Wisdom & Poetry · Old Testament
Psalms 11
Psalm 11: refusing to flee like a bird because the Lord is in his temple
General context
The speaker says he puts his trust in the Lord and asks how anyone can say to his soul, flee as a bird to your mountain. The reason offered for fleeing is that the wicked bend their bow and set their arrow on the string to shoot secretly at the upright in heart, and that if the foundations are destroyed the righteous can do nothing. The speaker answers that the Lord is in his holy temple, that the Lord's throne is in heaven, and that his eyes behold and his eyelids try the children of men. The Lord tries the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. On the wicked he will rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest, which will be the portion of their cup. The psalm closes by saying that the righteous Lord loves righteousness and that his countenance beholds the upright.
Cited passages: Psalms 11:1, Psalms 11:2, Psalms 11:3, Psalms 11:4, Psalms 11:5, Psalms 11:6, Psalms 11:7
Psalms 11 (KJV)
1In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
2For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
3If the foundations be 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 try, the children of men.
5The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
7For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
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Historical context
The text as printed carries no heading, so no author or occasion is stated in this source. The speaker addresses a plural "ye" in verse 1 who have told him to flee; they are not identified, and the text does not say whether they are friends or enemies. It is not marked where their advice ends: verses 2 and 3 may be their words or the speaker's summary of the danger, and the source does not settle it. "Your mountain" is not named. The wicked are described by their bow and arrows and their love of violence, not by name. Two places are given for the Lord, "his holy temple" and a throne "in heaven", and the psalm sets them side by side without comment. "Snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest" are stated as the wicked's portion without saying when. The psalm has no Selah and no petition; it contains a statement of trust, a reported counsel, and declarations about the Lord.
Cited passages: Psalms 11:1, Psalms 11:3, Psalms 11:5, Psalms 11:4, Psalms 11:6
Literary context
The psalm is built as a challenge and an answer. It opens with trust already stated, then quotes the counsel to flee and the reasons for it, arrows in the dark and destroyed foundations. Verse 4 answers with a different picture of stability: not foundations on earth but a throne in heaven, from which eyes behold and eyelids try. "Try" is repeated: the Lord's eyelids try the children of men, and the Lord tries the righteous. Seeing frames the end: the Lord's eyes behold in verse 4 and his countenance beholds the upright in verse 7. The wicked's arrows are answered by what the Lord rains down, snares, fire, brimstone and tempest, and the cup image gives that judgment as a portion measured out. "Upright" opens the threat (the target of the arrows) and closes the psalm (whom the Lord beholds), and "righteous" moves from a question of helplessness in verse 3 to the name of the Lord in verse 7.
Cited passages: Psalms 11:1, Psalms 11:2, Psalms 11:4, Psalms 11:5, Psalms 11:7, Psalms 11:6, Psalms 11:3
Key moments
- Flee as a bird? (Psalms 11:1). The speaker, trusting the Lord, asks how anyone can tell him to flee to the mountain.
- Arrows in the dark (Psalms 11:2). The wicked make ready their arrows to shoot secretly at the upright.
- If the foundations fall (Psalms 11:3). The question is raised what the righteous can do if the foundations are destroyed.
- Throne in heaven (Psalms 11:4). The Lord is in his holy temple and his eyes try the children of men.
- Fire and brimstone (Psalms 11:6). Snares, fire and tempest are the portion of the wicked's cup.
- His countenance beholds the upright (Psalms 11:7). The righteous Lord loves righteousness and beholds the upright.
For reflection
The counsel to flee rests on the fear that the foundations are destroyed; what does the speaker treat as the foundation that has not been destroyed, and why is that enough for him to stay?
