If the Foundations Are Destroyed

World crises come frequently. That has always been true.

¨         The universal flood in Noah’s day.

¨         The confusion of human languages at Babel, resulting in the scattering of the peoples.

¨         The destruction of the Egyptian army in the Red Sea.

¨         The savage domination of the world by Assyria and later by Babylon.

¨         The nearly successful invasion of Europe by Xerxes.

¨         The capture of the world by Alexander.

¨         The rise and fall of the Roman Empire.

¨         The rise of Hitler and World War II. 

¨         9/11/01.

Each time the world seems to fall apart, we tend to look anew at who we are and why we are here, and many cry out to God, even if too late.

The Psalmist’s question is still pertinent. So is his answer. “If the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3).

The psalmist’s answer, first , is that the Lord is till with us and in control. “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test, the children of man. The LORD tests the righteous” (Psalm 11:4-5).

Sodom and Gommorah and the cities of the plain suffered calamity. Their foundations certainly disintegrated! Why was Sodom destroyed?

One obvious reason is that virtually the whole city had turned to homosexual debauchery. They attempted  homosexual rape of the angelic visitors to Lot and his family (Gen. 19). The city gave it is name to that perversion. A later prophet said  Sodom was destroyed because she “had pride, excess of food and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did an abomination before me” (Eze. 16:49-50).

A more fundamental reason Sodom was destroyed, however, is that ten righteous people could not be found within her borders (Gen. 18:32). The righteous are the saving and preserving salt of any people or civilization. When the Lord  tests our nation, or city, will he find righteous people? Will you be one? Will I?

The Psalmist answers his own question in the last verse of the Psalm. For the LORD is righteous, he love righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face” (Psalm 11:7). When the foundations are destroyed, what shall the righteous do? Keep on trying to do right. 

  —Cecil May, Jr.