Jump Start # 321

Psalms 11:3 “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 

  Throughout the Bible, God’s people often seem to be the underdogs. They stand before oppressive governments and they are the victims of unbelievable forces and powers. It is God’s people who are thrown into fiery furnaces, lion’s dens, prisons and stoned. In the book of Revelation, the martyred saints are crying out to God for vengeance.

  Our passage today has been felt by every generation of God’s people. “What can the righteous do?” This is written in the context of being chased by the wicked. Verse two, describes the wicked pulling the arrow back on the bow “to shoot in the darkness at the upright in heart.” It is at the worst of times that we need God the most. When things are beyond our control, when we are nearly overcome and defeated.

  Characteristically of many Psalms, this question is answered in the remaining verses. We notice:

• The Lord is in His holy temple (4)
• His eyes behold (4)
• The Lord tests the righteous (5)
• The Lord hates those who love violence (5)
• The Lord loves the righteous (7)
• The Lord will bring trouble upon the wicked (6)
• The upright will see God’s face (7)

  When things are not going well, especially, when we are doing right and we seem to be the target of ridicule, abuse and a bunch of junk for wicked hearts, it is easy to feel that God has left us on our own. This passage reminds us otherwise. God is still on the throne. God has a plan. No one will change the plans of God.

  To the question our verse asks, “What can the righteous do?” 

  First, let’s remember what the righteous should not do. The righteous should not try to get even, get back or retaliate. Becoming wicked to deal with the wicked is never the right thing to do. It can make us feel better, because we gave them what they deserve, but in so doing, we are no longer righteous ourselves. There is never a right time to do wrong. It matters little if we are talking about arrows being drawn at us, or words being gossiped about us, or people just being mean to you, giving them a “dose of their own medicine” is NOT the thing to do.

  What the righteous can do is pray to God. Your soul is being tormented and you are being hurt. Pray to God. Ask for help, for relief, for wisdom in knowing what to do.

  What the righteous can do is continue to be righteous. Romans tells us to never pay back evil for evil. Jesus says to pray for those who hurt you. Draw help from God’s word such as the book of Psalms where we read of oppressed people. Continue to worship. Seek help from God’s people.

  If the wicked is in your family, draw some lines in the sand. You may have to distance yourself from some if they continue to be disrespectful, abusive and hostile to you. It may put you at odds with some in the family, but you have to consider the emotional, mental and spiritual well being of your immediate household. If you have to get up and leave a family get together because of the language or the spiritual abuse, so be it! Some people don’t get how mean and rude they are until they have pushed someone too far. There has been a lot of news lately about bullies at school. I expect that problem will always be there. Worse, are the spiritual bullies in the family. They seem to be know-it-all’s when in reality they are know-nothing-at-all. They are loud. They have an audience. They poking fun at the “Christian” is their favorite sport. They enjoy watching you squirm and be bothered by their rude, crude and offensive spirits. You must ask yourself, is this worth it? You may have to have a serious talk. If certain people do not change or hush up, then we won’t be there. Sorry, but I’m not putting myself in that situation again. Many will defend them. “Oh, they’re just teasing.” “Oh, they don’t mean anything by that.” It still hurts. It should never have been said. 

  What can the righteous do? Flee from situations that aren’t right. Don’t participate in things that are wrong. For some reason, when we are around family, we put our guards down. Gossip, trash talking, and bitter spirits can fill the meal time. We’d never do this in other occasions, but when it is family, we forget. What can the righteous do? Continue to be righteous and cling to God.

  God sees. God is aware. God knows what you are going through. And God is counting on you. It may be through you that someone in the family comes to Christ. It may be the way you conduct yourself impresses and opens the eyes of others. It’s not easy, it never has been. Just remember what the Lord went through a long time ago, on that Calvary cross for you. Nothing we face was like that.

  You are not alone. You are not without tools to help. You are not without God.

Roger