A Shot in the Dark

Psalm 11

1 To the choirmaster. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The LORD tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

The first part of Psalm 11 asks the listener how can you flee to the mountain of the LORD for protection when the wicked are shooting at you? How can you find refuge if the foundations are destroyed?

- The Psalmist then pens that the LORD is always watching. He's watching the arrows, the one fleeing, the shooter.

- this makes me think of what Jesus told his disciples in John 10:29 ESV — My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

- You are unsnatchable. Can you still be hit by arrows? Yes. Can life be hard? Yes. Will you be attacked by the evil one or one of his followers? Yes. 

- When Jesus walked this earth the Devil came after him, demons stood in his way (not very well) the religious authorities were always trying to catch him in a trap, some wanted to use him as pure entertainment (Herod). 

If Jesus faced such opposition, his brothers and sister's can expect nothing less. One of his blood relatives was thrown off the pinnacle of the temple or perhaps stoned to death. As adopted kids of the kingdom can expect anything less?

- verse 7 reads For the LORD is righteous;

he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Look what Jesus says to his disciples in John 14:8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

They were arguably not righteous enough to see GOD, but that's the beauty of what Jesus does for all the kids of his kingdom, it's his righteousness not ours.

My prayer, we are reminded daily that you and I are safe in the palm of his hand. Amen.

Yes trouble will come, but it's never a surprise, he's always watching and one day you will see the face of the one who loves you like no other.