Psalm 83

Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. (vv 1-3)

This powerful psalmist is doing again what he did best - petitioning God on behalf of his people. Enemy nations had invaded and terrorised Israel through the years, and, naming them one by one, Asaph asks God for help. As a reference point and reminder of God's ability, he calls to mind kings and nations that had come up against Israel's mighty God and been destroyed:

Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. (vv 9-12)

Although the psalmist asks that the enemy be dealt frightening and dangerous blows (vv 9-16), his ultimate intent is found in verses 16 and 18:

...that they may seek thy name, O LORD....That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Saint of God, are you persecuted for being God's child? Are you trying to live for God yet find yourself being constantly tripped up by that enemy of Christ, Satan, and his wiles? Or, on a wider scale, are you heartbroken at the sad state of the church as you observe all manner of atrocities committed within or on the body of Christ? How often do you stand before God on this? When you listen to world news, you feel physical pain for God's nation, Israel (for she is still God's chosen nation)?

We could ask ourselves question after question arising out of our meditation on this psalm, however, as you read through Psalm 83, consider the following:

God is the same yesterday today and for all eternity. He delights in the prosperity of the saints, and He will arise and fight for His own. He has done it before and will do it again. But He is calling you, upon whose heart He has placed this burden, to pray. When you give yourself to prayer, God will use your tongue, like the pen of a ready writer, to speak His will into existence. Then, when His purpose is accomplished, men will see, fear, and put their trust in the Lord; and He will be glorified.

Pray for peace in Jerusalem, pray for the nations, pray for the church of God, pray for those who spitefully use you and pray to withstand the deceitful wiles of the devil.

Child of God, whatever else you do today, please pray!

Psalm 83 Full Reading