Psalm 11

[jaybird0827]

To the chief Musician,
A Psalm of David.

Behold here, (1.) David, tempted by his timorous friends to escape to some mountain, and hide himself from the fury of Saul, or of Absalom, as if that were his only safe course now when his enemies were exerting themselves to the uttermost, and all things were in disorder and confusion, ver. 1-3. (2.) David baffling the temptation by a resolute profession of his trust in God, as the observer of all men; as the holy and righteous punisher of the wicked, and friend of the godly, ver. 4-7.

Let no temptation decoy me from my duty. Let no danger deter me from it. While Jehovah, my reconciled God and Father, manageth and judgeth the world, my safest course is to commit myself to him in well-doing. Let the just vengeance of God upon sinners deter my heart from sinning, and his kindness to his people encourage me to holiness in all manner of conversation.
[align=center]John Brown of Haddington[/align]

Psalm 11:1-7

Tune: Culross - attached

1 I in the Lord do put my trust:
how is it then that ye
Say to my soul, Flee, as a bird,
unto your mountain high?

2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow,
their shafts on string they fit,
That those who upright are in heart
they privily may hit.

3 If the foundations be destroy'd,
what hath the righteous done?
4 God in his holy temple is,
in heaven is his throne:

His eyes do see, his eye-lids try
5 men's sons. The just he proves:
But his soul hates the wicked man,
and him that vi'lence loves.

6 Snares, fire and brimstone, furious storms,
on sinners he shall rain:
This, as the portion of their cup,
doth unto them pertain.

7 Because the Lord most righteous doth
in righteousness delight;
And with a pleasant countenance
beholdeth the upright.

-- Scottish Metrical Psalter

Historical Note:

"When John Welsh and his fellow-captives were summoned from their prison in Blackness, on the Firth of Forth, to appear before the Court at Linlithgow, they sang this psalm as they walked by night under guard to their trial. In the old version ..."

"While they were lying in their dungeon, deep and dark, below the level of the sea, they received a letter from Lady Melville, of Culross, one of the best women of her time, bidding them be thankful that they were only 'in the darkness of Blackness, and not in the blackness of darkness."

-- John Ker, The Psalms in History and Biography, Solid Ground Christian Books, p. 27-28

Comment: The Scottish Psalmody lists the names of 2 tunes that it recommends for the singing of Psalm 11. One of the two is "Culross". This makes me wonder if there has not, in the past, been an historical association of the tune with this psalm, in the light of the account above.

 

[Puritanhead]

A precious Psalm...

Thank you sir. A good morning wake-up.

 

[jaybird0827]

Originally posted by Puritanhead
A precious Psalm...

Thank you sir. A good morning wake-up.

Rejoicing with you, brother. It always does my heart good to know that someone benefits from these posts. Have an awesome day.