We Will Never Forget … We Will Remember
This morning my Bible reading took me to Psalm 11, and as I
read I could not help but think how this passage was appropriate for this day.
On September 11, 2001, our nation was attacked by men, who embraced a militant
religion and ideology, that would seek to destroy our nation. Nearly 3000
individuals lost their lives in that attack – nearly 3000 families were forever
changed through that loss. The pervasive
fear that has infringed on so many lives can only find respite in the character
and promises of God.
As David, the human author of this Psalm, presents his
opening thoughts about his own situation, he states that the Lord is our
refuge. Fleeing, giving up, or giving in, are not viable options. He clings to his confidence that God is his
place of safety. Today, we have that same hope – God is the refuge of all those
who have placed their trust in Him.
David then asks a pointed question that is rendered thusly
in an ESV footnote, “The foundations will be destroyed, what has the righteous
done?” Today the very foundations of our
nation are under attack, and sadly these attacks are coming from within. And
yet the question rings – “What will the righteous do … what has the righteous
done?” It is not time for retreat, but
time to move forward in defense of this great nation and the ideology that we
all hold dear.
Yet God through the
pen of David, God calls us to remember key truths about Himself:
1.
God is in His holy temple. He has not abdicated
His righteous rule. This causes us to
remember that regardless of who is in the White House – God is in His Temple,
lovingly and sovereignly directing the events of human history. He will show His glory no matter what
happens.
2.
He tests the righteous, but He punishes the
wicked. The testing of the righteous is current and measured. Its sole purpose is that we might shine more
brightly in a world without hope. In my view, this mentioned punishment is
largely future. God is longsuffering, but His holiness will demand that he deal
with sin[1]
on a personal level and on a national level.
The application is that we must live and behave in this
current culture as men and women who will one day see our Lord face to face and
practice His presence as we walk through this world.
May we never forget the sacrifices of 9/11 and may we always
remember that God is a refuge for those who trust in Him.
[1] Sin
has been defined as anything we think, say, or do that breaks God’s law as
revealed in the Bible.
