: Vince Lombardi Vince Lombardi was one of the winningest coaches who ever coached in the NFL. Once, after losing a game, he called for a team meeting in the locker room. As he faced these season hardened men who knew football in and out, he held up a football and announced, “Men, this is a football!” He then began to remind them of some of the basics of the game and said, “Men, we must get back to the basics.” Lombardi knew the importance of never forgetting the basics of the game. He believed that the strength of their game lay in the foundations of football – the very basics.
The same is true of the Christian life! If we forget that the basic premise of Christianity is that we are a people of the Book, we will lose out on this game called life!
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.
The panic that launched this psalm was not David but apparently David’s well-meaning counselors. Their mood is panic, but David’s is peace. Because of David’s attitude this psalm can be listed with the psalms of confidence. Although at least two different voices were speaking to David he made up his mind only to trust in the Lord.
The prophets spoke of foundations, Jesus spoke of foundations, Paul spoke to Timothy about foundations.
Psalm 11:1NLT I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
Faith stays the course, it goes the extra mile, others that don’t have a strong faith foundation will always try to escape pressure.
Psalm 11:1aTM I’ve already run for dear life straight to the arms of God.
Isaiah 55:11KJ “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it.”
Psalm 11:2NLT The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right.
One-day, a skeptic and unbeliever came over to Charles Spurgeon and laid into him, about the subject of the Bible. Spurgeon said nothing. The skeptic asked, “Mr. Spurgeon, will you not defend the Bible?” Spurgeon laughed and retorted, “Defend the Bible? That would be like trying to defend a lion. Just let the lion loose and he will defend himself!”
Psalm 11:3NLT The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”
Verse 3, comes from the view of a committed, but fearful plus confused saint.
“Remember, God will spare ‘one righteous man,’ from a sinful city! Remember Lot.” P.H.
Our nation has four key foundations: Home, Church, Government and Schools.
Listen to 2 Timothy 2:19NLT But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.
Psalm 11:4NLT But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.
Always remember that God has sovereign sway over all the affairs of earth.
Habakkuk 2:20NLT But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.”
God is able to divinely scrutinize all men, including the righteous.
Listen to Jeremiah 6:27-30NLT “Jeremiah, I have made you a tester of metals, that you may determine the quality of my people. 28 They are the worst kind of rebel, full of slander. They are as hard as bronze and iron, and they lead others into corruption. 29 The bellows fiercely fan the flames to burn out the corruption. But it does not purify them, for the wickedness remains. 30 I will label them ‘Rejected Silver,‘ for I, the Lord, am discarding them.”
Matthew Henry: “We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, believing he is able and wise to do what is best. Those who know themselves, find their own understandings a broken reed, which, if they lean upon, will fail.
Psalm 11:5-6NLT The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence. 6 He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds.
Before Jesus’ atonement, this would be called undiluted, perfect retribution by God. (100% deserving).
Psalm 11:7NLT For the righteous Lord loves justice. The virtuous will see his face.
God’s desire is to P.R.O.T.E.C.T. you! 1. God is: Powerful. 2. God is: Righteous. 3. God is: Omnipresent. 4. God is: Trustworthy. 5. God is: Eternal. 6. God is: Caring 7. God is: Triumphant.
God Himself, is the perfect norm or standard for all spiritual integrity.
Psalm 11:7b The virtuous will see his face.
Psalm 33:5NLT He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.
Psalm 45:7NLT You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
Benediction.
