Psalm 9: Spurgeon's Insights

In Psalm 11, Charles Spurgeon provides a clear exposition of how a 
believer must confront the temptation of spiritual cowardice and 
distrust in God. His analysis reveals several primary insights:

First, Spurgeon identifies the call to "Flee as a bird to your mountain" 
as a subtle temptation to distrust Jehovah. Satan often uses the 
well-meaning advice of close friends, operating under plausible logic, 
to persuade believers to abandon their post of duty out of fear. Fleeing 
in the face of danger or persecution amounts to a denial of faith and an 
admission of personal cowardice.

Second, in response to the despairing question, "If the foundations be 
destroyed, what can the righteous do?", Spurgeon offers the 
counter-question, "What cannot they do?" He asserts that faith knows no 
impossibility, for when prayer engages God on behalf of the believer, no 
earthly ruin or breakdown of societal justice can justify retreat. Faith 
is a martial grace that knows how to fight and conquer, but knows not 
how to flee.

Third, Spurgeon highlights the location and nature of God as the true 
foundation of unflinching courage. Because the Lord is in His holy 
temple and His throne is in heaven, He is neither distant nor 
indifferent. His sovereign reign over all events guarantees that no plot 
of the wicked can bypass His notice or defeat His purpose. Furthermore, 
God's intense, narrow inspection of humanity—symbolized by His eyelids 
trying the children of men—insures the righteous that their trials are 
fully known and measured by Him.

Fourth, Spurgeon reframes affliction as a token of divine love rather 
than abandonment. God tries the righteous to refine them, using trials 
as the very channel to sweeten promises, vitalize prayer, and produce 
humility. To flee from trial is to flee from a divinely intended blessing.

Fifth, Spurgeon contrasts the temporary power of the wicked with their 
terrifying end. God hates the lover of violence, and their portion will 
ultimately be a fiery judgment of divine wrath. Recognizing the 
horrifying inheritance awaiting impenitent sinners converts any fear of 
human persecution into pity for their eternal state and contempt for 
their temporary threats.

Finally, Spurgeon emphasizes that the righteous Lord inherently loves 
righteousness and looks upon the upright with favor and delight. Because 
God countenances the upright, believers have no need to resort to carnal 
expedients, compromise, or concealment of their faith. The ultimate 
directive for the Christian in times of peril is not retreat, but bold 
advancement in the name of the Lord of hosts.

Spurgeon, Treasury of David, Published in 1869-1885; public domain.

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Good News †

Christ paid our entire sin debt to God on the cross (Colossians 2:14), 
and God gave absolute proof of this by raising Him from the dead (Romans 
1:4). God now pardons our sins without compromising His own 
righteousness (Romans 3:26), saving us from His coming judgment (1 
Thessalonians 1:10). This is a completely free gift reserved for those 
who trust in Christ (Romans 6:23). Believe in your heart and call out to 
the Lord to be saved (Romans 10:9-13):

How to be saved: christrose.news/salvation