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How Firm a Foundation?
Psalm 11:3 and Selected Verses
Psalm 11:3 and Selected Verses
An old favorite hymn, How Firm A Foundation, has a 4th verse that goes like this: “The soul that hath leaned on Jesus for
repose, I will not, I will not desert to His foes; That soul, through all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no
never forsake.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 11:1-7
Foundations = “A basis, purpose.” From-”to place, apply, appoint, etc.”
Destroyed = “To pull down in pieces, break, beat down, overthrow, ruin”
Righteous = “Just, lawful (man)” From “To be right (in a moral sense)”
One may ask what David meant by the foundations being destroyed.
1. I don’t believe he meant the physical foundations of the universe. In the beginning the Lord laid the foundations of the earth; the heavens were the work of His hands (Hebrews 1:10).
2. I don’t believe David have intended the foundation of faith. Nor one lays any foundation other than by Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11).
3. I believe David was speaking of the civil foundations, those that are under the control of humans. The present age is evil (Gal. 1:4), and the gods of this age blind the unbeliever (2 Cor. 4:4).
Psalm 78:1-7
Joshua lived among a rebellious people, and everybody loves to quote him: "Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve!" And we like that, because it stresses choice, freedom!
But was Joshua being individualistic there? Why don't we finish what he said? "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!" He doesn't say merely, "Well, as for me, I will serve the Lord, and everybody else do what you want to do!" No, he lives what Moses said in Deuteronomy 29. He believes that his household is bound in covenant with God, and as the head of that household, he affirms: "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Paul preached to the Philippian jailer in Acts 16.31, and he said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Paul hadn't yet so much as seen the jailer's family, and he's saying, "Look, you believe, and God lays hold of you and your household."
I’m saying to you this morning that that's what underlies Psalm 78. Promise and responsibility. When God delivers you, when He saves you, He says, "You're mine, and your household is Mine, too." That's why Psalm 78 puts such heavy stress upon this teaching. It isn't just something kind of nice and pretty neat to do. Teaching your household in the ways of the Lord is one of the most fundamental areas of obedience that God calls you to.
Listen to what God says about Abraham in Genesis 18.19:
I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.
God says that this is why He has "known" Abraham. That language is elsewhere used in terms of God's call. To be known by God not only is to be loved by Him but to be called by Him.
When God called you - and I'm speaking especially to you fathers - when God called you, He called you in order that you would command your children and household after you, in order that they keep the way of the LORD.
And so I need to ask you: Is this what your lifestyle and your parenting is all about? Is this the bottom line for you? Or is "the bottom line" the bottom line?
It doesn't matter how many things you do for your children. They may be all very good things. But if you don't do this - indeed, if this isn't at the heart and center of everything - then all that other stuff means nothing. You're just teaching your child to gain the world but lose his soul.
When you stand before Him, and you will, God isn't going to ask you if you managed to secure a $100 grand a year career for your child.
But He is going to ask you if you nurtured your child in the fear of the Lord.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 11:1-7
Foundations = “A basis, purpose.” From-”to place, apply, appoint, etc.”
Destroyed = “To pull down in pieces, break, beat down, overthrow, ruin”
Righteous = “Just, lawful (man)” From “To be right (in a moral sense)”
One may ask what David meant by the foundations being destroyed.
1. I don’t believe he meant the physical foundations of the universe. In the beginning the Lord laid the foundations of the earth; the heavens were the work of His hands (Hebrews 1:10).
2. I don’t believe David have intended the foundation of faith. Nor one lays any foundation other than by Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11).
3. I believe David was speaking of the civil foundations, those that are under the control of humans. The present age is evil (Gal. 1:4), and the gods of this age blind the unbeliever (2 Cor. 4:4).
Psalm 78:1-7
Joshua lived among a rebellious people, and everybody loves to quote him: "Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve!" And we like that, because it stresses choice, freedom!
But was Joshua being individualistic there? Why don't we finish what he said? "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!" He doesn't say merely, "Well, as for me, I will serve the Lord, and everybody else do what you want to do!" No, he lives what Moses said in Deuteronomy 29. He believes that his household is bound in covenant with God, and as the head of that household, he affirms: "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Paul preached to the Philippian jailer in Acts 16.31, and he said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Paul hadn't yet so much as seen the jailer's family, and he's saying, "Look, you believe, and God lays hold of you and your household."
I’m saying to you this morning that that's what underlies Psalm 78. Promise and responsibility. When God delivers you, when He saves you, He says, "You're mine, and your household is Mine, too." That's why Psalm 78 puts such heavy stress upon this teaching. It isn't just something kind of nice and pretty neat to do. Teaching your household in the ways of the Lord is one of the most fundamental areas of obedience that God calls you to.
Listen to what God says about Abraham in Genesis 18.19:
I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.
God says that this is why He has "known" Abraham. That language is elsewhere used in terms of God's call. To be known by God not only is to be loved by Him but to be called by Him.
When God called you - and I'm speaking especially to you fathers - when God called you, He called you in order that you would command your children and household after you, in order that they keep the way of the LORD.
And so I need to ask you: Is this what your lifestyle and your parenting is all about? Is this the bottom line for you? Or is "the bottom line" the bottom line?
It doesn't matter how many things you do for your children. They may be all very good things. But if you don't do this - indeed, if this isn't at the heart and center of everything - then all that other stuff means nothing. You're just teaching your child to gain the world but lose his soul.
When you stand before Him, and you will, God isn't going to ask you if you managed to secure a $100 grand a year career for your child.
But He is going to ask you if you nurtured your child in the fear of the Lord.