(Psalms 11:4-7) “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. (5) The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. (6) Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. (7) For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”

In the previous devotion – “What Can the Righteous Do?” – the conclusion was presented for the righteous to stand still, trust God and see how the matter will fall. But, in this devotion, it is not what the righteous can do; but, “What Will God Do?”

I. God is in The Heavens: “(4) The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven…”

This phrase reveals that God is Supreme, and above all His creation. (Psalm 115:3) “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” Remember who God is: He is the Foundation; He is the Creator, Controller, and Consummator of all His creation. God did not create and set laws of nature into operation, and then go to sleep. No, God is high and lifted above all His creation. He is active in the operation of His creation at all times. The Bible says, (Psalm 121:3) “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Therefore, God being Supreme, and seated on His Throne, His eyes (which stands for God’s knowledge of all His creation), is aware of all men, and of all thoughts and actions of all men. First, this speaks of God’s Supremacy.

II. God Sees All of Man’s Works: (4) “…his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. (5) The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”    

God is not only on His throne in the heaven, that is not only is God Supreme; but, He is always beholding the works of His creation. (Pro 15:3) “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Man cannot hide from God; even though man, at times, thinks God does not see him, or is not concerned with his individual actions. But that is a lie. God sees all things and He is omniscient (all knowing). (Pro 5:21) “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” The text says this of the LORD: “… his eyelids try, the children of men.”  The key word is “try”; which the Hebrew word means, to test, or to examine, or to prove; to investigate. David used the metaphor of God having eyes, and that His eyes were trying (or examining) the children of men, both wicked and the righteous. This is speaking of the discernment of God, or the knowledge of God, about all men. Nothing can be hidden from God, Who sees all and knows all. God’s investigation is pure, righteous, and always right. Unless man has an Advocate (Jesus Christ), he is always guilty before the Perfect and Holy God.

III. God Judges the Wicked: “(6) Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup”.        

You have heard the old saying, ‘You can run, but, you can’t hide.’ (Num. 32:23) “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”  But, when God does not judge sin immediately, men say: (Ecc. 8:11) “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Be sure, for God is Sure; and He never forgets. When payment is due, God will collect. Some ask, ‘But when will God judge the wicked?’ No man can predict the time; but, man can say, “…this shall be the portion of their cup.”  God cannot lie. God is a God of love and mercy – but, God hates sin; and it will receive a payday. Some might argue with the text, “…but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.” They say, God doesn’t hate anyone. The problem here is a carnal understanding of the word hate. When the Bible says that God hates; it is speaking of God’s purpose against sin. God is not emotional, as humans are. God’s hatred is one of purpose. It is the opposite of His nature; for God is pure, holy and righteousness; in Whom is no sin, or Who has no sin, or capacity to sin.

The same applies today, God is on His Throne; He is Supreme; He sees all, and knows all; and God is discerning the attitude, the actions and the attire of all men. God is the Righteous Judge; for He is holy and just, and everything is measured against God’s Righteousness, or Perfection. Therefore He, and He alone, is The Judge to judge all men Righteously. No matter what men say; no matter what the flesh says to men in an effort to cast doubt on God’s knowledge, and His Judgement – God is the Standard; and all will stand before the Judge of the earth.

Do not fool yourself; physical death is an appointment of God for all men; and then the Judgment (Heb. 9:27). When a man stands before God in Judgment; he is either standing in the Righteousness of Christ, or he is standing in his own unrighteousness. In Christ, there is no condemnation (Rom. 8:1); but, in his own righteousness; he stands condemned; for all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Be assured, God will judge all men. And in Christ, the future is eternal life in Christ. But, outside of Christ, your future will be the second death, eternal death in hell.