(Psalm 11) The Great Eye of God - Hope for the Afflicted.

We live in a day of unprecedented ability to watch the world.

When we think of warfare in the American Revolution; the British military had no idea the American militia was crossing the Delaware river right next to them.

Even WWII,

The American Navy had no idea an entire carrier strike group was within 200 miles of Pearl Harbor.

Yet, today, we live in the world of wireless technology, computerization, and satellite technology.

This means the American military can monitor nearly anywhere in the world. By Satellite they can watch nearly any place in the world remotely.

In recent years, we learned the American government is fully capable of monitoring email, website, and phone communication.

Because of these technologies,

Many of our intelligence services have been referred to as the all seeing eye.

A popular patch from my branch in the Navy, shows exactly that.

Yet, does the American military really see all?

When consider the injustice of September 11th; the All-Seeing Eye of the American Intelligence community failed to warn and prevent the greatest terrorist attack in the history of the U.S.

Further,

It took almost 10 years to capture the man responsible for planing it; Osama Bin Ladin.

And if you have listened to the interviews afterwards; it was really a lucky guess. All they really knew was that the compound housed a high-value target of Al Qaeda.

So, is the American government really the “all-Seeing eye”?

Despite the billions of dollars, hundreds of employee’s, and the sophistication of the American government - they do not see all and they can prevent all.

Yet, in Psalm today - we will learn of someone who is literally the all-seeing eye; and does bring justice to all.

Psalm 11 ESV

To the choirmaster. Of David. 1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

According to David,

PROPOSITION: We need to Trust in the All-Seeing Eye of God.

TRANSITIONAL STATEMENT: And this Text gives us 3 ways we ought to Trust in God’s All-Seeing Eye.

1. Trust in the Right Place of Refuge. ()

We live in a world in which refuge is found anywhere, but God.

If I am in debt, I can run to the court and public assistance without ever regarding God.

If I am sick, I can run to doctors of all kinds to be healed and extend my life; without acknowledging God.

If I am being attacked, I can run to the police for protection, without acknowledging God.

Yet, that is nothing new. Humanity has always had enough creative imagination to run for safety in something that is not God.

Psalm 11:1–3 ESV

1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Ps

So what is David being told by a friend?

Run to the Mountains because the wicked are looking to kill you.

Now, perhaps there is some wisdom in running to the mountains; but David rightly acknowledges the true place of refuge - God.

We likewise, should look to God for refuge above and before we look to refuge in this world.

Now David did run to the mountains; so taking refuge in God is not staying put while the forces evil surround you. At least his case, he did run to the mountains to be safe.

He is not trusting in staying or fleeing.

So there must be something else that David is trusting in.

Then, how do we take refuge in God.

2. Trust in God’s Examination of Humanity. (Psalm 11:4-5)

Psalm 11:4–5 ESV

4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

David describes the place of God’s rule.

Interesting that he mentions both heaven and the temple at once - which may I say is suttle confession of God’s omnipresence.

But the real point he is making is that from the place of God’s rule; he examines all.

Now, God is not created, physical being; but an eternal spiritual being.

So David is not confessing that God has eyes, but like human eyes; God see’s all.

But God’s eyes do more than what our eyes do.

ILLUSTRATION:

In our court systems,

we have to rely on what we see.

So criminal case is only proven when the prosecutor

shows physical evidence so the juror’s can see.

has witness who can say they saw the evidence.

The court system can never read or understand the heart of man - innocent or guilty.

Yet, According to this passage that is exactly what God does.

The word here, “test” has this idea. KJV translates this version as “try”. NET bible translates this as “examine”.

God examines with his eyes humanity.

This is more than saying that God saw their wickedness, but in fact his eyes examines their wickedness.

How can you examine with your eyes?

Because God is greater than a physical being, he is able to pierce both what visibly happened and what Spiritually happened.

To do what no human court can do.

Thus, David boldly declares - he always see’s

- when a lover of God truly seeks him - takes refuge in him.

He also always see’s the wicked

- when they desire or do evil.

Thus, God is able from his throne to judge the wicked and the righteous.

That is really the point of v. 5

And when God judges; it is not mere words; but in physical action.

Therefore,

3. Trust in God’s Righteous Deeds. ()

Psalm 11:6–7 ESV

6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

David says up a 2-sided call and affirmation of Judgement.

a. Because of God’s all-seeing eye - God judges the wicked.

In some sense figuratively, and in some sense reality when we think of the Lake of Fire,

God brings down coals with fire, smoke, and scorching heat.

Sometimes in this life we doubt the justice and the judgement of God.

We treat it as almost empty words.

Though we may not see the coals raining down in this life; let us walk by faith knowing that their is a reality to this figurative language - in which God does bring to judgement those who he examines and finds wickedness.

b. This conclusion also affirms God’s righteous deeds to those he examines and finds a love and dependence upon God.

Psalm 11:6 ESV

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

Psalm 11:7 ESV

7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

There is a little bit of ambiguity about whos righteous deeds God loves.

It is difficult to understand the relationship of righteous deeds to God’s love; because it either lacks a subject or Direct Object. Leaving us to have to decide on context the proper subject and direct object.

In my opinion, God loves to demonstrate his own righteous deeds, which makes sense when the following section states, the upright shall behold his face.

It is difficult to understand the relationship of righteous deeds to God’s love; because it either lacks a subject or Direct Object. Leaving us to have to decide on context the proper subject and direct object.

A Commentary on the Psalms 1–89, Volumes 1 & 2: Commentary Commentary in Expository Form

In the last verse the reason for the judgment is looked at from the other side: “The LORD is righteous, he loves righteousness.” Because the LORD is righteous, wickedness cannot stand; because the LORD loves righteousness, he hates wickedness. For actions to be called “righteous” they must conform to God’s standard, for he alone is truly righteous. Whatever does not measure up to this standard is sin. Thus, the promise of judgment is the immediate effect from the wickedness of the race, but the primary cause is God’s righteous nature.

Most commentators, of which I agree, see this as God doing righteousness for those who seek refuge in him. But it could be, he loves the righteous

OR

We as God’s believers, can thus, take confidence in God’s examination, because he is righteous.

- He will negatively judge those who defy righteousness.

It could be, “he loves to do just deeds.”

- And he will positively judge and bless those who seek his righteousness.

CONCLUSION:

So understand, the refuge found in God by David.

Because God see’s all, the visible and the spiritual of the wicked and the righteous; he judges all.

Since God himself is righteous and seeing all, we can be confident we as believers we will be saved from the wicked and blessed by God.

Yet, how can we say that as David is suffering and seeking God.

Again, another Psalm about David being hunted down by the wicked.

ILLUSTRATION:

How can we understand that God is righteous, see’s all, and judges all - if we are afflicted.

Susannah Spurgeon once said,

“How wise should we be if, with joyful certainty, we accepted each unfolding of His will as a proof of His faithfulness and love.”

To put it bluntly,

God always examines and blesses the righteous.

Which means, if you are suffering; then God in his righteous goodness towards you allowed it. And he see’s the hurt you are going through.

So if he is allowing it; then recognize what he is doing. Mercifully Pushing you to depend on him, pushing you so you will look to the right place of refuge. (v. 1)

Don’t forget

So as we finish,

recognize that God in his righteous omniscience has allowed you to suffer.

And the purpose of that suffering is that you will remember he is the all-seeing eye, who righteously judges all, and thus you run to the refuge of God.

May we run to the all-knowing God who sheds righteous judgement of blessing upon those who seek his refuge.