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Psalm 11
Verse 1 - To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the LORD put I my
trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
Our trust should be in Christ.
Verse 2 - For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow
upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
It is a natural thing for the wicked to try to destroy the righteous. Do not
be surprised when this happens.
Verse 3 - If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The true foundations will never be destroyed, but it can sure look like it
sometimes. What will the righteous do?
I. What did the righteous do in the days of Elijah?
A. I Kings 19:18 - they hid for their lives, but they didn’t compromise
what they believed.
B. Foundations are being destroyed. Matt. 7:24-27 - Are we building our
house upon the sand (philosophy of this world), or upon the rock (the
teachings of God’s Word). {If we don’t follow the Word of God, what are
we going to follow?}
1. Describe what a foundation is - it is the solid rock upon which the
entire structure of our lives is built upon.
2. Often times the house will look okay (is still square, plumb, and
level), but if the foundation is giving way, it won’t be long before the
house won’t be okay (it won’t be square, plumb, or level).
3. In 1962, the courts (not the laws of the land) removed prayer from
Public Schools, and they have gone downhill ever since. What is so amazing
that for the preceding 184 years, since the signing of the constitution,
prayer in public schools was legal. If the constitution had intended for
prayer and Bible reading to have been illegal, don’t you think the
founding fathers would have stopped it? Our founding fathers had an
entirely different view of separation of church and state than the ACLU
(and most people today).
a. Education will continue to go down hill as more and more human
philosophy is included, and as educators get farther and farther away
from educating children, and closer and closer to indoctrinating them.
b. I know for a fact that schools have taught young people how to
commit suicide (when they supposedly are teaching them what happens when
a person commits suicide – use the example of the little girl in
Louisiana who committed suicide. She was an only child, and had been
studying suicide in school. An excellent student, no problems at home,
or anywhere else, I have a notion she was doing her homework), and have
shown what I would consider pornography to young people (when they are
supposedly teaching about human sexuality). (Use Brother Enloe’s son
as an example - His friend committed suicide and the police couldn’t
figure out how he did it. Brother Enloe’s son went to the scene and
told the police how it was done. When the police asked him how he knew,
he told them he had learned it in school - in suicide prevention
classes.) Another example is teaching children to stay away from drugs
by telling them all about drugs. The Bible declares we should not learn
the way of the heathen. We need to learn what is right and good, not
what is evil. We learn evil naturally, and don’t have to have anybody
tell us what is evil, and what will hurt us. We need to understand what
will help us. That is what we don’t know.
C. These things are a fulfillment of Romans 1:28-32.
1. People don’t really know what a family is anymore. They have been
taught that any group of people that cares for each other is a family.
This can be on the job, at play, in military service, anywhere. Society is
teaching that Mothers and Dads aren’t important any more, any older
person can take their place. Same sex marriages are being considered by
congress. What stupidity!
2. Abortion on demand is considered a right, which is supposedly
guaranteed under the constitution of the United States. This murder of
living infants is not included in the Bill of Rights!
II. What are the righteous supposed to do today?
A. Remember that Jesus lived in a day when Israel was controlled by a
foreign government, yet he never said anybody should rebel against the
government.
1. Consider Daniel, who lived in Babylon, but remained true to God
while being a high government official.
B. Eph. 6:13 - When the evil day comes, stand, and having done all,
stand. (Take the whole armour of God)
1. We are supposed to do exactly the same thing we have always done.
2. The work that God has given us to do is exactly the same under a
wicked government as under a good government.
3. The Great Commission is still in effect. President Clinton and his
un-American ways haven’t annulled the Great Commission.
C. Rom. 13:1 - Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For
there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
1. This doesn’t mean we are to agree and help in the evil designs of
our leaders.
2. We are to remain faithful to God and pray that
God would hinder their wickedness.
D. I Timothy 2:1-3 - I exhort therefore, that,
first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be
made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may
lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is
good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Verse 4 - The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven:
his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
God is still on his holy throne, so never be concerned at sudden or slow
destruction. God will keep his throne, regardless of what it all looks like.
Verse 5 - The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that
loveth violence his soul hateth.
All men are tried, but there is a difference in how God looks at the wicked,
and how he looks at the righteous.
Verse 6 - Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an
horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
The end of the wicked is terrible judgment, more than we can imagine, even
though during their lifetime, they seem to have the best of everything.
Verse 7 - For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance
doth behold the upright.
God loves righteousness, therefore he loves the righteous.
Countenance means with a happy and contented face, with looks of love and
compassion and helpfulness.
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