09/11/2026
Remembering that unforgettable day and those who lost their lives ...and those who are still picking up the pieces. . .
One of the things I remember most from that day was a gift from God's Word. I had just started daily reading in the Psalms so 9/11 was Psalm 11. After 25 years, it's v.3-4 that still gets me:
3 "When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord is on his heavenly throne."
I was blown away first by how specifically His Word seemed to address our World that day. But then a twinge of confusion. --Because David doesn’t answer his own question here. And honestly I think we all want to know the answer: "When all hell is breaking loose...what do I do?" (JBV)
No definite answer. No instruction. No "here's how to help" or "So what you need to do is ________." And no explanation for the big WHY question either.
No direction. -Except...maybe UP.
Because he follows the question with:
"The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne."
-It's as if the Psalmist is saying "what we need in times like these isn't explanations...so I'm not even gonna try."
Instead, he just points.
"See there? Do you see Him? -There He is! ...The LORD. -SEATED on His Throne! He's not panicking. None of this is escaping His attention. None of this wreckage is beyond His power to redeem. None of this is final. And in case you’re wondering. . . NO, they're not going to get away with it either. So Look Up! -beyond the billows of smoke. And behold the Lord of Glory there, with a lump in His throat for His hurting kids... and fire in His eyes for those who would dare harm them."
Through the years, that Word has come back to me over and over again, sometimes accompanied by the feelings and images from that day.... Esp in the moments when I've felt gutted by pain or betrayal. -When the foundations seemed obliterated. -When arrows assailed. -When sorrow threatened to overwhelm. When my own foolishness wreaked havoc. -When, like those poor folks wandering in search of glimmer of daylight or a pocket of oxygen through the dark fog of ash and debrish, I found myself in a cloud of confusion . . .
. . the Holy Spirit has repeated the same thing: "Look! Do you see Him? THERE He is! ... The Lord is in his holy temple; The Lord is on his heavenly throne."
Here's how Psalm 11 ends:
7 "For the Lord is righteous,
he LOVES justice.
The upright will SEE His face."
So grateful that on our worst days collectively or individually, God is always see-able.
-PJ
PSALM 11
A Psalm of David
1 "In the Lord I take refuge.
How then can you say to me:
“Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows
at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth;
his eyes examine them.
5 The Lord examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
6 On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the Lord is righteous,
he loves justice;
the upright will see his face.
