Be careful what advice you heed.

 Psalm 11:1–7 (ESV):  

1 In the Lord I take refuge; 

how can you say to my soul, 

“Flee like a bird to your mountain, 

2  for behold, 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; 

the Lord’s throne is in heaven; 

his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 

5  The Lord tests the righteous, 

but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 

6  Let him rain coals on the wicked; 

fire and sulphur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 

7  For the Lord is righteous; 

he loves righteous deeds; 

the upright shall behold his face. 

Be careful what advice you heed.

Through this psalm David is assured that God is his protector and safety. Even when the world seems against him he still knows that God is his ‘refuge’. David is confident in the rest and support he can find in God no matter what else is going on, so in this time of persecution he trusts God for strength, hope, justice and protection. Even when trusted advisors and friends are trying to persuade him to run away, he remains firm that God is his safety, his refuge. These well meaning people are concerned for David’s life as there is a very real death threat over him. Their considered solution for the preservation of his life is that David should run and hide ‘like a bird’ to a far off, unreachable place. The people giving this counsel care about him and seek his survival and success, they don't want him to die they want him to live freely without worrying about persecution. So their best solution is for him to leave. David was tempted. He was in danger and it seemed impossible for him to survive so the advice of these trusted friends seemed good. Yet David asks himself, “if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” If David’s foundation - what his life is built on - is ruined, what can come of it? If David sets the foundation of his decisions into the hands of man rather than the refuge of God, what will happen with the call on his life? What will come of God’s promises over him? If David allows popular opinion to sway his mind, what is his life built on? Does he want to build his life on the security of God, or the will of man? It is a real dilemma. 

It is a challenge we all face particularly in times of adversity. What advice do you heed? Who is leading you and your decisions? The wisest thing that others may see to do could be in contrast to what God is saying. Therefore be careful what advice you listen to. Well meaning, kind, generous people can get it wrong. We all can as we are not God. The advice of others may be well-thought and make sense yet it  may not be God-inspired. Therefore be careful what advice you are following and take time to consider as David did, what the foundation of your life is and what God wants you to do in your next dilemma.

It is true that in some circumstances David did run and hide, but in this situation he knew that although this may be the obvious solution to get away from trouble, this was not what God wanted. He knew, for this time that he had to stay in the refuge God had made for him which was where he was, not anywhere else. Otherwise he would be running FROM the safe place not to it! What could be more secure and stable than God's refuge? Even though it seemed to others the most perilous of options, God had said to remain and David did so. He heeded God even when it seemed ridiculous, terrifying and life altering. David obeyed God, not the advice of others. Do you? Are you mindful of what advice you are following?

In the midst of the trial, when you are suffering and afraid it is hard to keep going and it is difficult to remember the will of God and the promises of God over your life. Yet those things still remain - they are foundational for your life - and they are more true and everlasting than any issues that come your way. So when you encounter trials consider what or who you run to and what advice you are heeding. The word of God needs to become your foundation, then you will know where your refuge is and how to weather this storm. David knew this season for him was a test (v5).  A test of what he was believing and trusting in as the foundation of his life (v3). As a man called to be king, what was he secure in? Was he going to trust completely in God, or was he going to be more concerned about the preservation of his own life and the words of others? You too will go through times of testing and will need to decide what the foundation of your life is - is it the words of others or the Word of God that is your foundation? 

Be careful what advice you heed.