I Have Taken Refuge in the LORD (Psalm 11:1–7)

 I Have Taken Refuge in the LORD (Psalm 11:1–7)    

What is our true refuge? This world offers many so-called refuges, but most of them lead to destruction. They are like wolves in sheep’s clothing—sweet as honey and alluring, but in the end, they bring ruin. That’s why there is no refuge apart from the LORD Almighty. God is truth, and in Him there is no falsehood. He is also full of mercy and compassion, slow to anger, and abounding in grace and love.

So when anyone comes before Him—even if that person is like a "leper" in spirit—He washes them, makes them clean, and opens the gates of heaven to grant them eternal life. This is because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, shed His blood and died in our place to fully pay for the wages of sin.

Everyone who comes to Jesus finds rest from their labor and heavy burdens (Matthew 11:28).

In Psalm 11, David confesses that the LORD Almighty is his refuge.

A psalm of David. In the LORD I take refuge. 1 In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain. 2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:1–3)

I Am Your Shield and Your Very Great Reward

The psalmist sought refuge in the LORD, because the LORD was his only true shelter. The word for refuge—mechseh—means an unshakable fortress, a picture of divine protection. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Abraham once fought against the coalition of kings led by Kedorlaomer to rescue his nephew Lot (Genesis 14). He was victorious, but the aftermath was full of uncertainty. He now had more enemies, and Lot still remained in Sodom. Abraham had no heir.

At that moment, God appeared to him and gave him a promise—a Word of eternal truth:

"After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

What did it mean for God to be Abraham’s shield and reward? Ultimately, Abraham became the father of faith by faith alone. He also became, in the flesh, an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1), and through him, all nations on earth are blessed (Genesis 12:2).

He was childless until the age of 75. He came from a background of idol worship, yet he followed God’s promise to the unfamiliar land of Canaan, pitched a tent there, and lived surrounded by enemies (Joshua 24:2). But God became his shield. Because of God’s protection, Abraham was safe from his enemies and became a channel of heavenly blessing. Whoever blessed him was blessed, and whoever cursed him was cursed (Genesis 12:3).

When he went down to Egypt during a famine, the king took interest in his wife Sarah’s beauty and brought her into his palace (Genesis 12:15). Yet God afflicted Pharaoh with serious diseases and commanded him to return Sarah to Abraham (Genesis 12:17). Even in Abraham’s weakness, God watched over and protected him.

Abraham died without seeing the fulfillment of all God’s promises in this life (Hebrews 11:39), but God prepared for him a city in heaven (Hebrews 11:10). Abraham held onto God’s Word, obeyed by faith, and God protected him from his enemies and gave him an eternal inheritance—a city made by God’s own hands.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

The LORD God, David’s Refuge

The author of Psalm 11 is David. He struck down Goliath, the Philistine champion, with a sling and a stone and saved Israel from danger (1 Samuel 17:48–51). He served under King Saul and won many victories. The people sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7).

Then Saul’s jealousy exploded, and he became obsessed with killing David. For about ten years, David became a fugitive—fleeing into deserts and even into Philistine territory. Yet David had done nothing wrong to deserve this. He was unjustly hunted like prey. He could’ve complained to God.

But in that place of sorrow, David turned to the LORD, his only place of rest and safety. In reality, there is no true refuge apart from God. Drugs, alcohol, achievements, wealth, or power—these are fleeting.

David had chances to kill Saul, but he refused. Because vengeance was not his refuge—the LORD was.

Everything Exists Through God

Why is God alone our refuge? Because we came from Him and will return to Him. Nothing exists apart from Him. God created humanity in His own image. Even microscopic creatures have a purpose. How much more those made in God’s image?

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). This means He loves and protects what He has made.

The universe operates under gravity, electromagnetism, and nuclear forces. If any one of them fails, everything collapses. What holds them together?

Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians:

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16–17)

God created humans in His image for relationship. All creation obeys God in fear and trembling—except for humans, who rebelled after Adam’s fall. Though God sees the evil intentions in human hearts (Genesis 6:5), He patiently waits for people to return to Him, the only true place of rest and safety.

The Prodigal Son’s Return (Luke 15)

Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son. The younger son took his share of the inheritance, went to a distant land, and wasted everything on wild living. When the money ran out, everyone abandoned him. He was so hungry he longed to eat pig food, but no one gave him any (Luke 15:16).

Then he remembered the safety and abundance in his father’s house. He returned, asking to be treated as a hired servant. But while he was still a long way off, the father ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him. He gave him a new robe, sandals, a ring, and threw a feast. The father rejoiced greatly because the son who was lost had returned.

Clearly, wealth isn’t the true refuge. After wandering far, the son finally returned to the only real refuge: his father’s house.

Enemies Whisper and Deceive

David sought refuge in the LORD. He stayed under God’s guidance and protection. But so-called friends came with deceptive whispers. Verses 1b–3 of Psalm 11 quote their words, and English Bibles mark them with quotation marks:

“Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Even while in hiding, David found refuge in the LORD Almighty. But the enemy urged him to flee elsewhere—essentially suggesting he abandon God.

This temptation was similar to what Israel faced when they built a golden calf while Moses delayed on Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:1–8).

Because God is invisible, the temptation to seek visible solutions can feel convincing. The devil tempted Jesus, after 40 days of fasting, to turn stones into bread (Matthew 4:3). Financial pressure, illness, or worldly passion can pull people away from God.

The whisper, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” is a terrifying one. It plants doubt and despair, as if trusting in God might end in disappointment.

Paul spoke similarly in 1 Corinthians:

“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith... your faith is futile; you are still in your sins... If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17, 19)

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)

He died on a cross in shame and burden of sin and humiliation like a criminal and was buried on a cold tomb. But this is not the end of the story. On the third day, He was risen from the dead, conquering death and bringing the lost into the paradise, the eternal kingdom of heaven.

The Lord is in His holy temple

4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. 5 The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. 6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. 7 For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (Psalm 11:4-7)

David is unshaken in response to others' advice. He saw that the Lord God is in His holy temple, and His throne is in heaven. The ancestors of faith, Moses and the prophets looked toward the kingdom of God and were confident in heart. John, on the island of Patmos, witnessed the majesty, glory, and power of the heavenly throne in a vision:

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. (Revelation 4:2-5)

David said that God's eyes examine mankind from His throne in heaven. The Lord examines the righteous, but He hates the wicked and those who love violence with a passion. God will judge everyone according to what they have done, whether good or evil (cf. Romans 2:6). He knows everything and sees everything. Especially, He protects and watches over the righteous whom He has chosen. But He does not acknowledge the way of the wicked.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1:6)

He will rain fiery coals, burning sulfur, and a scorching wind upon the wicked—that will be the portion in their cup, the bitter fruit of their deeds. The Lord is righteous and loves justice. The upright will see His face. This means we can stand before God with confidence, not shrinking back (cf. Hebrews 10:39).

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. (Psalm 1:3-4)

The IRS doesn’t exist just for show. If taxes are unpaid, they will find out and enforce collection. How much more before the Creator God, who made and governs all things—what could anyone hide? Absolutely nothing.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13).

Our only refuge is in the Lord God. By the merit of the blood of Jesus Christ, God leads anyone who believes into His rest. Amen!

August 3, 2025
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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.