“Confidence in Crisis”
- When All That’s Good Falls Apart
“In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”” (Psalm 11:1–3)
- Run From Trouble
“Flee like a bird to your mountain …” (Psalm 11:1)
- Appealing to Run, Painful to Stay
“For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.” (Psalm 11:2)
- Life Seems Hopeless
“When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”” (Psalm 11:3)
- Declarations About God Bring Confidence
- God Is In Charge of Everything
“The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.” (Psalm 11:4)
- God Sees What We Do and Why We Do It
“He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.” (Psalm 11:4)
“His eyes examine them” = “His eye-lids test us”
“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.” (Thomas Merton)
- God Will Reward and Repay
“The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.” (Psalm 11:5–7)