April 21, 2023 — Psalm 11

“In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to the mountains; for look, the wicked bend the bow, they have fitted their arrow to the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind. The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul hates the lover of violence. On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur; a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.” Psalm 11

“The 11th psalm laments over the heretics and false interpreters of the Scriptures who lead the people away from the true ground of faith and bring them to their mountains, that is, their great high holiness of works. To that end, the heretics and false interpreters of the Scriptures mock the true Teacher and say, “What shall the righteous do?” But the psalm ends with the comfort that God will certainly see this. The false teachers will be condemned and the righteous will remain.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

Remember the dire warnings about the Mayan Calendar and the year 2012? There were certain “experts” who predicted dire consequences including the end of the world because it indicated the end of the Mayan Calendar. Many people gathered at Mayan sites throughout South America expecting to experience the end of all things. Yet, here we are today — staring straight into the Easter season for the year 2023.

There are many examples in recent times as well as in Biblical times where people have decided to “flee to the mountains”: Adam and Eve, Saul, Jonah, Israel and Judah, Peter — as well as the end of the Mayan Calendar. How should the church respond to threatening circumstances? The Bible gives us two basic choices: we can either flee to the hills, or we can take refuge in G-d.

In many and various Psalms, the writer will sing the praises of G-d in a response of praise, like in Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the Hills, from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord.” Even if we decide to flee to the Hills, we flee knowing that G-d is everywhere — G-d is in the heavens, G-d is on the hill tops, and G-d is in the very place where we are hoping to take refuge. So, instead of fleeing, we take refuge knowing that G-d is not hiding from us — G-d is simply waiting for us to notice that he never left. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came into this world to reveal to us the will of Your Father and to teach us the way everlasting. Behold how Your sacred Word is denied and corrupted in these perilous days. Have mercy upon us, save us from the snares of unbelief and the seductive teachings of the world, and grant us to abide in Your Word that, made free from error and sin, we be found Your disciples indeed. Amen.

Pastor Dave