Psalm 11:1 In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
The other day I was out in the country, and when I came walking around a house, I saw a little cottontail rabbit who took off as fast as he could. Why did he take off? It was because I was bigger, on two feet, and was encroaching on his territory. He took to flight. That is an instinct for man and beast, either fight or flight. Now, if the rabbit were three hundred pounds and had something sharp, perhaps he would have run toward me and not away from me. Thankfully, he was fleeing, not fighting.
At this very moment, I am looking at some bluebirds flying from the ground to the trees. Birds, of course, can fly better than anything else, and it is their instinct to take off if something were to head their way. People do the same thing with other people. They either fight or take flight. Oftentimes this is verbal instead of physical, but sometimes it is physical. In any case, it is our instinct, either to fight or take flight.
I want to suggest to you this morning that there might be a third option. That option is faith. In Psalm 11, David is in a bind as he often was. David had been on the run for many years, fleeing from Saul who wished to kill him because Saul felt he was a threat. In Psalm 11:1-3 David says, “In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright at heart. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The entire righteous foundation of David’s entire world seemed to be shaken. There was a point when Saul wickedly killed many of the priests. So even the foundation of priests at that time was shaken. Saul was in charge, the monarch. If he was wicked, then who could be trusted?
So, David’s friends say, “Flee, just like a bird. Take off to your mountain. There are those who are involved in treachery, preparing their bows to take you out in secret, and the foundations are shaken as well.” You see David’s friends, and they said, “Flee.” But, you see David’s faith and what his faith says. His faith is all about the Lord.
In verse 4 David says, “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.” So, the Lord’s temple is in Heaven and has foundations that cannot be touched by war, treachery, or falsehood. The Lord’s throne is in Heaven, and because of God’s vantage point, He can see all.
Verse 5 says, “The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.” So, the Lord’s judgment is from Heaven. He has a satellite view. He tries both the good and the evil. Verse 6 says, “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone…” God takes care of what is wrong and rains such judgment because He reigns. He reigns on a throne, and He rains judgment. I’m not saying literally that God will send fire from Heaven, but the judgment that God sends comes from above.
Also, consider His love. Verse 7 says, “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.” So, a righteous God loves righteousness. The Lord’s temple, the Lord’s throne, the Lord’s judgment, and the Lord’s love are untouchable. Your world may be crumbling around you and evil may be on the march toward you, but David says, “In the LORD put I my trust.” He says, “Why do you tell me to move and to flee when I have this God Who has an unshakeable foundation and whose judgment, view, throne, and temple are in Heaven?”
Friend, today someone has to move. It won’t be God. So, put your trust in Him and realize that everything you need God is.