translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: PSA

label: NET study note

text: . The psalmist rejects the advice to flee from his dangerous enemies. Instead he affirms his confidence in God’s just character and calls down judgment on evildoers.


text: In the darkness . The enemies’ attack, the precise form of which is not indicated, is compared here to a night ambush by archers; the psalmist is defenseless against this deadly attack.


text: The quotation of the advisers’ words (which begins in 11:1 c) ends at this point. They advise the psalmist to flee because the enemy is poised to launch a deadly attack. In such a lawless and chaotic situation godly people like the psalmist can accomplish nothing, so they might as well retreat to a safe place.


text: The Lord ’ s throne is in heaven . The psalmist is confident that the Lord reigns as sovereign king, “keeps an eye on” all people, and responds in a just manner to the godly and wicked.


text: His eyes . The anthropomorphic language draws attention to God’s awareness of and interest in the situation on earth. Though the enemies are hidden by the darkness (v. 2 ), the Lord sees all.


text: He hates the wicked . The Lord “hates” the wicked in the sense that he despises their wicked character and deeds, and actively opposes and judges them for their wickedness. See Ps 5:5 .


text: The image of God “raining down” brimstone on the objects of his judgment also appears in Gen 19:24 and Ezek 38:22 .