1.7 God is Righteous

Psalm 11:7 “For the LORD is Righteous, He loves Righteousness; His Countenance does behold the upright.” – Psalm 11:7 serves as the triumphant conclusion to Psalm11, emphasizing God’s Righteousness, His Loves for Righteousness, and His ultimate blessing of the Upright (Righteous), in the three main statements in Psalm 11:7

1.7.1 God is Righteous

Psalm 11:7a “For the LORD is Righteous.” – Psalm 11:7a affirms God’s Inherent Righteousness, emphasizing that He (God) is the Embodiment of His (God’s) Perfect Justice and Morality, and Integrity.

The Hebrew word for “righteous (tzaddiq)” highlights God’s unwavering commitment to Justice and Righteousness. This affirmation serves as the foundation for the rest of Psalm 11:7, emphasising that:

• God’s Actions are guided by Righteousness: As the Righteous God, His decisions, judgments, and actions are always motivated by the desire to uphold justice and righteousness.
• God’s Character is rooted in Righteousness: The LORD’s Righteousness is not just an Attribute, but an Essential Aspect of God’s Character, defining who He is and how He relates to Humanity.
• God’s People can trust in His Righteousness: This affirmation encourages Believers to trust in God’s Righteousness, knowing that He will always act justly and uprightly, even when circumstances seem uncertain or chaotic.

The Characteristics of Righteousness in Psalm 11:7 is beautifully described as God’s Love for Righteousness and His Delight in the Upright (Righteous). In Psalm 11:7, Righteousness is portrayed as the fundamental aspect of God’s Nature, and He loves those who reflect this righteousness in their lives.

In Psalm 11:7, we see that God’s Righteousness is not just the theoretical concept, but He (God) is living, breathing reality that guides His (God’s) Interactions with Humanity. He (God) Loves righteous deeds, and those who walk uprightly will behold His (God’s) Face, experiencing His Presence, Favor, and Blessing. The Characteristics of Righteousness highlighted in Psalm 11:7 include:

• God’s Love for Righteousness: God delights in righteousness and loves those who reflect this righteousness in their lives.
• Upright Living: The Upright (Righteous) will behold God’s Face, experiencing His Presence, Favour, and Blessing.
• Righteous Deeds: God loves righteous deeds, and those who walk in righteousness will be blessed.
• God’s Presence and Favour: The Upright (Righteous) will experience God’s Presence, Favour, and Blessing, beholding His (God’s) Face.

Overall, Psalm 11:7 presents the beautiful picture of God’s Righteousness and His Love for those who walk in righteousness.

Psalm 11:7a “For the LORD is Righteous,” is a Powerful Affirmation that reminds the Believers that:

• Righteousness is the Foundation of God’s Throne: Psalm 89:14 says, “Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of Your throne.” This emphasises that God’s Rule is rooted in Righteousness.
• God’s Righteousness is the Believers’ Hope: As Believers, we can trust in God’s Righteousness, knowing that He will ultimately vindicate the Righteous and Judge the Wicked.
• Believers should strive to reflect God’s Righteousness: Recognising God’s Inherent Righteousness should motivate the Believers to pursue righteous lives, striving to reflect God’s Character in our thoughts, words, and actions.

1.7.2 God loves Righteousness

God Loves Righteousness – Psalm 11:7b “He (God) loves Righteousness.” – Psalm 11:7b highlights God’s deep affection for Righteousness, underscoring His desire to see justice, morality, and uprightness prevail. Psalm 11:7b is also a beautiful expression of God’s Heart.  The Hebrew word for “loves (aheb)” emphasises God’s strong emotional attachment to Righteousness. Psalm 11:7b’s Statement emphasises that:

• God Delights in Righteousness: God takes pleasure in righteousness, not just as a moral virtue, but as the reflection of His (God’s) own Character.
• Righteousness is Precious to God: God values righteousness highly, and it is precious to Him.
• God’s Love for Righteousness Motivates His Actions: God’s love for righteousness drives His decisions, judgments, and actions, ensuring that justice and morality are upheld.

Psalm 11:7b ““He (God) loves Righteousness,” is the beautiful expression of God’s Heart, reminding the Believers that:

• Believers should strive to reflect God’s Love for Righteousness: As Believers, we should seek to reflect God’s Character, including His Love for rRghteousness, in our thoughts, words, and actions.
• God’s Love for Righteousness is our Security: Knowing that God Loves Righteousness, provides the Believers with Security and Confidence, as we trust that He will always act justly and uprightly.
• Believers can trust God’s Judgments: Because God Loves Righteousness, Believers can trust that His Judgments are fair, just, and motivated by the desire to uphold righteousness.

1.7.3 God rewards the Righteous

Psalm 11:7c “His (God’s) Countenance does behold the Upright.” – Psalm 11:7c, affirms God’s Assuring Promise, the beautiful conclusion to Psalm 11, emphasising the intimate relationship between God and the Upright Believer. This Final Statement of Psalm 11:7c promises that the “Upright Believers,” those who have maintained their integrity and righteousness, will ultimately behold God’s Face. Psalm 11:7c Symbolises:

• Intimacy with God.
• Favour and Blessing from God.
• Eternal Life and Communion with God

First, Psalm 11:7c “His (God’s) Countenance does behold the Upright,” a glorious conclusion, reminds the Believers that:

• God’s Righteousness is the Believers’ Hope: As Believers, we can trust in God’s Righteousness, knowing that He will ultimately vindicate the Righteous (Upright) and judge the Wicked.
• Righteousness is the Path to Intimacy with God: Believers, by living upright lives, we can cultivate a deeper intimacy with God, beholding His Face and experiencing His Favour and Blessing.
• God’s Love for Righteousness is the Believers’ Motivation: Believers, recognising God’s deep affection for Righteousness (Uprightness) should be motivated the believers to pursue righteous lives, striving to reflect God’s Character in our thoughts, words, and actions.
• Righteous Living of the Believers have their Rewards: As Believers, we can trust that our righteous living will be rewarded with God’s Favour, Approval, and Presence.
• Believers can approach God with Confidence: Knowing that God’s Countenance beholds the Upright Believers, we can approach Him with confidence, trusting in His Love, Care, and Guidance.
• God’s Presence is the Believers’ Blessing: The Promise of Psalm 11:7c “His (God’s) Countenance does behold the Upright,” of beholding God’s Countenance is the reminder that His Presence is the Believers’ Blessing, and that the Believers should strive to cultivate a deeper intimacy with Him.

Second, the Hebrew Word for “Countenance (Panim)” refers to God’s Face and His Presence. God’s Assuring Promise in Psalm 11:7c, highlights several encouraging truths to the Believers:

• God’s Favour Rests on the Upright: The Phrase “His (God’s) Countenance does behold,” implies God’s favour, approval, and delight in the Upright Believer.
• The Upright Believer has access to God’s Presence: Psalm 11:7c “His (God’s) Countenance does behold the Upright (Believer),” suggests that the Upright (Believer) has the special privilege of being in God’s Presence, beholding His Countenance (Face).
• God Watches over the Upright Believer with Care: The Assurance of God’s Countenance (Face) beholding the Upright Believer implies the sense of Watchful Care, Protection, and Guidance.

1.8 Full Complete Righteousness

“For the LORD is Righteous, He loves Righteousness; His Countenance does behold the upright (Righteous).” In Psalm 11:7, the term “Righteousness,” is mentioned three times.

First, the Hebrew word for “righteousness” in Psalm 11:7 is in the plural form (tzaddiqot), which emphasizes “Full, Complete Righteousness” or “Righteousness in all its Aspects.” – Using the plural form highlights the Comprehensive Nature of God’s Righteousness, encompassing:

• Moral Righteousness: God’s Righteous Character, which is “the Standard” for all morality.
• Justice: God’s Righteous Judgment, which upholds Justice and Equity.
• Faithfulness: God’s Righteous Faithfulness, which ensures His (God’s) Covenant Promises are fulfilled.
• Integrity: God’s Righteous Integrity, which is unwavering and uncompromising.

Second, Psalm 11:7, the plural form of “Righteousness” in Psalm 11:7 underscores the richness and depth of God’s Righteous Character, reminding the Believers that:

• God’s righteousness is Multifaceted: God’s Righteousness encompasses various aspects, including “Moral Righteousness, Justice, Faithfulness, and Integrity.”
• God’s Righteousness is Perfect: The plural form of “God’s Righteousness,” emphasizes the Completeness and Perfection of God’s Righteousness.
• Believers should strive for Comprehensive Righteousness: As Believers, we should aim to reflect God’s Comprehensive Righteousness in our lives, pursuing “Moral Righteousness, Justice, Faithfulness, and Integrity.”

1.9 Psalm 11, the Golden Utterance

Psalm 11 is often called “the Golden Utterance,” because of its rich content profound insights, and beautiful language. The reasons are:

• Rich Theology: Psalm 11 presents “the rich and nuance (distinctive) understanding” of God’s Character, emphasizing His Righteousness, Justice, and Sovereignty.
• Profundity (Wisdom) of Insight: Psalm 11 offers profound insights into the Human Condition, the Nature of Evil, and the ultimate Triumph of God’s Righteousness.
• Beautiful Language: Psalm 11 is renowned for its beautiful and expressive language, with vivid imagery and powerful metaphors that convey the depths of Human Emotion and the Majesty of God.
• Universal Relevance: Psalm 11, despite being written in the specific historical and cultural context, Psalm 11 addresses universal themes and concerns that remain relevant to People across cultures and centuries.
• Inspiration and Comfort: Psalm 11 has inspired and comforted countless Believers throughout history, offering reassurance of God’s Presence, Protection, and Ultimate Triumph over Evil.

Psalm 11 is termed “Golden Utterance” captures the essence of the teachings in Psalm 11, conveying its value, beauty, and enduring significance.

1.10 The Summary of Psalms 11

What the Believers do when the Foundations are being destroyed (Psalm 11:3)? Psalm 11 Answers this question by giving us another Foundation:

• Trust in the LORD (Psalm 11:1a).
• Makes God our Security, our Refuge (Psalm 11:1b).
• Knows that God Inhabits Eternity and Reigns over the Chaos of this World (Psalm 11:4).
• God’s Throne is in Heaven (Psalm 11:4).
• God’s Moral Order and Kingdom Transcend this World and cannot be overthrown (Psalm 11:7).
• God is the Just Judge who tries all hearts and hates “the Wicked and men of violence” (Psalm 11:5b).
• Wicked Men will know God’s Wrath (Psalm 11:5b, 6) whereas Righteous Men His (God’s) Presence (Psalm 11:5a).
• God’s Character is Righteous, and it will be made known (Psalm 11:7).

Revival always comes with the deep conviction of sin, repentance, and the consequence call to righteousness – 2Corithians 5:21 “For He (the Father) hath made Him (Jesus), who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).” Hundreds of thousands in Cities across the Country came to accept Jesus as their Lord and Personal Saviour through Charles Finney’s Ministry.

1.11 The Review of Psalms 11:7 is called “the Golden Utterance”

Psalm 11 ends, as it began, with the LORD, whose Character as Righteous Answers all “the Fear” of Psalm 11:3 “If the Foundation be destroyed, what can the Righteous do?”

• God’s Character is demonstrated – “He is Righteous” (Psalm 11:7a). It is because “the LORD is Righteous,” that the Wicked are Judged (Psalm 11:5b).
• God Approves of “the Righteous Deeds” (Psalm 11:7b “He (God) Loves Righteousness”). Because the LORD is Righteous (Psalm 11:7a), “He (God) Loves Righteousness.” (Psalm 11:7b). The word “Righteousness” is the plural form, signifying “Full, Complete Righteousness.”
• God’s Reward towards the Righteous – Psalm 11:4b, 7c “His (God’s) eyes test the sons of men…..His (God’s) Countenance beholds the Upright (Righteous).”
• To “See the Face” means to have access to the Person, such as “to see the King’s Face” (2Samuel 14:24).
• This was the ultimate desire of the Old Testament Saints: “To see God Face to Face.”
• For God to turn His Face Away is to reject the Person, but for Him to look upon the Believers with delight means He is going to bless us (Numbers 6:22-27).
• The Foundation of the Righteous is none other than God’s Character/Nature and will: what He is and what He loves (Psalm 11:7).
• Uprightness – If the first description: Psalm 11:7a “For the Righteous LORD loves Righteousness,” shows the Believer’s privileged Position, the statement that followed: “His (God’s) Countenance does behold the Upright,” shows where David’s (or the Righteous Person’s) heart should be.
• Refuge – God as “Refuge” may be sought from motives that are all too self-regarding; but to “Behold His (God’s) Face” is the objective in which only love has any interest. David knew the experience of seeing God with the inward eye in Worship (Psalm 27:4; Psalm 63:2).  
• The Righteous Person is beloved of the LORD and His (God’s) Favour is ever toward him. Thus, we see that the end of David was good, but Saul’s end was terrible (1Samuel 31). Let us never be weary of well doing (Galatians 6:9), for there is a reward to the Righteous and the Wicked will be recompensed according to his ways.

1.12 The Gospel Songs

Several Gospel Songs echo this Hope of Psalm 11:7. Carrie E. Breck (1855-1934) wrote one entitled “Face to Face.” Another by Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932) includes the lines: “When by His grace I shall look on His face, that will be glory, be glory for me.”

• “Face to Face” by Carrie E. Breck: This Hymn captures the longing to behold God’s Face, just as Psalm 11:7 Promises. The Song’s title and lyrics reflect the deep desire to experience intimate Fellowship with God.
• Charles H. Gabriel’s Hymn: “When by His Grace I shall look on His Face, that will be Glory, be Glory for me,” beautifully express the hope of beholding God’s Face. This Hymn emphasizes that this experience will be the ultimate Glory and Joy for the Believer.

These Gospel Songs and Hymns demonstrate how Psalm 11:7 has inspired Generations of Believers to look forward to the Hope of beholding God’s Face. This Promise has become the Powerful Motivator for Believers to pursue Righteousness, trust in God’s Sovereignty, and eagerly anticipate the ultimate Reward of Eternal Fellowship with Him (God).