Psalm 11:5
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked; His soul hates the lover of violence.
The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked;

God examines the lives of all people, bringing their loyalties, motives, and deeds into the light. The righteous are proved in their faith and obedience, while the wicked are exposed in their rebellion. His judgment is impartial and certain.

Psa 7:9 Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but…
Pro 17:3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold…
Jer 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind…

His soul hates the lover of violence.

God stands against those who pursue cruelty, oppression, and bloodshed. Violence is not merely an outward act but reflects a heart set against His justice and order. Those who delight in harming others place themselves under His judgment.

Psa 5:6 You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors…
Pro 6:16-17 There are six things that the LORD hates,…
Psa 140:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Rescue me, O LORD,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is just and righteous in His judgments.

2. The Righteous
Those who live in accordance with God's laws and seek to follow His ways.

3. The Wicked
Individuals who live in opposition to God's commands and engage in sinful behavior.

4. Lover of Violence
A person who delights in causing harm or engaging in violent acts, contrary to God's nature of peace and justice.
Teaching Points
God's Testing is Purposeful
God tests both the righteous and the wicked to reveal their true character and to refine the righteous.

God's Hatred of Violence
Violence is contrary to God's nature, and He detests those who delight in it. Believers are called to pursue peace and reject violence.

Righteousness and Wickedness are Distinct
The distinction between the righteous and the wicked is clear in God's eyes, and He deals with each accordingly.

God's Justice is Perfect
Trust in God's perfect justice, knowing that He will ultimately judge all actions and intentions.

Living as Peacemakers
As followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers, reflecting God's love and justice in a world prone to violence.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding that "The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked" impact your view of trials and challenges in your life?

2. In what ways can you actively reject violence and promote peace in your daily interactions?

3. How does the distinction between the righteous and the wicked in Psalm 11:5 encourage you to pursue a life of righteousness?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's testing. How did it refine your character or faith?

5. How can the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (e.g., being a peacemaker) guide your response to the "lover of violence" mentioned in Psalm 11:5?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Proverbs 17:3
This verse speaks about the LORD testing hearts, similar to how He tests the righteous and the wicked in Psalm 11:5.

Jeremiah 17:10
God examines the heart and mind, rewarding each person according to their conduct, which aligns with the testing mentioned in Psalm 11:5.

Matthew 5:9
Jesus blesses the peacemakers, contrasting with the "lover of violence" whom God hates in Psalm 11:5.

Romans 12:19
Paul advises believers to leave vengeance to God, reinforcing the idea that God will judge the wicked, as seen in Psalm 11:5.
The Godly DisciplineW. G. Barrett.Psalm 11:5
The Mission of TrialDavid Caldwell, A. M.Psalm 11:5
The Test of TrialR. Venting.Psalm 11:5
The Testing of the PerfectPsalm 11:5
Trials and Their LessonsSamuel Coley.Psalm 11:5
A Battle in the SoulW. Forsyth Psalm 11:1-7
A Song in the NightJ. H. Jowett, M. A.Psalm 11:1-7
Confidence in GodJoseph Parker, D. D.Psalm 11:1-7
CourageHomilistPsalm 11:1-7
Faith's Answer to Timid CounsellorsA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 11:1-7
Faith's Antidote to FearC. Short Psalm 11:1-7
Jehovah the Protector and Avenger of the Persecuted SaintA. C. Jennings and W. H. Lowe.Psalm 11:1-7
Moral CourageW. L. Watkinson.Psalm 11:1-7
Safety in GodJ. J. Stewart Perowne, B. D.Psalm 11:1-7
The Mission of TrialW. J. Stracey, M. A.Psalm 11:1-7
The Secret of Faith's VictoryRobert R. Muir.Psalm 11:1-7
The Victory of Faith; Or, Rest Amid StormC. Clemance Psalm 11:1-7
Times for FlightDavid Caldwell, A. M.Psalm 11:1-7
Trust in the LordSamuel Martin.Psalm 11:1-7
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Acts, Examines, Hate, Hated, Hates, Hateth, Love, Lover, Loves, Loveth, Puts, Righteous, Sinner, Soul, Test, Tests, Trieth, Try, Upright, Violence, Violent, Wicked
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 11:5

     5562   suffering, innocent
     5875   hatred
     5975   violence
     6025   sin, and God's character
     8832   testing

Psalm 11:4-5

     8478   self-examination

Psalm 11:4-7

     9230   judgment seat

Psalm 11:5-6

     4369   sulphur

Library
Purposes of God.
In discussing this subject I shall endeavor to show, I. What I understand by the purposes of God. Purposes, in this discussion, I shall use as synonymous with design, intention. The purposes of God must be ultimate and proximate. That is, God has and must have an ultimate end. He must purpose to accomplish something by his works and providence, which he regards as a good in itself, or as valuable to himself, and to being in general. This I call his ultimate end. That God has such an end or purpose,
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
OR, THE THRONE OF GRACE ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The churches of Christ are very much indebted to the Rev. Charles Doe, for the preservation and publishing of this treatise. It formed one of the ten excellent manuscripts left by Bunyan at his decease, prepared for the press. Having treated on the nature of prayer in his searching work on 'praying with the spirit and with the understanding also,' in which he proves from the sacred scriptures that prayer cannot be merely read or said, but must
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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