Psalm 11:1 In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to me,  “Flee like a bird to the mountains; 2 for look, the wicked bend the bow,  they have fitted their arrow to the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4 The LORD is in his holy temple.

As is often the case, it would appear David is in trouble. His enemies “bend the bow, they have fitted their arrow to the string…”. In other words, they are poised to defeat David and his people. Reading the psalm it seems to me he is addressing these words to someone on the inside, perhaps one of his advisers. And it would seem he’s being advised to “Flee like a bird to the mountains.”

When the enemy is at the gates ready to kill, rape, pillage, and plunder running for the mountains can be sound advise. Yet rather than flee, David chooses to stay. Why? Because God isn’t in the mountains. “The Lord is in his holy temple.” I love this. As one of my commentaries explains, God had repeatedly proven himself trustworthy over the course of David’s life. While it may have seemed crazy to others, it was perfectly logical for David to trust his trustworthy God. So, rather than flee the house of God, David remained.

I want to be like that. I want to trust the Lord when everything in me wants to run for the mountains – which is more often than you might think. What about you? How has God proven himself trustworthy over the years of your life? Where are you being tempted to flee? What would it look like for you to remain and trust the Lord instead of run?

Lord, grant us grace to trust in you when we want to run for the hills. Amen.

P.S., Happy New Year! Thanks for starting the year with me in this space.