Psalms 11:3

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

If the foundations {H8356} be destroyed {H2040}, what can the righteous {H6662} do {H6466}?

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?

Psalms 11:3 poses a profound question that resonates through all ages: "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" This verse captures a moment of deep societal or personal crisis, questioning the very basis of order, justice, and truth when it seems to crumble around the believer.

Context

Psalm 11 is a psalm of David, expressing his unwavering trust in God amidst advice from friends to flee from his enemies. The preceding verses (Psalm 11:1) establish David's declaration of trust in the LORD. He is being urged to escape "as a bird to your mountain," because "the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart" (Psalm 11:2). Against this backdrop of imminent danger and moral decay, the question in verse 3 arises, highlighting the apparent helplessness of the righteous when the very structures of justice and order are undermined.

Key Themes

  • The Collapse of Order: The "foundations" (Hebrew: shathoth) refer metaphorically to the fundamental principles of society—justice, truth, moral integrity, and law. When these are "destroyed" (Hebrew: haras, to break down or throw down), it signifies a complete breakdown of societal norms and the established order.
  • The Righteous' Dilemma: The verse articulates the sense of vulnerability and despair that can overwhelm those who strive to live righteously when the systems meant to uphold truth and justice fail. It asks, what recourse or protection do they have?
  • God's Unchanging Sovereignty: While the verse poses a question of apparent hopelessness, the implied answer, powerfully revealed in the subsequent verses of Psalm 11, is that God remains sovereign and just. The very next verse, "The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven," immediately shifts the focus to God's ultimate control and divine judgment. This provides the ultimate comfort and answer to the dilemma posed in verse 3.

Linguistic Insights

The term "foundations" (Hebrew: shathoth) is crucial. It does not refer merely to physical structures but to the deep-seated moral, legal, and spiritual underpinnings of a society or even the universe. When these are "destroyed," it implies an attack on the very concept of objective truth and justice. The KJV's phrasing powerfully conveys this sense of absolute collapse.

Related Scriptures

This verse highlights the importance of having an unshakeable foundation. For believers, this foundation is not human institutions but God Himself. As Psalm 18:2 declares, "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer." Even when earthly structures crumble, God remains. The New Testament echoes this truth, reminding us that "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). The righteous find their refuge and strength not in fleeting human systems, but in the eternal character and justice of God.

Practical Application

In a world often marked by moral relativism, political instability, and a disregard for truth, Psalms 11:3 remains profoundly relevant. It speaks to our anxieties when societal norms seem to erode, when justice appears to be perverted, or when fundamental values are attacked. For the righteous, this verse is a call not to despair, but to remember that their hope is fixed on something far greater than earthly foundations. When human systems fail, believers are called to stand firm in their faith, to continue living righteously, and to trust in God's ultimate sovereignty and His promise to judge the earth. Our strength lies in His unchanging nature, not in the stability of the world around us.

Reflection

Psalms 11:3 serves as a powerful reminder that while the world's foundations may shake and crumble, God's throne is eternally secure. The question "what can the righteous do?" is ultimately answered by the steadfast faith that looks beyond immediate circumstances to the Lord in His holy temple. The righteous can do what David did: trust in God, knowing that He sees, He judges, and He will ultimately prevail.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 82:5

    They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

  • 2 Timothy 2:19

    ¶ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

  • Isaiah 58:12

    And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

  • Psalms 75:3

    The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.

  • Acts 4:24

    And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou [art] God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

  • Acts 4:33

    And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

  • 2 Kings 19:13

    Where [is] the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?

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