Interpreting Psalm 11 - Parallelism, Picture, and Pattern.

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Psalm 11

1In Yahweh I take refuge;

How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain;

2 For, behold, the wicked bend the bow,

They make ready their arrow upon the string

To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

3 If the foundations are destroyed,                                 

What can the righteous do?”

 

4 Yahweh is in His holy temple;

Yahweh’s throne is in heaven;

 

His eyes behold;

His eyelids test the sons of men.

5 Yahweh tests the righteous,

But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

6 May He rain snares upon the wicked;

Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.

7 For Yahweh is righteous, He loves righteousness;

The upright will behold His face.

 

I.               Parallelism:

Verse 1: it is an antithetic parallelism because the psalmist declares trust in Yahweh in first colon, while contrasting it with the advice of others urging flight in second colon.

Take refuge-flee as a bird (Contrast)

Yahweh-Your mountain (Contrast)

The righteous (must) take refuge in Yahweh against the counsel of fleeing away.

Verse 2: It is a synthetic parallelism because the first colon introduces the image, the second colon develops it further and the third colon completes the thought with the purpose.

Bend the bow-make ready their arrow-to shoot in darkness (Planned Deliberate, stealthily)

The wicked people in darkness ready to shoot arrow at the upright in heart.

Verse 3: It is a synthetic parallelism because the first colon sets up a condition and the second colon responds with a piercing question which is a rhetorical question.

The wicked suppose that if the foundations are destroyed, the righteous cannot do anything

Verse 4a: It is a synonymous Parallelism because the first colon affirms Yahweh’s presence and rule and the second colon restates the same truth in different words.

In holy temple – In heaven

Yahweh-Yahweh’s throne

Yahweh’s Holy reigns in heaven

Verse 4b: It is a synthetic Parallelism because the second colon not just restates the same truth but adds nuance (not only does He see, He scrutinizes and evaluates).

 

Yahweh’s seeing on sons of men is an active judgment.

Verse 5: It is an antithetic parallelism because the second colon contrast the first colon.

Yahweh’s test (refine) the righteous and hates the wicked

Verse 6: It is a synthetic parallelism because the second colon intensifies the first colon imagery of judgment upon the wicked

The cup of the wicked is filled with Yahweh’s judgment or wrath.

Verse 7: It is a synthetic parallelism because there is progression of thoughts in each colon. The first colon is Yahweh’s nature; the second colon is Yahweh’s delight; and the third colon is Yahweh’s reward to the upright. There is no restatement of the same thought in the following colas.

(The Upright will see His face because Yahweh is righteous and loves righteousness)

Yahweh will reward or reassure the righteous

II.            Pictures:

In verses 1-3, there are picture of Dangers such as-

A.   Flee as a bird to your mountain (Counsel)

B.   the wicked bend the bow

C.   To shoot in darkness

D.   The foundations are destroyed

In Verses 4-6, there are pictures of Yahweh’s rule and His judgment such as-

A.   Yahweh is in His holy temple;

B.   Yahweh’s throne is in heaven;

C.   His eyes behold;

D.   His eyelids test the sons of men

E.    Testing the righteous and hating the wicked

F.    Rain of snares, fire, brimstone, and burning wind

G.   The “cup” of the wicked

In Verse 7, there is a picture of Yahweh’s favor towards the Upright

A.   The upright will behold His face.

 

III.         Patterns:

A.   Stark Contrast between the wicked and the righteous

The Wicked bend the bow (v2), The Upright in heart (v2)

The wicked love violence (v5), The Upright take refuge in Yahweh (v1)

Yahweh Tests the righteous (v5), Yahweh hates the wicked (v5)

The Wicked receive judgment (v6), the Upright behold Yahweh’s face (v7)

B.   The Heavenly scene of Yahweh reigning and earthly scene of wicked’s threat upon the Righteous.

C.   Pattern of human power and Yahweh’s power

 

Main Point (Exegetical): The righteous must take refuge in Yahweh amid the threats of the wicked, for He reigns from His throne- testing the righteous, judging the wicked, and assuring the upright of His face because He Himself is righteous and loves righteousness.

Shorter Version: Since Yahweh reigns by judging the wicked and assuring the upright of His face, Righteous must take refuge in Yahweh.

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