What Can the Righteous Do?

October 13, 2009 Posted by Roger Overton

Twice a month my church gathers for Monday night prayer. This week one of the elders (Tim) led us through a wonderful script rooted in Psalm 11. It’s so good I decided to steal it and adapt it to a blog post

11:1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 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;
3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Where do we run in times of trouble? What can we do?

1) Psalm 91 – Take Refuge in the Lord

Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
(more)

See the hymn He Hideth My Soul

2) Hebrews 9:22-28 Remember that the Lord dwells in His holy temple

Heb 9: 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
(more)

See the hymn Be Thou My Vision

4) Psalm 139:1-18 Know that God sees all our situations

139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
(more)

5) James 1:2-4 Recognize that God tests His children

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

6) Psalm 37:1-17 Recognize that God hates the wicked & the violent

Psalm 37:10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.
12 The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
(more)

7) Psalm 37:18-22 Remember that God will bring vengeance on the wicked

Psalm 37:20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish-like smoke they vanish away.
(more)

8 ) Psalm 37:37-40 Rest in knowing that God is righteous & loves righteous deeds

Psalm 37:39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
(more)

9) Revelation 20:11-21:7 Look forward to beholding His face

Rev 21: 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
(more)

See the hymn When We See Christ