WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO?
Psalms 11, 12, 13
When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
It is possible to read Psalm 11 as an inner dialogue. The wicked are mowing down the righteous and the temptation is to not only flee but also to abandon. The righteous have no weapon except God. When there is nothing that the righteous can appeal to, no shred of decency left in society, what can the righteous do?
The Psalmist protests to his soul, “In the Lord I take refuge”. If I abandon my refuge, where else can I flee? Herein is the dilemma of the righteous. They have abandoned the weapons of hatred and evil for righteousness’ sake because they believe that God will stand by their side. If God does not act, then all is lost.
In truth, if God is not behind his words, then there is no God, and all is lost anyway because there is no truth, no justice, no love—only raw power. Righteousness is then a foolish way to live life.
This then is the challenge of Psalm 12. Everybody talks and promises what others want to hear but only to accomplish their will. There is no compulsion to walk their talk or fulfil their promises. The power of lies is illusory and only deceives and manipulates. Is this also the power of God? Is he all empty words and empty promises that only mislead his followers? No! God must act and silence all his detractors who are arrogant because they believe (or not believe, as it were) that God is also like them—all smoke and wind. “The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times,” the Psalmist declares. You can count on him!
Yet the lonely plea of Psalm 13 is very often our experience as well. The Psalmist does not ask why, he only asks for a swift response. In the same way, we cannot explain God’s actions (or inaction). We are creatures and he is the Creator. Like the Psalmist, we can only plead our cause and seek his salvation, knowing that our vindication will surely come because God is not a faithless, flattering liar. We cannot set aside the reality of the one true God in our lives.
“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”