January 15, 2009
Who is in control?
Psalm 11
Haley Thomas
Central Truth
In the midst of a tough decision or difficult circumstance, it is tempting for us to want to take control. This leads to worry and fear. Instead, God wants us to trust in Him, His sovereignty, His justice, and His love for us. This leads to rest.
Key Verse | Psalm 11:1
In the Lord I have taken shelter. How can you say to me, "Flee to a mountain like a bird!" (Psalm 11:1)
Psalm 11
The LORD Is in His Holy Temple
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?”
1
11:3
Or for the foundations will be destroyed; what has the righteous done?
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.
Dive Deeper | Psalm 11
“Haley, trust me. You are not in control. I am,” says my God. It’s a lesson He teaches me repeatedly during difficult decisions or circumstances. I find that I worry the most when I attempt to control the situation or believe I can “mess things up.” For instance, I worried obsessively about which preschool my son should attend, his teacher, and whether my choice was the “right” choice. Even though I had made a prayerful and educated decision, I found myself rethinking every detail. I know it sounds silly, but it’s true.
What struck me most about this passage is that David never wavered. He had a big decision to make: Would he trust the Lord or flee like a helpless bird? He was in danger of being ambushed in the night by enemies coming into his camp. Although his advisers were telling him to flee the situation immediately, David listened to God's instructions and did not flee. He did not try to take control or do what made sense to men. Instead, David listened to God's instructions, trusted His plan, and appealed to God for justice.
David was rooted in his knowledge of God’s character, justice, and love for His people. He knew that the Lord examines all people and knows their inner thoughts. (Psalm 26:2, Psalm 139:23) God sees everything from His throne in heaven. He sees the big picture when all we can see is a tiny puzzle piece.
If I could just be like David and trust that the Lord is in control, then there would be no need to worry. The truth is that God does not need me to help Him with His plans. He does not really need any of us, but through His grace and mercy, He allows us to be His hands and feet. He works through the broken and weak to fulfill His purpose. We can rest in His sovereignty.
Discussion Questions
1. How do you think David felt knowing that the deadly attack was underway?
2. When do you worry the most and why?
3. Has there ever been a situation when you held onto control? Did you let go and trust in God’s plan? If so, what happened?
4. Pray through Psalm 139, thank God for His sovereignty, and praise Him for how well He knows your every thought and action.