Have you ever felt surrounded by enemies or overwhelmed by challenges you face, desperate for God’s intervention?
Psalm 83 resonates with the cry of the oppressed, seeking divine help in the face of overwhelming opposition or struggle.
Reconnect: Continuing our journey through the Psalms, we arrive at Psalm 83, a poignant plea for God’s protection amidst fierce adversaries. As we explore this heartfelt prayer, let us uncover its timeless relevance in our own struggles against spiritual and earthly foes as well as consider that sometimes the struggles or challenges we find overwhelming, may not be “enemies” but difficult situations we find ourselves dealing with.
(Summarized and continued after scripture)
God Implored to Confound His Enemies.
A Song, a Psalm of Asaph.
1O God, do not remain quiet;
Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still.
2For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
And those who hate You have exalted themselves.
3They make shrewd plans against Your people,
And conspire together against Your treasured ones.
4They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation,
That the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
5For they have conspired together with one mind;
Against You they make a covenant:
6The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites;
7Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8Assyria also has joined with them;
They have become a help to the children of Lot.
9Deal with them as with Midian,
As with Sisera and Jabin at the torrent of Kishon,
10Who were destroyed at En-dor,
Who became as dung for the ground.
11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb
And all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12Who said, “Let us possess for ourselves
The pastures of God.”
13O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
Like chaff before the wind.
14Like fire that burns the forest
And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire,
15So pursue them with Your tempest
And terrify them with Your storm.
16Fill their faces with dishonor,
That they may seek Your name, O LORD.
17Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever,
And let them be humiliated and perish,
18That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD,
Are the Most High over all the earth.
Summary Key Points:
- The Setting of Conflict: Psalm 83 opens with a vivid depiction of nations conspiring against God’s people, plotting their destruction. The psalmist enumerates various enemy nations, symbolizing the multifaceted threats faced by the faithful.
- A Desperate Plea for Help: Amidst the turmoil, the psalmist implores God to arise and defend His people. The language is urgent, reflecting the dire circumstances and the profound need for divine intervention.
- Recalling God’s Mighty Deeds: In verses 9-12, the psalmist invokes God’s past acts of deliverance, appealing to His faithfulness and power. By remembering God’s interventions in history, the psalmist strengthens the case for His intervention in the present.
- Prayer for Divine Judgment: The psalm concludes with a plea for God to confound and scatter the enemy forces, demonstrating His sovereignty over all nations. The ultimate goal is not merely victory for Israel but the vindication of God’s name and glory.
- Hope Amidst Despair: Despite the dire circumstances portrayed in Psalm 83, there is a glimmer of hope in the unwavering trust placed in God’s character. The psalmist finds solace in the belief that God will ultimately triumph over the forces of evil.
Call to Action:
- Pray for Deliverance: Like the psalmist, earnestly seek God’s intervention in times of trouble, trusting in His power to deliver you from adversity.
- Remember God’s Faithfulness: Reflect on God’s past faithfulness in your life and in history, drawing strength from His track record of deliverance.
- Stand Firm in Faith: In the face of opposition and adversity, stand firm in your faith, knowing that God is sovereign and mighty to save.
Closing: Psalm 83 serves as a poignant reminder of the reality of spiritual warfare and the desperate need for God’s intervention in times of crisis. Let us echo the psalmist’s cry for deliverance and find hope in the assurance of God’s ultimate victory over all adversaries.
Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we lift our voices to You in times of trouble, seeking Your deliverance from the schemes of the enemy. Strengthen our faith, O Lord, and grant us the assurance that You are mighty to save. May Your name be exalted above all, and may Your kingdom come, bringing peace and victory to Your people. Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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