If The Foundations Are Destroyed

Introduction

I truly love the Word of God and God’s people. And I truly love presenting the Word of God to God’s people. And I’m thankful for the opportunity and the privilege I have to do that here this morning. And I’ll be doubly blessed today, this evening, Lord willing, in their 5 o’clock service, I’ll be speaking at the Claremont Church. And so I look forward to being with those brethren. And if you happen to be on that side of town or inclined to be on that side of town, you’d be welcome to be with them in their 5 o’clock service this evening. But this morning, I want to draw your attention to the 11th Psalm. Chris read for us Psalm 46 and 47 before the lesson, and we will close our lesson with the thoughts from there.

But I want to begin in Psalm 11. And so you can get a head start by turning with us to the 11th Psalm. But before we look at that 11th Psalm, I want to ask you a question. Can you remember, if you’ve flown before, do you remember the first time you ever took a commercial flight? You were probably a little nervous. And that nervousness wasn’t made better when the flight attendants gave that safety announcement that they always give at the beginning. Here’s what you do when the worst thing possible happens. You remember the basic tenets of that safety announcement. The worst thing happens and we lose oxygen, which by the way is kind of important. We have something that’s going to happening. The mask will fall down, and you were instructed what to do with that mask.

And by the way, they didn’t have to tell me to put mine on first before I help somebody else. That was going to happen anyway. But if the worst case scenario happens, your seat will be used as a flotation device. I never held out much hope for that.

I’m flying from Birmingham to Dallas. I don’t think the odds are too great we’re going to crash in a pond. And I need that flotation device. But they tell you again, if the worst case scenario happens, here’s what you do. And although we usually now, if you’ve flown multiple times, you probably ignore that safety announcement, that’s good information. Because we need to know what to do when the worst thing happens. Well, is there a spiritual application to that? What do we do as children of God, of people who have put our faith and trust in God? What do we do in the worst case scenario? What do we do when the worst thing happens? How do we react? How does the child of God respond? If, as David is going to ask in Psalm 11, if the foundations are destroyed, what shall the righteous do?

It is believed, we can’t prove it, but it is believed by many that David wrote Psalm 11 at a very dark time in his life. It’s interesting, isn’t it, that many of the Psalms and the Psalms of David were written at the dark periods of his life, some of them at the dark spiritual moments of his life, after his devastating sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. But many of the earlier Psalms were written when he was being pursued by Saul. Think about the circumstances of David’s early tragedy. He had been anointed king. You are going to be the king of Israel, the king of God’s chosen people. But there’s a couple problems. Number one is there’s already a king. And he’s now ungodly. And he now hates you and wants you dead.

And so what do you do, David, when the worst thing happens? When your life is falling apart, what do you do? David is asked that question and rhetorically asked that question himself. Will you read Psalm 11 with me as we begin our study? In the Lord I put my trust. There’s our first hint, what David’s going to do. In the Lord, I put my trust. How can you say to my soul, flee as a bird to your mountain? Let’s pause there. Was that some advice that maybe some of David’s counselors and friends had given him? David, just run away. Just flee Israel and go somewhere else. Start a new life somewhere else in another kingdom. Maybe they were boosting them up a little bit. Maybe you can be a king of a different country.

Or even if that’s not a possibility, just run away. Forsake, and in so doing, forsake your responsibilities and God giving obligations. But how can you say, David says, flee as a bird to a mountain? For look, the wicked bend their bow. They make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? What am I, David is asking, as a righteous godly man? What am I to do when the worst case scenario happens? My own nation, represented by their king and its army, have forsaken God and want me dead. When I am to be their king.

The Lord test the righteous, but the wicked and the ones who love violence, his soul hates. Upon the wicked, he will rain coals. Fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup, for the Lord is righteous. He loves righteousness, his countenance beholds the upright. If the foundations are to be destroyed, and they are right now, David said, what will the righteous do? And he answers that question by simply saying, God. God’s in heaven. And God reigns on his throne. That’s the answer for what the righteous will do when the foundations are destroyed. Do you ever feel like David? Do you ever feel like the foundations are destroyed? Do you ever feel like you’re on that airplane and it’s not just a routine safety message, but the worst case scenario is happening.

1. What If the Foundations of Society Fall

We’re going down. What do I do now? Let’s look at David’s answer and apply it to our own scenarios. What if the foundations of society fall? What do we do as Christians? What if things just get so bad in the world around us that it’s almost unrecognizable to people who want to live in a peaceful, godly, moral society? It’s about this time in sermons that preachers used to quote statistics to kind of shock the audience. Statistics like 14 million crimes are committed each year, that the birth rate of illegitimate children has increased in recent years 400 percent. And that every day in this country over 4,000 babies are murdered. But you know, we don’t have to do that anymore. We don’t have to quote statistics to shock you into the reality of how bad society is.

Number one, listen to the news, and number two, go to Walmart. You don’t need me to tell you how bad things are. You know that. And you may be past being shocked by that, but you’re not past being depressed by that, being hurt by that and troubled by that and questioning as David did. What do I do? If the foundations are destroyed, what do I as a righteous person do? Turn with me, if you will, to Joshua chapter 24, and take you to familiar, one of the most familiar statements in all of the Old Testament in Joshua chapter 24. Joshua, like his predecessor Moses, gives kind of a farewell delivery to the people of God. His work is done, he’s turning it over to them and what will be the next generation.

And what are they to do? Joshua chapter 24. You know where I’m going. Joshua 24, verses 14 and 15. Joshua presents that famous question before them. Are you with me? Joshua 24, verse 14. Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth, and put away the gods which your father served on the other side of the Jordan River in Egypt. Serve the Lord. And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. Whether the gods which your father served on the other side of the river or the gods of the Amorites, in whose lands you dwell, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Choose you this day whom you will serve. I don’t think Joshua is really putting before them those two equal options. I don’t think Joshua is saying, you choose. You choose you whether you want to serve those gods of Egypt or if the gods of the people who live here in the land of Canaan. You know, if you want to serve them, serve them. But if you want to serve God, serve God. I don’t think Joshua’s really putting a choice before them. That one is as good as another, or that one was even a legitimate choice. We understand what Joshua was saying. Joshua’s saying, do you see how ridiculous that choice is? That’s not a choice at all. But what he’s saying is, you still have to choose.

You still have to make a decision. You still have to choose aside, decide, and stand by that choice. Make up your minds, he says.

And my family is the only one, we choose God. And so that’s where we start. What if all society is barreling toward the devil’s hell? What do we do? I choose God.

I will serve him. I’ll try to influence, evangelize, teach, but to the great extent I have little control over this society. But for me and my house, I know what we’re going to do. No matter what else. Now that doesn’t mean we don’t shed a tear over the downfall of our society, but I do realize that that society, regardless of how godless it becomes, has no power over me. I have little power over it, but it has no power over me. I can serve God if nobody else will. Something else I can do is talked about by Paul in the New Testament. Look in the book of Philippians, chapter 2. What do I do when this world becomes so godless? God forsaken and dark? I choose God.

I’ll serve Him. If nobody else will, I will. And I’ll do this. In the book of Philippians, Paul is encouraging these Christians who equally lived in a godless society, who were equally disturbed and troubled by that fact. And so what does he tell them? Let’s back up to Philippians 2 verse 14. Let’s begin in our reading. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world. Now, if we combine those two charges, those two passages, Joshua’s charge to Paul’s charge here, if we decide, even if everybody takes a different choice, if we decide to stand with and serve God, we will shine as lights in the world.

And though we might choose circumstances contrary, we recognize that the darker our world becomes, the more needed our light is.

2. When the Foundation of Government Falls

Blessing of a flashlight, a light that only now really has a purpose and a benefit to shine and to cut through that darkness. And so, yes, I wish the world was brighter and more godly. But in the midst of this darkness, I can see an opportunity. That now my light is needed. More so than ever. I need to let my light so shine before men that they may see and glorify my Father who is in heaven. What do we do when the foundation of government falls? That’s what was happening to David. That may be what’s happening to us. As Saul’s Israel and our America becomes further and further away from what God would intend. People to whom He has entrusted the right of rule and government.

And public and moral corruption in our leaders becomes the norm. And the passing of increasing laws that not only encourage unrighteousness but discourage righteousness.

The answer that Peter gave under similar circumstances. In Acts chapter 4 and 5, he says, we ought to obey God rather than men. In fact, that question was already answered when we accepted Joshua’s challenged, didn’t it? I’ve chosen who I will serve. And so whatever becomes, I will serve God. That big decision now makes all of the lesser decisions for me. I will serve God. I will obey God rather than men. And so no matter what, that’s the choice that I’ve made. But notice with me in the book of 1 Peter, chapter 2. Maybe it’s no coincidence that the same Peter who’s boldly and brashly said, I’ll obey God rather than men, and by men he meant the governments of men, is the same inspired Peter who said these words, 1 Peter chapter 2.

Beginning in verse 13, he says, Therefore submit yourself to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake. Now wait a minute, Peter. You were the one who defiantly said, in fact, if you turn back, we won’t, if you turn back to Acts chapter 4 and 5, Peter is just in your face in that moment. They tell Peter, don’t do this, don’t do that, and don’t do that. And what does Peter and the apostles turn around and do? This, that, and that. Right in front of them. And says, we ought to obey God rather than man’s ruling and government. And now Paul, the same Peter says, submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme or governors, or to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

Do I do both? Yes. Yes. And we understand and can easily reconcile what might to some be a seemingly contradiction there. I’m going to submit until I can. And then I won’t. And like Peter in the first century, I might be called upon to do both at the same time. To submit where and when I can submit, and obey God rather than men when I must.

That by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, as free and yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond servants of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king.

And so that’s what I’m going to do when the foundation of government falls. I’m going to submit until I can. And I am always going to have the words of my Lord ringing in my ear. Remember what Jesus said before Pilate in John chapter 18, verse 36? My kingdom is not of this world. My kingdom is not of this world. I’m going to remember that mantra. And it’s going to become my mantra. When society and government fails, not just me, but more importantly, fails God, I’m going to remember I’m a part of his kingdom, and his kingdom’s not of this world. That changes my allegiance and changes my view of everything. Not just government, not just society, but everything that takes place in this world. That’s what the righteous will do.

The foundations of government fall.

3. What If My Life Begins to Fall Apart

But what if my address and my home and my life begins to fall apart?

What if a loved one dies and alters my life so drastically? What if one visit to the doctor’s office and his diagnosis and prognosis crumbles my foundation? What if my marriage is falling apart? What if my heart is so broken by my children and their choices in life? What do I do when my life crumbles? Well, I listen to the strange words of James in James chapter one. And let’s just be honest, they’re strange. At first glance, at least. And then they become so beautiful and comforting and encouraging. But James says, you know this verse, James 1, verse 2, my brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. And let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete and lacking nothing.

Count it all joy. At first glance, we recoil and get angry at that advice. Count it all joy? That seems to be a statement born in ignorance. You don’t understand trials if you can say that. But James goes on to say and say it’s not a statement out of ignorance. It’s stated that out of deep, profound knowledge. Knowing is the very next word. Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, some translations say.

And it might just make me a better person and a better Christian? And then I listen to the words of the wise man in the book of Proverbs, chapter 3, and in verse 5. You remember this proverb? Lean not on your own understanding? There might be just something I don’t know and that I don’t understand. And if I seek to find my own man-made answers for the troubles and the difficulties of life, in other words, if I seek to follow the wise man’s advice and I try to lean upon my own understanding, it might cause my faith to be shaken rather than strengthened. But I’ll lean not on my own understanding. The word is faith. I’ll trust God. And then I’ll remember Paul’s statement of blessings of those who are in Christ even in the darkest of times, in Romans chapter 8 and in verse 35, Paul says, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall tribulation or distress our persecution or famine or nakedness or peril? Our sword, may we be so bold to add to Paul’s list? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall the death of a loved one? Shall a fatal diagnosis from my doctor? Shall a ruined marriage, unfaithful children, separate us from the love of Christ? The resounding answer is no. No matter what, no matter the foundations of society crumble far worse than they even are now. Though the foundations of our government continue to fall, and whatever devastating things you may face in your own personal life? Remember the psalmist says, God is on his holy throne, and he reigns from heaven above? And in him I’ll put my trust and my faith. The foundations be destroyed?

Conclusion

What shall the righteous do? And David’s answer was simply God, God is on the throne. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll know and trust that. What’s happening in your life? Is it crumbling? Or is it even going good at the time? Put your trust and your faith in that which can never be shaken or crumble or fall apart. And that is God is on his throne.

Would you rededicate your faith in him this morning? If you need to become a Christian this morning and attach your anchor to the only thing that will not disappoint you and crumble and fall around you. Or whether you’ve done that in the past, but the circumstances of life or of your life have caused your faith to waver, why not choose God on his holy throne today? Can we help you in that? Can we help you as you answer God’s gospel call as together we stand and as we sing?