Psalm 11: The Tests

In a session I facilitated during a leadership seminar, I asked the participants to draw their life graphs and reflect on their journey of faith. As an example, I shared with them the graph of Joseph's life, which had a fair share of crests and troughs. A book by Robert Morris, from dream to destiny, describes how each valley and mountain top experience of Joseph's life was associated with some test of his faith. 

As I reflected on the 11th psalm, I came across this verse that clearly said: "The LORD tests the righteous..."!

Tests are never easy. I can empathize with the psalmist when he writes: " How can you say to my soul "Flee as a bird to your mountain"? ". The instinct to run away from our share of tests, is so human. Often, we develop coping or hiding mechanisms as well. Unknowingly, we may be exposing ourselves to danger, a trap or even innocuous but deadly thoughts, action and habits, with our wrong responses. "For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly the upright in heart." 

The greatest danger, however, is the destroying of our foundations. "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

The elemental foundation of our faith in our trust in God, for his plan, purpose and providence in our lives. When we make life's decisions based on our faith in God, our inherent life's statement is that we trust in Him, through every thick and thin, every uncertainty, every accomplishment. That God IS IN His holy temple, His throne IS IN heaven. HE IS IN CHARGE.

That His eyes are upon us. But oftentimes, he allows us to go through periods of test. He shuts his eyelids! "His eyelids tests the sons of men." 

The final picture I get from the 11th psalm, is despite the tough periods of shut eyelids, God's face is always beholding us. And as we sing so with this favorite verse and song of many, may I bless my readers with the blessing of Numbers 6: 24-26, and urge them to read the wonderful psalm of tests, Psalm 11, for themselves.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Faith in the Lord’s Righteousness

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1In the Lord I put my trust;

How can you say to my soul,

“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

2For look! The wicked bend their bow,

They make ready their arrow on the string,

That they may shoot secretly 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 eyelids test the sons of men.

5The Lord tests the righteous,

But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6Upon the wicked He will rain coals;

Fire and brimstone and a burning wind

Shall be the portion of their cup.

7For the Lord is righteous,

He loves righteousness;

His countenance beholds the upright.