"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Psalm 11:3

In the Old Testament Book of Nehemiah, Israel pulled together to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The walls were necessary to make the city and its citizens safe from their enemies. Interestingly, there were wolves in sheep’s clothing already in the land who offered to help in the building, but the faithful boldly said, -"You have no part in building the house of God."

Less than a century earlier, the walls were breached and the city was conquered by the Kingdom of Babylon. The Israelites had fallen into sin so God sent prophets to them with the message that if they repented He would spare them, but if they continued in rebellion He would raise up a nation to conquer them and take them into captivity. The fact that the wall was torn down shows that the spiritual wall, or hedge of divine protection had already been lifted leaving them vulnerable.

In another Old Testament story we learn what happens when a hedge of divine protection is lifted from a person. When God asked Satan if he had noticed how faithful Job was, the devil replied, -"Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face."

One thing is evident from Satan’s statement - he already knew all about Job. Obviously he had seen how faithful Job was and how God had blessed him. He had searched thoroughly for a way into Job’s life to attack him but found that he was protected by a divine wall. Satan saw that Job was protected "on every side."

The context of today’s text is David’s flight from King Saul. In verse one David says that he must flee as a bird to the mountains and take refuge in God. In his rebellion against God, Saul had ordered the faithful Priests killed. The Priests were the keepers of knowledge and truth and the ministers of the Divine worship of God.

David recognized that the foundations of worship were under attack and being thrown down in the land. But David was comforted by the truth that God’s true Throne was in Heaven, that He still ruled from His Heavenly Temple and nothing was escaping His notice saying, -"His eyes behold."

The Psalm concludes with David’s understanding that God hates the wicked and loves the righteous, -"And the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain snares, fire and brimstone." David understood that he was only suffering a trial to test him, -"The Lord tests the righteous." But David took refuge in the Lord and trusted in God’s divine hedge.