I was meditating on Ps. 11 recently.  Verse 3 visualize my experience as I watch nightly news.  “The foundations of law and order have collapsed.  What can the righteous do?”   In this Psalm, David  affirms his faith in a righteous, unchanging God.  “Even though the world appears hopelessly chaotic, both the godly and the wicked can count on God’s justice.  The godly can depend on him as a refuge and shelter” (NLT Study Bible). 

I  want to encourage younger men, committed to follow Jesus, in their concern for their families in the midst of our chaotic, changing world.  Make the commitment expressed by David, “I trust in the Lord for protection” (v. 1).  We can be assured of our trust in an unchanging God, who laid the very foundations of the world.  “In ages past you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands” (Ps. 102:25).  The creative order will change, but not our unchanging God. “Even they will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing.  You will change them like a garment and they will fade away” (Ps 102:26). 

God remains the same.  He never changes.  This should give us absolute confidence in the future of our children and grandchildren.  I personally take great comfort in these verses. “But you are always the same; your years never end.  The children of your people will live in security.  Their children’s children will thrive in your presence” (Ps 102:27-28).

You could be asking, as you listen to the dominant narrative of our day, why should I put my trust in the Lord.  “So why do you say to me, ‘Fly to the mountains for safety!'”  (Ps 11:1). It sounds like the phrase, “Head for the hills!”  Many men  are tempted to abandon responsibility for being protector and exemplar of their families and heading for the hills. It sure can be tempting, when those who are opposed to the sovereignty of God continue to shoot their arrows at us, often from the shadows. “The wicked are stringing their bows and setting their arrows in the bowstrings.  They shoot from the shadows at those who do right” (Ps 11:2)  

Habakkuk lamented the loss of law and order, “Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.  The wicked hem in the righteous, so the justice is perverted” (Hab 1:4).  But the Psalmist assures us, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you” (Ps 89:14).  But David acknowledges, “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everything closely, examining everyone on earth” (Ps 11:4). 

After Job’s long lament before God in which he did not get any satisfactory answers from his three friends, God finally replied to Job from the whirlwind. “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?  Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you and you must answer them.  ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Tell me, if you know so much.  Do you know how its dimensions were determined and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? (Job 38:1-7).  Job replied, “I was talking about things I did not understand, things for too wonderful for me …. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance” (Job 42:3 & 6).

Men, don’t let “the talking heads” cause you to wonder if God is still on his throne.  Remember, “For the Lord is righteous and he loves justice.  Those who do what is right will see his face” (Ps 11:7)