Psalm 11

Lamentation (persecuted and accused)

The Righteous Lord Loves the Upright

                7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness;

                The upright will behold His face.

·         There is always ground of hope to one who trusts in God. All is not lost, that is brought into jeopardy.

·         [L]isten to no counsel however kindly it may seem to be given, if it conflicts with the known will of God.

·         Crooked ways belong not to godliness. When we find ourselves inclined to an uncandid course, we may know all is not right.

·         It is always necessary to adhere to first principles. “If you destroy the foundations, if you take good people from off their hope in God, if you can persuade them that their religion is a cheat and a jest, and can banter them out of that, you ruin them, and break their hearts indeed, and make them of all men most miserable.” (Henry) With care and examination adopt first principles. When adopted, stick to them.

·         Those, who have impiously shaken off their allegiance to the Almighty, cannot be supposed to treat with much deference his humble and devoted servants.

·         The more wholly the springs of earthly comfort go dry, the more should we come to the wells of salvation, and with delight draw thence all needed refreshments.

·         “All men acknowledge that the world is governed by the providence of God; but when there comes some sad confusion of things, which disturbs their case and involves them in difficulty, there are few who retain in their minds the firm persuasion of truth.” (Calvin) Yet that is the very time, when faith is most needed and may be most illustrious.

·         It should make men solemn to know that God searches and tries them. Many make in words very solemn appeals to their Maker, but in their hearts they are light and vain. The heart-searcher has no pleasure in fools. He trifles with none. He will not be trifled with by any.

·         If God does try the righteous, it is for their good; and so there is a vast difference between the sufferings of saints and of sinners, not in the degree, so much as in the design, end and effects. “We here perceive the unspeakable difference between fatherly chastisements and the infliction of God’s displeasure on his enemies. The one is for correction, the other is an intimation of righteous displeasure and approaching judgment; the one is the rebuke of a father, justly offended; the other is the uplifted rod of a judge, who will, ere long, smite down all his foes.” (Morison)