Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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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.
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.
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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.
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)
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.
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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.
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.
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.”
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