Psa 11:4 | KingComments | STEP | The word “if” has the meaning and power of saying that there is no doubt whatsoever ( ). There is no doubt that the foundations will be overthrown if the rightful king does not rule, but is persecuted. By the foundations we can think of justice and righteousness, the laws that God has issued that should govern public life (cf. ). They are the foundations of society. If those foundations are eroded, the house of society will eventually collapse and become a ruin. We see this today in the society around us. When God’s rights and laws are no longer obeyed, when He is not taken into account any longer, the chaos in which society now finds itself is created. What should the righteous do if that is the situation? Can he do anything? Can he undertake something to turn the tide? No and yes. No, he cannot rebuild the collapsed house. Yes, he can look up in faith, beyond his counselors and enemies, to the LORD ( ). He “is in His holy temple” (cf. ), in heaven, where His throne stands. In Isaiah, God says: “Heaven is My throne” ( ). That He is in His “holy” temple means that He is separated from all turmoil on earth. His “throne” implies that He rules and has authority to judge. He and His throne can be shaken by nothing. Nothing is able to disturb His peace or thwart His plans with the world. On earth the foundations can be destroyed, but that is impossible with “the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” ( ). It is to that city that the believer looks. He realizes that the true government sits in heaven, untouchable from all the turmoil of the earth. The government over the earth is exercised from the throne in heaven, although man thinks that he himself is in control. He Who is in His holy temple and governs everything from His throne in heaven acts in His government with perfect knowledge of man. Although it may seem that He does nothing, that He is absent, nothing escapes Him. He is not indifferent to what happens on earth, but fully involved in all that “the children of men”, righteous and wicked, do on earth. His eyes observe all the doings of men. With “His eyelids” He fathoms everything, even the most deeply hidden motives, for “all things are open and laid bare” to Him ( ). Nothing is hidden from Him “who sees [what is done] in secret” ( ). His eyes are “like a flame of fire” ( ). He sees right through us.

‏ Psalms 11:4

The Throne of the LORD

The word “if” has the meaning and power of saying that there is no doubt whatsoever (Psa 11:3). There is no doubt that the foundations will be overthrown if the rightful king does not rule, but is persecuted. By the foundations we can think of justice and righteousness, the laws that God has issued that should govern public life (cf. Psa 82:5). They are the foundations of society. If those foundations are eroded, the house of society will eventually collapse and become a ruin.

We see this today in the society around us. When God’s rights and laws are no longer obeyed, when He is not taken into account any longer, the chaos in which society now finds itself is created. What should the righteous do if that is the situation? Can he do anything? Can he undertake something to turn the tide? No and yes.

No, he cannot rebuild the collapsed house. Yes, he can look up in faith, beyond his counselors and enemies, to the LORD (Psa 11:4). He “is in His holy temple” (cf. Hab 2:20a), in heaven, where His throne stands. In Isaiah, God says: “Heaven is My throne” (Isa 66:1). That He is in His “holy” temple means that He is separated from all turmoil on earth. His “throne” implies that He rules and has authority to judge. He and His throne can be shaken by nothing. Nothing is able to disturb His peace or thwart His plans with the world.

On earth the foundations can be destroyed, but that is impossible with “the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb 11:10). It is to that city that the believer looks. He realizes that the true government sits in heaven, untouchable from all the turmoil of the earth. The government over the earth is exercised from the throne in heaven, although man thinks that he himself is in control.

He Who is in His holy temple and governs everything from His throne in heaven acts in His government with perfect knowledge of man. Although it may seem that He does nothing, that He is absent, nothing escapes Him. He is not indifferent to what happens on earth, but fully involved in all that “the children of men”, righteous and wicked, do on earth.

His eyes observe all the doings of men. With “His eyelids” He fathoms everything, even the most deeply hidden motives, for “all things are open and laid bare” to Him (Heb 4:13). Nothing is hidden from Him “who sees [what is done] in secret” (Mt 6:4 ; 6 ; 18). His eyes are “like a flame of fire” (Rev 1:14). He sees right through us.