Psalm 11 is an individual song of trust by David. It was likely written at a time when he was on the run from Saul (which, if you read through 1 & 2 Samuel, was a fair chunk of time!)
In the Psalm he confidently declares that, as grim as things might be, God is his refuge. And, with God as his refuge, he’s safe. Still with his life in danger, but safe.
When God is our refuge, we need not run to the hills. In fact, taking flight at every threat perhaps betrays the confidence or refuge we have in God.
David doesn’t fear Saul. He knows that God is his only safe refuge. Everything else can fail, is prone to inconsistencies and betrayal, but God is faithful. Others can even take his life but they cannot touch his soul; it belongs to God.
David’s confident affirmation finds full voice in verse 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. The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.’ As a song lyrically-inspired by this Psalm declares ‘his hope is in the name of the Lord’, a Lord who is righteous and loves justice. A lord whose face the righteous will see.
David views his circumstance through the eyes of faith and helicopters up to a place where he is no longer consumed by an earthly perspective but driven by a heavenly one. Not only does this still his soul, but it changes his perspective on his currently reality.
Having said all that, sometimes there are circumstances in which it would be wise to flee from adversity. Jesus Himself fled from His enemies, and instructed His disciples to do so likewise (Matthew 10:23; John 10:39). At times, flight may be the will of God. Fleeing from the Wicked or evil does not always indicate a lack of confidence in God’s ability to deliver. On this occasion David was assured that it was the will of God that he stay and face the Wicked.
The point for David isn’t to be oblivious to reality, but to be guided by God. To have a worldview with an ominiscient, omnipresent, omnipotent and sovereign God at the helm.
In this journey of faith, we do not walk by sight, but by faith (II Corinthians 5:7). The writer of Hebrews encourages us to ‘fix our eyes on Jesus: the author, perfecter and finisher of faith’. It’s a call to consider how Jesus demonstrated his faith in His father (‘who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame’) and allow Jesus’ example to permeate our confidence and trust in Him in the midst of everything: good, bad, ugly, indifferent.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promises is faithful. (Hebrews 10: 23)
– Simon Elliott