Psalm 11:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

NIV: On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.

NASB: He will rain coals of fire upon the wicked, And brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.

CSB: Let him rain burning coals and sulfur on the wicked; let a scorching wind be the portion in their cup.

NLT: He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds.

KJV: Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

NKJV: Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.

David prays for vengeance on his enemies—not through his own hands, but from God (Romans 12:19–20). The imagery he uses here is dramatic, referring to raining fire and sulfur.

Centuries earlier God had done exactly that in His wrath against Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord rained fire and sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah because of their inhabitants' wickedness. When Abraham looked at where Sodom and Gomorrah used to be, all he saw was billows of smoke (Genesis 19:28).

In Psalm 18 David alludes to hailstones and coals of fire bringing judgment on his enemy (Psalm 18:12–13). The Lord used these catastrophes to deliver David from Saul. In Psalm 11:6 he indicates that his enemies will have these disasters as "the portion of their cup." The cup of the Lord is often used in connection with His judgment of evildoers. Revelation 14:10 warns that whoever worships the beast and its image "also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger."

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 5/1/2024 5:08:22 PM