Samson S Urgent Prayer

Facing Tragedy With Trust (Psalm 11)

Introduction: Following the occurrence of several tragedies including a terrible railway accident with many fatalities, Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon stood at the Metropolitan Tabernacle and delivered a sermon on Sunday morning, September the 8th, 1861, out of Luke chapter 13 regarding “the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices” and “those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and slew them.”

If I may, I want to read some of his opening remarks...

THE year 1861 will have a notoriety among its fellows as the year of calamities. Just at that season when man goeth forth to reap the fruit of his labors, when the harvest of the earth is ripe, and the barns are beginning to burst with the new wheat, Death too, the mighty reaper, has come forth to cut down his harvest; full sheaves have been gathered into his garner — the tomb; and terrible have been the wailings which compose the harvest hymn of death. In reading the newspapers during the last two weeks, even the most stolid must have been the subject of very painful feelings. Not only have there been catastrophes so alarming that the blood chills at their remembrance, but column after column of the paper has been devoted to calamities of a minor degree of horror, but which, when added together, are enough to astound the mind with the fearful amount of sudden death which has, of late, fallen on the sons of men. We have had not only one incident for every day in the week, but two or three; we have not simply been stunned with the alarming noise of one terrific clash, but another, and another, and another, have followed upon each other’s heels, like Job’s messengers, till we have needed Job’s patience and resignation to hear the dreadful tale of woes.

Now, men and brethren, such things as these have always happened in all ages of the world. Think not that this is a new thing; do not dream, as some do, that this is the produce of an overwrought civilization, or of that modern and most wonderful discovery of steam. If the steam engine had never been known, and if the railway had never been constructed, there would have been sudden deaths and terrible accidents, not withstanding. In taking up the old records in which our ancestors wrote down their accidents and calamities, we find that the old stage coach yielded quite as heavy a booty to death as does the swiftly-rushing train; there were gates to Hades then as many as there are now, and roads to death quite as steep and precipitous, and traveled by quite as vast a multitude as in our present time.

(He went on to say...)

Do not think... that this is an age in which God is dealing more hardly with us than of old. Do not think that God’s providence has become more lax than it was, there always were sudden deaths, and there always will be. There always were seasons when death’s wolves hunted in hungry packs, and, probably, until the end of this dispensation, the last enemy will hold his periodic festivals, and glut the worms with the flesh of men. Be not, therefore, cast down with any sudden fear, neither be ye troubled by these calamities. Go about your business, and if your avocations should call you to cross the field of death itself, do it, and do it bravely. God has not thrown up the reins of the world; he has not taken off his hand from the helm of the great ship, still...

“He everywhere hath sway, And all things serve his might. His every act pure blessing is, His path unsullied light.”

Only learn to trust him, and thou shalt not be afraid of sudden fear; “thy soul shall dwell at ease, and thy seed shall inherit the earth.”

The setting of Psalm 11 is thought by most commentators to be during the time when Saul’s jealousy of David has turned to threats and attacks upon David’s life. It is supposed to have been penned when he began to feel the resentments of Saul's envy, and had had the javelin thrown at him once and again. (Matthew Henry) It was at a time when as one commentator suggested, ‘the cause of the good seemed hopeless, and the cause of the bad seemed triumphant.’ Cf. 1 Samuel 18:8-12 & ch. 19-22

The inscription is, “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.” By the chief musician is meant the mastersinger, the leader of the band, the person who directed the choir. The words have been presented to him in hopes that they might be sung.

As he begins the Psalm… I. David States His Consideration Of The Situation 11:1-3

A. A Departure Has Been Recommended vs. 1 Some of David's (fainthearted) friends seem to have given him this advice when they saw Saul bent on his destruction: “Flee as a bird to your mountain;” you have not a moment to lose; your ruin is determined; escape for your life; get off as swiftly as possible to the hill-country, to some of those inaccessible fortresses best known to yourself; and hide yourself there from the cruelty of Saul. (Adam Clarke) They conclude that there is no hope in a fight response, but only in a flight response. bird – [Hebrew tsippowr] tsip-pore'; from tsaphar'; a prim. root; to skip about, i.e. return; a little bird (as hopping):--bird, fowl, sparrow. With the words "how say ye" he rejects their proposal as unreasonable, and turns it as a reproach against them. (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament) “How” expresses wondering disapproval of such a counsel. (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)

B. The Danger Has Been Realized vs. 2 1. The Enemy Has Organized bend – [Hebrew darak] to tread; to walk; also to string a bow (by treading on it in bending). 2. The Enemy Has Obscured privily – in darkness

C. The Destruction Has Been Real vs. 3 1. He Mentions The Base or Basis foundations – [Hebrew shathah] a basis, i.e. (figuratively) political or moral support:--foundation, purpose. “foundations,” i.e. the fundamental principles of law and order, which were being subverted. (Arthur Clarke)

2. He Mentions The Brokenness destroyed – [Hebrew harac] to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy: --beat down, break (down, through), destroy, overthrow, pluck down, pull down, ruin, throw down.

If Saul, who is the vicegerent of God, has cast aside his fear, and now regards neither truth nor justice, a righteous man has no security for his life. This is at present thy case; therefore flee! They have utterly destroyed the foundations, (of truth and equity;) what can righteousness now effect? Kimchi supposes this refers to the priests who were murdered by Doeg, at the command of Saul. The priests are destroyed, the preservers of knowledge and truth, the divine worship is overthrown; and what can the righteous man work? These I think to be also the words of David's advisers. (Adam Clarke)

If David had left us with the words of his advisers ringing in our ears, we would be most miserable. But he responds with a clearer perspective.

Here is David’s response to the counselors: We see... II. David States His Consciousness Of The Sovereign 11:4-6

A. David Is Aware Of God’s Place vs. 4 (Psalms 11:4) The LORD is in his holy temple... The grieving mother asked the preacher, “Where was God when my son died?” To which the preacher responded, “He’s right where He has always been!”

B. David Is Aware Of God’s Power (Psalms 11:4) ...the LORD'S throne is in heaven...

I have thought of all the deliberation about the election just a little less than nine months ago. I don’t mean to sound political, but I can’t help but believe that there was a divine intervention in that process, because God knew that we would need a Godly leader for a time of great loss. God is still on the throne! C. David Is Aware Of God’s Perception (Psalms 11:4-5) ... his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. {5} The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. try and trieth – [Hebrew bachan] to test (especially metals); figuratively to investigate:--examine, prove, tempt, try (trial). The wicked and the lover of violence is considered by God to be an enemy, and odious.

D. David Is Aware Of God’s Punishment (Psalms 11:6) Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. God’s Punishment and Portion for the Wicked involves: Traps – snares Terror – fire and brimstone (sulphur) Tempest – horrible (anger) tempest (wind, breath, exhalation)

III. David States His Confidence In Summary Form 11:7

He believes that God will deal with the wicked. He is not fretful or fearful because... A. He Is Confident About God’s Character the righteous LORD righteous – just; without guilt or sin; upright.

B. He Is Confident About God’s Compassion loveth righteousness He loves that which resembles himself. (Adam Clarke's Commentary)

C. He Is Confident About God’s Countenance and His Contemplation His countenance doth behold the upright behold – [Hebrew chazah] a primary root; to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically to have a vision of. He is looking protectively towards those that are His!

Conclusion: In 1887 Dwight L. Moody was conducting a meeting in Brockton, Massachusetts. A young man came forward that night whose heart had been stirred by the Holy Spirit. His testimony was, “I am not quite sure how, but I am going to trust and I am going to obey.”

Dr. Daniel B. Towner was filling in for Ira Sankey that night leading the singing, and the testimony of the young man made a great impression upon the heart of Brother Towner. Immediately in his mind, he formed the chorus, Trust and obey, For there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus But to trust and obey.

He then sent the story about the young man along with his idea for the chorus to a Presbyterian preacher named J. H. Sammis. Brother Sammis, upon receiving the letter wrote the verses as we still sing them today.

When we walk with the Lord In the light of His Word What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will He abides with us still And with all who will trust and obey!

In the face of tragedy and difficulty David said, “In the LORD put I my trust!” May we come to that same determination in our hearts.