if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

The Holy Ghost puts the above question to us, in Psalm 11:3.  The question requires that three important elements must be understood, namely: 1) What are the "foundations"?  2) How are those capable to be destroyed?  and, 3) What, if anything, can the righteous do, in the case that those foundations were destroyed?

The context of the question is the short Psalm embodying it.  Here it is in its entirety:
Briefly, the Psalmist, after expressing his trust in the LORD, decries the intention of the wicked to oppress, moreover, to destroy the "upright in heart".  This, simply, is the context for the question we are considering.  By inference, then, we can understand that the "foundations" must involve something that was meant to restrain the wicked from oppressing the upright.  Foundations, of course, serve as the most basic parts of the structures they support, without which, foundations, the structure itself cannot stand.  The structure in this instance is civil society, that is, orderly and peaceful coexistence of persons in society.  The foundations of civil society are, preeminently, law and government.  The very next Psalm (12) tells us what happens when law and government are corrupted:  "The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted" (verse 8).

It seems to be an oxymoron: the fact, that the body of laws in America has never been more voluminous, yet there is more crime and violence and oppression now than ever before.  In reality, it is not a contradiction.  But the ever-increasing mass of written laws, in fact, is the consequence and the product of a spirit of lawlessness.

God ordained the institution of human government.  Romans chapter 13 clearly expounds the purposes--and limits--of civil government:
Some people foolishly suppose that Romans chapter 13 teaches that God has "ordained" every person in government.  They misunderstand the meaning of verse 1 which states, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."  The "powers that be", however, is not a reference to individuals, but to the ordinances of God; in the case at hand, God's ordinaces involving civil government.  The very next verse (vs 2) explicitly states that idea: "Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God...."

The distinction is most important.  For, if one believes that God himself has "ordained" this or that individual to rule over men, then, it were sin ever to oppose the will of such an individual.  Obviously, that idea is absurd.  Who would suppose, for example, that God "ordained" a man like Adolph Hitler to rule over the German people, that God thus "ordained" that Hitler and the German government should carry into effect the unspeakable atrocities for which they were responsible?  When, as shown above, God ordained  the institution of government with its rulers not to perpetrate evil deeds but to punish evil doers.

Here are some of the ordinances of God, pertaining to civil government and civil rulers:

He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.  (2 Samuel 23:3b)

For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king (Isaiah 33:22a)

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy (James 4:12)

God's will for human government is clearly stated.  God is not unrighteous.  Everyone who rightly divides the Word of God understands that God has not "ordained" such an one as Barak Obama, to rule over the American people.  Nor has God ordained any other ungodly person in government.  Nevertheless, every level of government in America has come to be utterly dominated by the ungodly.  Those rulers are not obedient to the will of God.  The laws they formulate are derived not from a good understanding of Scripture but from their own evil minds.  Evil rulers care nothing for the ordinances of the "one lawgiver" who is Christ.

The laws they make are almost wholly intended for their personal interests and those of so-called 'special interest groups' which trade money for favors of evil politicians.  So, a veritable jungle of laws issues ceaselessly from the minds of ungodly men and women (who make a profession of making laws), until the tangled mass of laws steadily overspreads itself like the Kudzu vine, rapidly overtaking and suffocating everything to which it attaches.

One of the first things law students learn about America's legal system, is, that the body of law, which once was largely based upon ideas derived from Scripture, has been uprooted from that firm foundation and attempted to be placed upon another.  Contemporary so-called jurisprudene (the philosophy and practice of law) is not concerned with morality (morality: a concept that postmodern culture no longer accepts and, of course, cannot possibly define).  But the current philosophy and practice of law is supposed to stand upon a foundation commonly called "case law", where "precedent" is supposed to serve as a guiding light.  In truth, the whole system is irrational and immoral.  (If you may be interested to further discuss this idea, I will be glad to develop it much more fully than I have here).

The foundations are thus identified as being law and government.  The destruction, of those foundations, has likewise at least been suggested.  When law is immoral and government is in the hands of wicked persons, it follows that civil order and peaceful coexistence cannot long continue.  That process of degeneration must result in economic--and, eventually, political--disaster as well.

Countless examples of the irrationality and destructiveness of contemporary American law (and government)are easily demonstrated.  It should not be necessary, in order to affirm the claims herein stated.

But now the real concern is, What can the righteous do?

I will take up that important discussion in my next blog.  Stay tuned.

[R]ulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil....  [D]o that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he [civil ruler] is the minister of God to thee for good.  But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.  (verses 3, 4)

<To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David>  In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?  For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?  The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.  The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.  For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.