Track #7: “The Sheltering Song”

The following Quiet Time is from a series called “Play, Pause, Pray” by Rolan Monje who is an incredible teacher in our fellowship of churches.

Rolan’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rolanmonjebooks
Rocky Mountain School of Ministry and Theology: https://www.rmsmt.org/

▶ PLAY

• Read Psalm 11 (NET). Here is a song about feeling threatened, and the response is one of two: wings of flight or waiting in faith.

• Overall, the song reminds us to place our confidence in God however much we are “under attack.”

Psalm 11

For the music director, by David.

1 In the Lord I have taken shelter.
How can you say to me,
“Flee to a mountain like a bird.
2 For look, the wicked prepare their bows,
they put their arrows on the strings,
to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.
3 When the foundations are destroyed,
what can the godly accomplish?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes watch;
his eyes examine all people.
5 The Lord approves of the godly,
but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.
6 May he rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked!
A whirlwind is what they deserve.
7 Certainly the Lord is just;
he rewards godly deeds.
The upright will experience his favor.

⏸ PAUSE

• “I have taken shelter…” Now that’s something we often hear about nowadays, with many millions locked down and “sheltering” at home. Here, the poet sees God as his “shelter” (11:1, “refuge” in the NIV). This is so relevant as everyone these days tries to seek protection against disease.

• Let’s talk about the heart of the psalm: At the center of the poem(v.4) is a sharp picture of God. He is in heaven enthroned, a sight to behold. In Hebrew, the word for “temple” can also mean “palace.” The poetic image is one of power and supremacy. His authority cannot be questioned. Because he examines all (v.4b), he can prove that the godly are genuine, and he also sees through the schemes of the wicked (v.5). The psalms are very consistent on this concept.

• Verse 6 may trouble you. Is he really asking God to hurt the wicked? As always, the psalmists understand that God is a just God. Therefore, they are asking the Lord to do only what he has declared beforehand, that he will eventually deal with evil and wrongdoing. Besides, the psalmists are not taking vengeance themselves; they leave vindication to the Lord.

• God will never allow injustice to reign forever. So, if your LSS (Last Song Syndrome) is all about how you’ve been hurt and treated badly, think deeply on the lyrics of this psalm. We may not be able to satisfy our desire to get even, but then we need to ask what really matters in the end. We do not hold our life in our hands. And we have already been promised (v.7): He rewards godly deeds and the upright will experience his favor.

• The psalms tell us that seeing God is crucial in any crisis. Even the best of us can get caught up in the small details, the unfamiliar moments that dampen our spirits. But fighting for that heavenly perspective fosters big-picture thinking. It allows you to find silver linings and may even boost your serotonin!

# PRAY

• Take time to tell God about things that “threaten” you. As you pray, hold on to the vision of God as shelter and judge.

Let’s talk it over!

What about today’s devotional time helped you out?! Comment below

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