Psalm 11

Psalm 11
1In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,
‘Flee like a bird to the mountains;
2for look, the wicked bend the bow,
they have fitted their arrow to the string,
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.
3If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?’

4The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.
5The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
and his soul hates the lover of violence.
6On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur;
a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.


What does it mean to stand firm? What is there to stand firm against? The psalmist is being attacked, both by enemies and by over information. Information, advice, "wisdom," all serve a purpose, but what happens when we crash, like our computers, from information overload?

There is no sure fire recipe or quick fix to stand firm. Only trust in the Lord. But that is not a quick fix. I believe it is the only fix, but it may not always produce the instant results we search for. As we continue with the psalms, we will see that this theme of refuge in God is recurring. Do not despair because it is never ending, but rejoice because we can turn to God in all circumstances.

When we feel overwhelmed, we retreat. We refresh. We re-create. These are important things. I am blessed to have an amazing wife who understands the need for retreat. I am blessed to serve Christ with an amazing staff at church. And I am blessed to have a group of friends who I am in a covenant relationship with. This week, we will meet to retreat, to refresh, and to re-create. We will take time to eat, to play, but most importantly to pray. I tell you this not to boast or brag, but simply to say this: The Lord is my refuge.

Pray Psalm 11.

G. Thomas Martin