Psalm 11:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord 's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

NIV: The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.

NASB: The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’S throne is in heaven; His eyes see, His eyelids test the sons of mankind.

CSB: The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord—his throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; his gaze examines everyone.

NLT: But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.

KJV: The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

NKJV: The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

In the prior passage, David rejected the urge to run away from danger (Psalm 11:1–3). His reason for remaining is expressed here: confidence that God is still sovereign and all-knowing (Psalm 9:11–12).

Lucifer, a light-bearing angel, rebelled against God. He aspired to topple the Lord from His throne and seize it as his own. He discovered that the throne belongs exclusively to the Lord and no one can usurp Him. The prophet Isaiah caught a glimpse of God upon His throne in heaven and heard seraphim declare His holiness (Isaiah 6).

David was confident his enemies could not topple him from his earthly throne, because the Lord God was seated on His heavenly throne. The enemies may have been powerful, but the Lord is all-powerful. Furthermore, nothing escapes His all-seeing eyes. He could see plainly what the wicked were doing. They mistakenly believed their evil doings were secret (Psalm 11:2), but the Lord saw their wickedness and would judge them.

Psalm 11:4–7 explains David's reason for rejecting the temptation to flee to the mountains. Faced with danger, the natural urge is to run and hide. Instead, David's choice is to trust in God. He sees the Lord as sovereign, fully in control of the situation David faced. He believes the Lord tests the righteous but despises the wicked and will judge them. Someday the righteous will see the Lord's face.

David is tempted to run in terror from his enemies, like a frightened bird. Whether this is advice from counselors or simple fear, David refuses to given in. He declares that the Lord is his refuge. The wicked are well-armed and prepared to fight, but David trusts God to keep him safe. In part, David stands firm because he recognizes the consequences if godly authority is removed. The psalm celebrates God's sovereign rule and omniscience, ending with encouragement. The Lord is righteous and loves righteous deeds; someday those who honor Him will see His face.

This psalm is another depiction of David in trouble. It may have been written when he fled from Saul's court and was hiding in the wilderness (Psalm 18). Or David may have written it when his son Absalom was pursuing him (Psalm 3). Whatever the occasion, this psalm expresses David's trust in the Lord as all-knowing and righteous.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 12/18/2024 12:53:35 PM