The Book of Psalms
Psalm 11
Psalm XI · Vol. II, p. 993
1 David encourageth himself in God against his enemies. 4 The providence and justice of God.
To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
2 For, lo, cthe wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily1 shoot at the upright in heart.2
A.M. cir. 2946. B.C. cir. 1058.
c Ps.64.2-4; 57.4,6; 59.3; 10.2-10.
1 Heb. in darkness.
2 If it be true, as the word of God testifies, that 'the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked' (Je. 17. 9: see also Ro. 3. 10, 11, 19), then must this be a description of Christ, 'the upright in heart,' in the days of his flesh: none else can claim that character.—C.
4 Thee LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: ghis eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
Notes
Ver. 3. If the foundations be destroyed, i.e. if all regard to the laws of God, all regard to order and justice, be gone, what safety can the most innocent or virtuous expect!
Ver. 6. Snares, fire, and brimstone, &c., signify all the terrible and unavoidable judgments which God executes upon the wicked in time and eternity; such as he executed upon Saul and his agents.
Ver. 1. 'This psalm must be referred to the early times of David's life, when he had to maintain an unequal struggle against the unrelenting jealousy of Saul. Well might his friends despair: they were already imperilled on every side by the treachery of an unscrupulous foe, and now they saw opening before them an interminable vista of dangers, which would be the lot of the righteous in a time of anarchy and misrule. But the cowardly fears of his friends, so far from shaking David's trust in God, only gave him an occasion for pouring forth in song the firm and simple faith with which his heart was full.' The psalm divides itself into two parts;—the first part (ver. 1-3) contains the questions put to David by timid followers, suggesting flight. The second part contains David's reply, expressing unshaken confidence in God. P.
Ver. 6. So he rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah, which are 'set forth for an example,' Jude 7, and so will he punish the finally impenitent in 'the lake of fire,' Re. 20. 15. C.
Reflections.—The saints' sorest temptations come as often from carnal friends as from their inveterate enemies; and often the most upright and blameless meet with the greatest malignity on earth. When wicked rulers have once unhinged the fundamental laws of equity, the greatest virtue often exposes men to the greatest danger. But while God is in Christ, in the church, and in heaven, they who trust in him need never despair. Nothing escapes his notice, and nothing shall escape without a due reward. While in his afflicting the righteous he but tries them for their purification and honour, the holiness and equity of his nature demand that his unavoidable judgments should in a terrible manner reward the wicked.