Psalm 11: Standing When the Foundations Shake
Even when the walls give way, the foundation remains—quiet, unseen, immovable.
Psalm 11 invites us into the tension of human fear and divine refuge. David is presented with two voices: one that urges flight when chaos threatens to collapse all moral foundations, and another that steadies him in the certainty of God’s sovereign presence. The foundations—those pillars of righteousness, truth, and justice—may be crumbling around him, but God is not absent or passive. He is enthroned in heaven, fully aware, just in judgment, and righteous in His love. David chooses not to follow the instinct to run but instead rests in the unwavering gaze of the Lord who sees all, tests hearts, judges evil, and delights in righteousness. The ultimate assurance for the faithful is not the restoration of earthly structures, but the promise of seeing God’s face.
Personalized Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
You dwell in My refuge because I have set your heart there. Though fear whispers, Flee to the mountain, I remind you that your foundation is not built on sand but anchored in Me. When arrows fly from the shadows and voices tremble, I remain in My holy temple. My throne has not shifted. I see all. I test the children of man. The upright are not overlooked, for I examine them with loving precision, refining but never forsaking.
The wicked may scheme with stealth, but they are never hidden from My eyes. My justice is not slumbering. It is sure and righteous. I hate violence, deceit, and oppression. What is false will be burned away like chaff in the furnace, but the righteous will behold My face. I love what is upright. I love to dwell with those who trust Me when the world caves in. So even when it seems the foundation stones are shattered, remember—your footing is in Me. I have laid Zion’s cornerstone, and it is unshakable.
(Psalm 11:1–7; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 7:24–25; 2 Timothy 2:19)
A Real-Life Analogy
You’ve likely walked into an old house during renovations. The floors creak, drywall is torn away, and for a moment, it feels like the place could fall apart. But then you notice the frame—the steel beams or the concrete footers—completely unshaken beneath the mess. That's how it is for those who trust in the Lord when society’s outer walls collapse. While others panic at the peeling paint and falling fixtures, the child of God remains calm, knowing that their true foundation is unmovable and eternal.
My Prayer
Father, You are my refuge, not just when things are calm, but especially when everything is trembling. I trust that even if righteous leaders fall or justice seems overturned, You are still seated in perfect authority. You are not reacting—you are reigning. I rest in the truth that You test the heart not to condemn, but to confirm who belongs to You. I thank You that my standing is secure in Christ, and that the invitation to see Your face is not something I must chase but something already granted to me through Your grace. I will not fly away—I will remain, anchored in You.
Credits
Devotional insights adapted from the Grace and Truth Study Bible (Zondervan, 2021).
Image courtesy of Unsplash.com.