Psalm 11:1

It is remarkable how often David refers to a bird when relating circumstances and trials he had experienced. In the Bible we find many comparisons from elements of nature with the realm of grace. In Psalm 11 the comparison to a bird comes to the foreground. In Psalm 103:5 David speaks of his youth being renewed like the eagle. In Psalm 102:6 the same author compares himself with a pelican of the wilderness and an owl of the desert. In the same psalm, only in the next verse, he watches, but as a sparrow alone upon the housetop. When Saul hunted him, he compared himself to a partridge on the mountains. To mention more, in Psalm 55:6 David wishes that he had wings like a dove. Not only did David compare himself to a bird, others did it for him as well. Psalm 11 is an example of this. His counselors tell him to flee as a bird to the mountain.

Whether those counselors were his friends or his enemies was difficult to determine at the time. It is not always easy to discern the Ahithophels from Hushais. Enemies can speak as friends, and friends can speak as enemies. At times, the Church of God struggles to know what is of the Lord and what is of self or the devil. Trials of various sorts must bring out what every man’s work is. It shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it. The fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble (1 Corinthians 3:11-13).

The advice to flee as a bird to his mountain ran deep in David because it reached his soul (verse 1). Flee, flee, defenseless bird, your safety lies in your flight…Be gone as a bird because the wicked bend their bow and make ready their arrow upon the string (verse 2). By saying so, the enemy hoped that the snare of the fowler would catch one who is weak. Ah, so it was with David many times. At times, he was too weak to even answer those who contended with him. Is this not often the complaint of the Church of God in the trials of faith and when the Evil One attacks? Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me, fight against them that fight against me, he begs in Psalm 35. When David finds himself in such a lonely, forsaken, and miserable condition, he thinks of himself as an owl and a pelican, which dwell in solitude, having no company. When persecuted by the hand of Saul, the image of a sparrow and a partridge as his companions appears before him, but when the man after God’s own heart was strengthened by the Lord his course to run, David soared like an eagle upon heights previously unknown.

This month we may, as churches, commemorate the mighty deeds of the Lord in the Reformation. Men, like sparrows on the housetop, in themselves soared like eagles upon heights of strength and God-given wisdom. Is it not striking that the Reformation started nearly simultaneously in several countries, like Germany and Switzerland but occurred by instruments many miles apart who had no intention to shake up or set up what eventually took place? It was the Lord’s doing. Were these men eagles of height and strength in themselves? Far from it. The extraordinary courage of an obscure, heretofore unknown monk, Martin Luther, came as it were from a bird of the mountain. The Lord used the mighty men of the Reformation in different countries, different capacities, and for different purposes. This is a beautiful sight to behold and commemorate. It still happens today. It is Paul that planteth, Apollos that watereth, but God that giveth the increase.

Reader, coming back to the number of birds David uses to describe himself, the question could be asked, How it is possible that birds of so different a feather fly together in formation so as to all meet in the spiritual life of one and the same person?” Ask the tried Church of Christ here below if they can find their cause and case in the Scriptures. Ask them, also, if they recognize in their own heart and life the number of birds David mentions. Then you will see the formation as a divine mosaic or embroidery sometimes viewed from the back, sometimes from the front.

Fear and dread are bad counselors, and David often had to contend with such counselors, but it is true what the Dutch Reformed Rev. I. Kieviet once wrote: “Those who need not fear anything, often fear everything—and those who ought to fear often, fear nothing at all….” The counselor(s) who counseled David were discovered and dis approved by the Lord Himself at God’s time. That is a great encouragement amidst the battle shouts of today’s challenges which we face. For is the Church of God here upon earth after the Reformation of the 16th century now permanently safe from error and deceit? Would we dare say that today there is no need for a Reformation again? Even if we may have the pure and sound doctrine proclaimed, is that enough? Ah, let us search and try our ways! When that happens, the necessity for real counsel comes to the foreground, indispensably needed from the Man whose name is Counselor, the Mighty God. He is the Head and Surety of His Church even now and for those who stand in need of Him, He is a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

Such a God and Counselor is mighty to save to the uttermost. Sinners are by Him instructed in the ways untrod before. Come, my friend, submit to His gracious counsel. He is willing and able to teach all what is necessary to know will it be well for eternity.

David begins Psalm 11 with: In the Lord put I my trust. Poor and wearied warrior in the strife, then you are not alone. The enemy scornfully and in a jeering way laughed and mocked Christ when he said: He trusted on the LORD that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him (Psalm 22:8). Well, though foundations are shaken, the LORD is in His holy temple, His throne is in heaven, He reigns and let the people tremble (Psalm 99:1).

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen