If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children
of men. Psalm 11:3-4
Since the fall of man, God has been rejected as the King of this world by the larger part of mankind. Notwithstanding this, God has not stepped down from His throne; the Creator yet reigns sovereign over heaven and earth.
To prevent the world from descending into chaos and anarchy, God ordained earthy governments to establish law and order over the unruly multitudes. Far from standing on their own, ‘the powers that be are ordained of God’ (Romans 13:1). To those in ignorance of this fact, history may seem like a chaotic power struggle in which the strongest have prevailed. But those who honour the King of Kings know that He ‘removeth kings, and setteth up kings’ (Daniel 2:21). If a state executes His will, God may permit it to endure. But when a government oversteps its bounds and persecutes His people, it is weighed in the balances and cast into oblivion.
The Christian has dual citizenship. Besides that of his native country, his name is recognised in the kingdom above. As Paul declared, ‘our citizenship is in the heavens’ (Philippians 3:20 YLT). As law is the foundation of earthly government, the law of God is the foundation of the kingdom of Heaven. The Christian obeys the law of God, just as an upright citizen obeys the law of his country. In any ideal earthly government, rendering obedience to both the law of the land and the law of God presents no problems. But throughout history, obeying the requirements of human governments has at times constituted a violation of the law of God. In such cases, the people of God must reject the commandments of men in order to render obedience to God.
Earthly rule often descends into tyranny. The maddened whims of kings or governors sweep away the foundation of law and order, and banish peace from the land. David experienced this when he was forced to live as a fugitive because of the jealous rage of Saul. Simply for living according to God’s revealed will, David fled from one cave to another after being ratted out by those loyal to Saul. Seeing no way out of his peril, the foundations of David’s world seemed to be eroding from under his feet. Expressing his helplessness in this situation, the prophet sang, ‘If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?’
The 10 commandments are the foundation of order and security in earthly and heavenly government. When these holy precepts are set at nought by the powers that be, the righteous are placed in a perilous situation. As it was with David, the day approaches when the rulers of every nation will set themselves against those who obey the law of heaven. At that time, the foundations of law and order in which we have reposed will be utterly destroyed. Liberty of conscience will be banished from all lands, and it will seem that the righteous must either renounce their allegiance to God or die.
Amidst the chaos and confusion he saw on earth, David recognised that order yet remained where it mattered most. Lifting his gaze from the shadows of death that covered his feet, David proceeded to sing, ‘The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men’.
While the righteous may be powerless against the confederate kings of earth, he knows that the King of Kings will ultimately overrule all the decrees of wicked rulers. Upon them ‘[God] shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest’ (Psalm 11:6). Amidst the temptation to save our skin in exchange for our righteousness, we must remember that ‘the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright’ (Psalm 11:7).
Christopher Sparks