Without a doubt, the most vital part of any structure is the foundation. Jesus illustrated this in the Sermon on the Mount. He told a parable about one man who built his house upon the sand. That house was destroyed because it had a faulty foundation. Another man built his house upon a rock. The house built upon the rock endured the raging storms and howling winds because it had a firm foundation. Jesus stressed the importance of having a good foundation. Matt. 7:24-27
Palm 11 is a Psalm of David. This Psalm was written when David was married to Saul’s daughter Michal; and when Saul’s son, Jonathan, was David’s steadfast friend. It was also that time when the nation was cheering louder for David than it did for Saul. All these things increased Saul’s suspicions and spite. More than once he threw a javelin at David in a fit of demonic hate.
It was during this dangerous, nerve-racking period in his life that David wrote Psalm 11. Notice what David asks in verse 3: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” David’s question amounted almost to a cry of despair. He could see the throne, the establishment, the foundation, of everything good being undermined by unscrupulous and vicious men. The word “foundations” comes from a Hebrew word meaning “the settled order of things.” David likened society to a building. The foundation of society is law and order, justice and truth. If these are undermined in a society then what can the righteous do?
When David wrote this Psalm he was living in the court of King Saul: and he was troubled by what was taking place in Israel politically. God told Samuel to tell the nation of Israel what to expect from King Saul. 1 Samuel 8:7-20. The description provided by Samuel gives the understanding that Saul is going to be a selfish corrupt king. Living in the palace, he had an insider’s look at the corruption that was taking place within the leadership of his nation of Israel. Law and order, truth, justice, morality, decency, and integrity were all being thrown out the window as the nation slipped further away from God.
David will conclude that when the foundations of all that is good are being destroyed, the righteous can always trust in God. The LORD loves righteousness and hates iniquity because He is righteous. He is good and merciful. He always does what is best. The songwriter reminds us that when you can’t trace His hand, you can trust His heart.