Because the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His face beholds the upright (Psalm 11:7).
David begins this psalm by affirming that the LORD is his refuge, questioning the advice to flee to the mountains (Psalm 11:1). The wicked prepare their bows to secretly attack those who are upright in heart (Psalm 11:2), referring to individuals who adhere to the standards of God’s law. A righteous king acts in accordance with what is upright in the eyes of the LORD (1 Kings 15:5). The rhetorical question, ‘If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?’ highlights a context in which covenantal laws—the divine pillars of justice, truth, and traditional hierarchy—have been systematically undermined by the wicked. The removal or compromise of these principles leads to the collapse of a nation’s social and spiritual structure. In such circumstances, the righteous are left with limited recourse (Psalm 11:3).
The LORD resides in His holy temple, and His throne is established in the heavens. He examines both the sons of men and the righteous (Psalm 11:4–5). Toward the wicked and those who love violence, the LORD stands as an enemy (Psalm 11:5). This opposition is not rooted in emotional hatred but represents a judicial and covenantal rejection. The violence referenced here involves exploiting others and committing injustice. Prior to the flood, the earth was characterized by such violence (Genesis 6:11). Individuals who engage in these acts exploit the vulnerable and seek opportunities to perpetrate wrongdoing. Examples include failing to correct a billing error that is personally advantageous, withholding the return of a lost wallet or removing its contents before returning it for a reward, and neglecting to inform someone who is being deceived. Such behaviors exemplify a societal violence that disregards concern for others.
The wicked are subject to divine judgment. The LORD will bring upon them coals, fire, and brimstone (Psalm 11:6). As the embodiment of righteousness, the LORD will recompense the wicked according to their deeds. He demonstrates love for the righteous, and His face is upon those who conduct themselves uprightly (Psalm 11:7).
Since Christians are under a better covenant based upon better promises, they are not upright in their actions by adhering to the Mosaic Law, as David calls out in this psalm. They possess righteousness in Christ and are therefore to put on the new man (1 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 4:24). Putting on the new man involves recognizing our position in Christ and its effects on our lives (Colossians 3:10). False teachers among the Christians are the ones who forsake the way of the upright (2 Peter 2:15). They go after the way of Balaam, using the saints for personal financial gain. They turn the grace of god into licentiousness and godliness into financial gain (Jude 4; 1 Timothy 6:5). From such people, let us turn away (2 Timothy 3:5).
Let us not forget: the Lord knows how to preserve the wicked for judgment (2 Peter 2:9). He has fixed a day in which the world will be judged in righteousness (Acts 17:31). When the day comes, the unrighteous will cease to exist (Revelation 20:11–12).
