Psalm 11 (2)

“… if the foundations are destroyed,

what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

Introduction

Have you ever had one of those moments when it feels like the bottom has dropped out of life?

You turn on the news or scroll through headlines, and all you see is chaos—confusion, corruption, violence, injustice, wars, divisions. It seems like the moral foundations of our culture are eroding by the day. Institutions we once trusted are compromised. Truth is twisted. And even the church, at times, seems unsure of its voice or its footing.

And somewhere deep in your soul, you feel a question rising:

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

That’s Psalm 11, verse 3.

It’s the question of a faithful person living in a crumbling world. It’s the question many of us are asking right now. So let’s look at this psalm together. Let’s hear what God says to His people when the world feels unstable—when evil seems to be winning, and fear whispers, “Run.”

1. The Context: A Temptation to Flee (vv.1–3)

David opens the psalm with a firm declaration:

“In the LORD I take refuge.”

But then he quotes the voices around him—the fearful advisors, the anxious friends, maybe even his own inner doubts:

“How can you say to my soul,

‘Flee like a bird to your mountain…’”

They’re saying, “David, you’ve got to get out of here. Things are dangerous. The wicked are hiding in the shadows, arrows drawn, aiming at the upright. This is no time to stand tall—it’s time to run for your life!”

And then comes verse 3, the heartbeat of the psalm:

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

What a question. If truth collapses, if justice breaks down, if society’s core falls apart—what hope do we have? What are we supposed to do when it feels like everything around us is crumbling?

That’s not just an ancient question. That’s a today question.

2. The Response: A Throne That Cannot Be Shaken (vv.4–7)

David’s answer is powerful—and it’s not what we might expect.

He doesn’t deny the danger. He doesn’t sugarcoat the evil. He lifts his eyes:

“The LORD is in His holy temple;

the LORD’s throne is in heaven.” (v.4)

Do you see what David is doing here?

He’s turning our attention from earthly instability to heavenly stability. The world may shake. The wicked may scheme. The foundations of human power and justice may crack—but God’s throne has not moved.

God is not pacing the floors of heaven. He’s not scrambling for a plan B. He is enthroned. He is reigning. And He sees.

“His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of man.”

In Hebrew, the phrase about His eyelids is a poetic way of saying He looks intently. God is not blind to injustice. He sees the wicked and the righteous. He knows who loves violence and who walks in integrity. He tests hearts—not to trap us, but to refine us.

Verse 5 is striking:

“The LORD tests the righteous,

but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”

That’s a hard word, but it’s a true one. God is not indifferent to evil. He is not neutral about sin. He is holy and righteous, and He will bring judgment.

Then verse 6 paints a sobering picture:

“Let Him rain coals on the wicked;

fire and sulfur and a scorching wind…”

It’s reminiscent of Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s a picture of ultimate justice—God will not let evil have the final word.

But the psalm ends not with fear—but with hope.

“For the LORD is righteous;

He loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold His face.” (v.7)

There it is. That’s the promise.

When the wicked hide in the dark to destroy, the righteous look to the light and endure. The reward of the upright is not comfort, safety, or ease—it is the face of God.

3. So What Can the Righteous Do?

Let’s come back to the big question of verse 3:

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

It’s tempting to say: Nothing. Just hide. Despair. Run for the mountains. Give up.

But David gives us a different answer.

The righteous can look up.

The righteous can remember the throne.

The righteous can keep doing righteous deeds.

The righteous can live for the face of God.

That’s what we can do. When culture crumbles, when evil prowls, when fear screams—we remember who our refuge is. Not a political system. Not a moral majority. Not our own strength.

Our refuge is the Lord.

4. The Foundation That Cannot Be Destroyed – Jesus Christ

Friends, let’s be clear—this psalm isn’t calling us to naïve optimism. It’s not saying, “Don’t worry, everything’s fine.” It’s calling us to anchor our hope in a greater reality: the righteousness and reign of God.

And we see that reality most clearly in Jesus.

He is the foundation that cannot be destroyed. When the temple was torn down, when the powers of evil conspired against Him, when the earth shook at His death—it looked like everything had crumbled.

But Christ rose.

He endured the testing. He faced the darkness. He took the cup of judgment so that we could receive the blessing of His righteousness. And now, He is seated on the throne of heaven—ruling, interceding, and preparing a place for us.

He is our refuge.

He is our foundation.

He is the One whose face we long to see.

Conclusion – A Call to Courageous Faith

So what can the righteous do?

We can stand firm.

We can fix our eyes on Jesus.

We can keep walking in integrity when others compromise.

We can keep speaking truth when lies are popular.

We can keep doing good when no one else sees.

We can pray. We can love. We can endure.

Because the Lord is in His holy temple. His throne is in heaven.

He sees. He knows. He reigns.

So take heart. Don’t flee like a bird to the mountains.

Run instead to the Rock that cannot be moved.

And keep walking faithfully—until the day you behold His face.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for Your Word today—a strong word for trembling hearts. In a world that feels uncertain, when the foundations around us seem to crumble, we confess: You are our refuge. You are the unshakable One.

Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have looked first to fear instead of to faith… for the moments we have run to the mountains when You were calling us to stand firm. Teach us, O God, to keep our eyes on Your throne, to trust in Your justice, and to walk in Your righteousness—even when it costs us.

Thank You for Jesus, our Cornerstone, who stood faithful when the world turned against Him. Thank You that in Him we find a foundation that will never be destroyed. He is our hope. He is our peace. He is our courage.

Strengthen us now by Your Spirit to live as Your people in these days—to speak truth in love, to do justice, to walk humbly with You, and to never lose heart. Help us to be a light in dark places. Help us to live not for the approval of man, but for the joy of seeing Your face.

We pray all this in the name of Jesus, our refuge and our King, Amen.

# 521. My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less