A Crumbling Foundation
One of the radio stations I frequent while driving seems to consistently play a commercial about foundation repair. It is not always the same commercial. In fact, I believe I have heard at least four or five different companies advertise on the same station. But all of them advertise in similar ways, beginning with the importance of having a solid foundation for your home. Perhaps the years of drought we suffered and the number of smaller earthquakes we have experienced in recent years explains the growth of such companies, but most of us recognize the symptoms of growing cracks around windows and doors and their danger to the long term value of our homes. And that is one reason why David’s words in Psalm 11 should strike a chord: “If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?” (Psa. 11:3). But what foundations did David have in mind?
David regularly faced danger in warfare throughout his life. He understood its risks, but he did not worry because he had such great faith in the Lord. It was for this reason that the situation underlying Psalm 11 has so much to offer. Someone, whether a friend or even a momentary doubt in his own heart, encouraged David to run away for safety. His opening response to such a thought might be paraphrased as this: “How could I ever run away for safety when the Lord has promised to be with me? I trust Him. And running away would express anything but trust!” (Psa. 11:1-2). It is at this very point in the psalm where David said, “If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?” He had confidence in the Lord and understood that life itself is a test for man (Psa. 11:4-6). For David, there was never any question about whether the Lord would do what was right. The question always was: Will man?
Throughout our lives many people will say and do things that will try to weaken our faith in God. Well-meaning people will suggest things that are not inherently wrong but that would pull you away from God in the long run. It might be a job promotion, a move to another city, your choice of whom to marry—any number of things. But at the root of all these decisions, we must realize that keeping the foundation of our faith intact is essential to enjoy the abundant life available in Christ (Jn. 10:10). “For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright” (Psa. 11:7).