It’s amazing what a difference in perspective can look like. David’s counselors see an overwhelming enemy. David sees God. David’s counselors want him to retreat to higher ground. David, apparently, sees things differently, because he knows God, and sees God’s hand  in his current situation. The Psalm doesn’t giver us David’s final decision, but it does give us his mindset.

Here is the link to the YouTube version of today’s Podcast:

Psalm 11 – a matter of perspective

The audio links are to the right for Spotify and iTunes.

Below is the transcript used for today’s podcast:

Psalm 11… A Matter of Perspective

Psalm 11

David’s declaration:

1 In the Lord I take refuge.

What David’s counselors say:

    How then can you say to me:
    “Flee like a bird to your mountain.

The mountain is not David’s refuge  – the Lord is David’s refuge. His counselors want him to flee to the mountain? Why?

The counselors  continue:

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.

3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”

David’s response:

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.

Two groups seeing two different things.

Counselors: – They see the apparent overwhelming force of the enemy.

David: He sees the truth.

This Psalm reminds me of the story of Elisha and his servant. Elisha had been advising the King of Israel in the kings struggle against the Arameans. The king of the Arameans finds out the prophet Elisha has been advising the King of Israel and sends an army to capture Elisha. Here is the end of that story:

11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Elisha saw and knew the truth.  His response to this army is amazing:

18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.

19 Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”

22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

Sometimes a situation calls for action. Sometimes a situation calls for rest. How do you know when to do either? I don’t know if this will bring comfort or not… but if you are a rule-follower only when it comes to God, you simply will not know when to move or when to stay, when to resist or when not to resist. It boils down to relationship with God – an active, moment-to-moment relationship with Him. Relationship with God involves communication.

1. 1. We communicate with God via prayer.
   2. God Communicates with us via His Word, and through Godly counselors.

Do you love your spouse? How often do you communicate with your spouse? I would imagine that it is a daily occurrence. Not just once a day, either. My wife and I have what seems to me to be a continual conversation through the day, with a pause here and there. This has been a cultivated thing. We have perfected the art of getting to know each other so well, that we almost read each other’s thoughts. We will sometimes begin a conversation, go throughout our day and later in that day pick up the thread of that conversation as if it had never been interrupted. We are in each other’s heads to such a degree that we instinctively know what decision we will make for any situation that presents itself.

In this Psalm, the Psalmist’s counselors do not (imo) have the relationship with God the Psalmist does. In the face of an overwhelming military force, the Psalmist (David, perhaps?) is calm, while his counselors appear to reaching a state of panic.

Sometimes, following God will involve swimming against the current of “common sense”. You will only be able to do this if you truly understand who YOU are in the Lord, and Who He is. That requires communication. That requires relationship. Cultivate communication with God. Cultivate relationship with God. When the enemy shows up at your doorstep, as the Aramean army showed up at Elisha’s doorstep, you will be prepared.

Blessings!

Paige