What Can the Righteous Do?

Intro: A moment of panic, “head for the hills!”. The context seems to be that David has a well meaning friend that thinks it is time to cut and run. This Psalm is David’s response to that counsel. David summarizes his response in the first phrase, “In the Lord I take refuge.” We always have a reason to panic. There is always something on the horizon that seems like it will end our way of life; a pandemic, an election, a war or an economic collapse. What do we do when logically the best advice is run and hide?

We have all had times when it seems like the easiest solution is to simply give up.

The Panic of Unbelief

What you should do - Flee (v. 1b)

There is a certain level of honesty that we have to have before diving further into this text. That is to say that running and hiding is not always the wrong thing to do.

If you are in a bank and someone pulls a gun to rob the place it is not wrong to duck behind some cover.

I think what this Psalm has in mind is less those moments of immediate danger and harm and more those times when we are called to stand up for what we believe in even when bodily harm could be the outcome. Not every Christian is called to endure in this manner. We shouldn’t harshly judge a missionary who leaves their field because of some danger that they face.

Every circumstance is different and we should prayerfully consider what God is calling us to do. In this instance David believes that God is calling him to stand, to endure, to take it for God’s glory and purposes. David uses this Psalm to remind us that when God calls us to stand for Him we are not left alone. He is our refuge.

What we are dealing with in verses 1-3 is essentially bad advice from a well meaning friend. H.L. Ellison once said that “the love of your friends will often create for most subtle temptations.”

We will often from a places of love encourage our friends and family to do whatever is necessary to avoid pain.

Why do you think that so many mothers and fathers have attempted to talk their children out of missionary or pastoral work?

Lets say a friend confides in you that they have a co-worker who is constantly berating them and making them look bad. Then on top of it all it turns out that they are the bosses nephew.

What would your counsel be? For most, the counsel would be cut and run! There is nothing you can do so put your 2 weeks in. Now that may be what God wants but maybe we should make sure. What if you have been placed in that environment at that time to be a light in the dark; to be a gospel witness where there is none.

Our comfort and ease is not God’s highest priority. If your employment is just a means to make money then by all means leave. However, if you have a bigger picture in mind for your life then perhaps another perspective is in order.

Why you should do it - Fear (v. 2)

From the perspective of David’s friend they are staring down the barrel of a fully loaded gun.

Their arrow is fitted, the bow is bent and from the shadows they have taken aim at us.

That is a scary place to be.

We have to be careful of allowing fear to dictate our decisions.

How you can justify it - Forsake (v.3)

Verse 3 is the most well known verse of this chapter.

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

What choice do we have?

We are out of options.

We can easily find way to justify our retreat and forsake what God has called us to do.

Is the one who puts their trust in God ever truly out of options?

The Peace of Belief

The Lord is my refuge. (v. 1a)

What does this actually mean?

It sounds nice but is it just a platitude?

A refuge is a place or state of safety from danger or trouble.

Things to consider about the reality of finding refuge in the Lord.

Finding refuge in the Lord is at least in part a function of our trust in Him. Psalm 62:7–8 “On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”

Finding our refuge in the Lord is primarily a spiritual and eternal perspective.

God has sent us His Comforter now in whom we take refuge in the midst of earthly troubles.

God has promised us eternal refuge from all pain both physical and emotional.

Perhaps another verse that should come to mind as we consider the Lord’s refuge is John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””

Finding refuge in the Lord is more than just a platitude. It is having peace in the midst of trouble and hope when the world has none.

Hebrews 13:5–6 “...I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?””

The Lord is on His throne. (v. 4a)

Speaking generically a refuge is only as good as the materials it is built out of. (Illustration: Action stars hiding behind car doors in movies)

We are confidence in the refuge the Lord provides because we are confident in His sovereignty.

If you have lost sight of the myriad ways in which the Lord functions as your refuge perhaps it is because you have lost sight of who He is and what He is like.

He is sovereign, and your pain in no way disproves His power. From the moment sin entered into the world pain was always going to be a part of the world. Sin and pain go together hand in fist.

We get angry with God for allowing suffering when we are the cause of suffering and we have rejected His solution for it. We want the solution now. But isn’t possible that the God of the universe has a legitimate reason for waiting?

He doesn’t owe you an explanation.

David’s point is this, the God who has offered Himself as our refuge is perfectly sovereign. His sovereignty is not something to be questioned it is something to take comfort in.

The Lord is aware. (v. 4b)

God is self existent and fully present.

God is not just keeping tabs on you. He is actively present in your life.

Beyond that God is fully aware of everything and everyone. Another way of translating the end of v. 4 is “His eyes watch; his gaze examines everyone.”

God’s presence is a comfort to the righteous and a terror to the wicked. When you consider God’s total awareness and presence are you comforted or scared? If God’s presence makes you uncomfortable (in a negative way) maybe it is time for some self evaluation.

His knowledge of us and presence with us is a refuge.

The Lord examines. (v. 5-7)

Some of the trials we experience are His exams allowed by Him for His glory and our good.

God’s examination have two very different result depending upon how you are related to Him.

If you are dead in your trespasses and sins separated from Him through your own wickedness then v. 6 is the result of God’s examination of you.

If you are rightly related to God through His Son then v.7 is the result of God’s examination of you.

The Lord is righteous.

In Christ you have been made righteous.

The Lord loves righteous deeds.

In Christ you may accomplish righteous deeds.

In eternity the righteous will see His face. Which is the perfection of the relationship we enjoy with Him now. 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

Therefor in a sense even the trial God allows you to endure are a refuge for they draw you closer to Him. Sometimes the sheep must be prodded into the pen.

Application: There is no problem you have faced in this life to which God is not the solution. The Lord is our refuge from emotional turmoil. When our minds and hearts are fraught with anxiety or sadness He knows. He is present with us in the midst of our guilt and shame. He reminds us that someday all those things will be torn away for all eternity.

The Lord is our refuge from physical turmoil. Jesus knows the feeling of pain. He knows exactly what you are going through not in some anecdotal way but in a real experiential way. How much does it change the nature of your suffering to have someone who has been there before? One of the ways God expresses the reality of His refuge in our lives is through our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to bear one another’s burdens. If you have the opportunity to be a source of strength for someone going through the same pain that you have endured or are enduring seize the moment! Be a part of God’s refuge plan.

Ultimately the Lord is our refuge from eternal turmoil. Eternal turmoil is the unfortunate reality that many will face, but not if you know Christ.