If the Foundations are Destroyed . . .

What the Righteous Can Do 

Here is a Psalm to encourage any of the people of God who may be downcast from time to time. . .

Psalm 11 English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

To the choirmaster. Of David.

In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
    “Flee like a bird to your mountain,
for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
    they have fitted their arrow to the string
    to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
if the foundations are destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”

The Lord is in his holy temple;
    the Lord's throne is in heaven;
    his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

The Lord tests the righteous,
    but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

Let him rain coals on the wicked;
    fire and sulphur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
    the upright shall behold his face.

As the power of evil appears to grow throughout the West in general and our own country in particular, we are driven to cry out, "if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

This question is often fast-followed by discouragement, even despair.  In turn, this path leads to withdrawal or to a surrender to Unbelief.  The antidote to such discouragement is to read on, for the Lord is in his holy temple, his heavenly throne is inviolate, and the Judge of all the earth tests all mankind.


We experience the chastening of God, as a father would chasten, correct, and guide his children.  Sometimes that can be a very painful experience. Nevertheless the promise remains true: "the Lord is righteous, he loves righteous deeds, and the upright (those who love and reverence him) shall behold his face.  They are ushered into his presence.

But the wicked and their ways surround us on every hand.  It is tempting to respond in discouragement and fear.  But there are more lines to the equation: "the Lord tests the righteous, and his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.  Let him rain coals upon the wicked; fire and sulphur and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup."

What then can the righteous do?  They can believe in these things, which are infallible and certain.