The Lord Is My Refuge

It always seems that I get a request to preach form the Psalms. Today Psalm 11.

The Psalms speak to us – we can almost hear ourselves in the Psalms – praising God – mourning our sin – questioning the world – seeking vengeance on our enemies.

Before reading let’s introduce some aspects of the Psalm.

1. It appears he is in some distress. If this is David, that makes sense. His difficulties with Saul. His later trouble with his son Absalom. Not sure which, but that David was in distress is nothing shocking.

2. The Psalm looks like a dialogue of sorts. Either David is having a conversation with someone or reconstructing/summarizing a conversation seems to be the case. Or, David is having this conversation in his own heart/soul. I do this. We all engage in some form of self-talk when we make decisions or face a crisis.

Before I read it, let’s look at the structure of the Psalm.

1. Verse 1A – David makes an initial declaration. The Lord is his refuge.

2. Verses 1B-3 – Either someone real or in his mind there is a response to this commitment. Someone is refuting his commitment. Maybe it’s not the best choice to make. Maybe you can find refuge somewhere else. Why would you trust God when the situation seems helpless? Look around you. Evil people are attacking you on all fronts. It’s hopeless. You should feel like a bird. Get out of town.

3. Verses 4-6 – a critical part of this Psalm. David reminds himself of some truths about God and why he can find refuge in God and why he shouldn’t desert his commitment. It is important to know God because there will be times when we doubt him.

4. Verses 7 – a conclusion that confirms his initial commitment.

This structure is not unlike other Psalms. It reveals that sometimes what we believe is challenged by the circumstances around us. But the Psalms call us to work through the situations in life in view of who God is and then come to the conclusion. And most times the conclusion is that God is trustworthy. Tough times call us to thoughtfully consider what we believe and why we believe it. This is the hard work of a believer living in a world that sometimes seems as if God is not worthy to put our faith in. We have all felt this way and that may be why the Psalms are so powerful for us.

Let’s read the Psalm:

Psalm 11:1–7 (NIV) — 1 In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain. 2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. 3When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. 5 The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. 6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. 7 For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

Let’s take a closer look:

Psalm 11:1–7 (NIV) — 1 In the Lord I take refuge.

Refuge is a popular word in the Psalms, By far that term refuge appears in Psalms far more than in any other book of the Old Testament.

David calls God his refuge. What image comes into your mind?

1. Quiet getaway where you find peace. We call it our happy place.

2. Protection from a storm.

3. A safe place. A storm shelter.

4. Images of refugees fleeing oppression.

Refuge implies trouble, storm, difficulties. Implies we need rest from the stress of life. David says God is that for me. God is my safe place. My happy place. God is where I go to find peace. But all of that means there are difficulties and stress around us. And believers are not exempt. In this world you will have trouble, says Jesus.

I hear it often how Christianity is under attack and it is. It always has been. And this should come as no surprise:

John 17:14 (NIV) — 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

John 15:18–19 (NIV) — 18“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.