Psalm 11 – A history of violence

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

In the LORD I take refuge; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain; for, behold, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string to shoot in darkness 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 eyelids test the sons of men. The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.

Two thoughts:
1) Everyone is tested by the Lord; the difference between Christians and non-Christians is that a Christian can take refuge in the Lord during times of testing.

2) David, a man who was not allowed to build the temple because there was too much blood on his hands wrote: “the one who loves violence [the Lord's] soul hates.” I am a bad pacifist sometimes because I do occasionally see violence as unavoidable (its part of living with sin). However, the love of violence, in all its forms, is always wrong.

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