When My Culture Collapses (Pt. 3)

Eroded Foundations

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” – Psalm 11:3

In the last article we considered how the world was falling apart around David. And in verse 3 David finds himself listening to a friend who is overwhelmed by the cultural chaos around them. His friend feels helpless and asks, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” This question echoes the alarm that many feel when the moral and ethical foundations of society seem to crumble.

God’s Sovereign Reign

“The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of man.” – Psalm 11:4

If you find yourself troubled by the state of the world, burdened by the despair that comes from watching society unravel, take heart in this good news: God’s throne is set apart, high above this world. He is not running for office, nor is He hoping for a majority vote. His rule is absolute, and His throne stands above all. Unlike the frantic wicked, shooting in the dark, God is sitting—patiently waiting. He is not in the dark; He sees, tests, watches, and observes. Amidst the chaos, He remains unfazed, unmoved, and unchanged. His plan is being carried out, and He alone is the Judge.

Life’s Alarms and False Refuges
“In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain…’” – Psalm 11:1

Modern-Day Mountains

Today, we may not face physical attackers driving us to the mountains, but we certainly have our “mountains”—places of safety we run to instead of taking refuge in God.

• Social Safety: We often seek refuge in the majority view, finding strength in numbers, insulating ourselves in communities that align with our beliefs to feel safe amidst a culture under fire.
• Political Safety: We may align with causes that suit our ideals and we put our trust in leaders who we believe will establish our vision of the good life.
• Economic Safety: We insulate ourselves from all possible dangers with the idea that money can keep us secure. 
• Spiritual Safety: We escape from the world, maintaining only wholesome Christian friendships, avoiding the messiness of a lost and dying world. 
• Mental Safety: We veg out on entertainment, escaping reality. Life is hard, and it’s easier to laugh at a show than to deal with the messiness of our own lives.

The Real Refuge

In Psalm 11, David declares that his secret hiding place, his go-to spot, is God Himself. But when we run to other places of safety, it becomes clear that these, instead of God, are our true hiding places. Seeking in something else what God has commanded us to seek in Him is idolatry.

All day long, we are bombarded with messages of alarm. Friends, ads, and social media cry out, “Run to the mountains! Come to this mountain and you will be safe! Vote this way and you will be safe. Start this diet, purchase this product, get this degree, invest your money, and you will be safe.”

But when we run to these mountains, we put ourselves in danger. We show the world how little we actually trust in God. Worst of all, we turn down Jesus’ invitation to find rest under His yoke. Life is still life, and sin is still sin. We do not need to run to the mountains because God is still God. 

A Call to Refuge in Christ

If you know that you stand outside of God’s refuge, your portion, according to David, is fire, brimstone, and a scorching wind. Yet, the good news of Jesus Christ offers hope: this righteous God, who reigns on high, sent His Son to drink the cup of wrath—the portion meant for the wicked—so that those who take refuge in Him might receive the reward of the righteous.

And if you have trusted in Christ, if God is your refuge, what do you have to fear? Your life is built on an unshakeable foundation. If God did not spare His own Son for us, how will He not also graciously give us all things? The vision of God in Psalm 11 is this: behold, the reign of God is righteous.