The Enemy Exposed and Our Secret Weapon Revealed: Psalm 83
“1) O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. 2) For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, And those who hate You have exalted themselves. 3) They make shrewd plans against Your people, And conspire together against Your treasured ones. 4) They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, That the name of Israel be remembered no more.” 5) For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You they make a covenant:” Psalms 83:1-5
This Psalm pulls the mask off an aspect of spiritual warfare. Evil and wicked nations plot together for the destruction of Israel. They hate Gods people without cause.
I would say it is the Old Testament equivalent of Revelation 12. That chapter unpacks the unseen forces in the battle. It ends by saying; “17) So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Make no mistake, Gods people have evil and irrational enemies against them. They are targeted for destruction.
But the amazing thing about Psalm 83 is that it is proactive. It calls on God to frustrate the plans of the adversaries. I love verses 13-18. They call upon God to action. Listen to these verses:
“13) O my God, make them like the whirling dust, Like chaff before the wind. 14) Like fire that burns the forest And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire, 15) So pursue them with Your tempest And terrify them with Your storm. 16) Fill their faces with dishonor, That they may seek Your name, O Lord. 17) Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever, And let them be humiliated and perish, 18) That they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalms 83:13-18
We need that kind of praying today. God can work in ways we cannot. God has a perspective we do not. God can work in situations we cannot.
I admit, there are heart breaking situations around the world today that seem impossible. Haiti with all the gangs and corruption is one example that is heart wrenching. But that doesn’t mean there is no hope.
Let me make an observation from Psalm 83; “Prayer is not useless!” Prayer is more than a “last resort.” Intentional, urgent, diligent and purposeful prayer turns the situation over to the mighty hand of God.
The kind of praying exemplified in the above verses acknowledges the problem, but it also says, “God, we cannot, but You can!” This kind of praying changes things because it calls on God to step up and take over.
It closes by reminding God that His reputation is at stake in the outcome. This is very bold praying, but it is what God expects from us.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“1) O God, do not remain quiet; Do not be silent and, O God, do not be still. 2) For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, And those who hate You have exalted themselves. 3) They make shrewd plans against Your people, And conspire together against Your treasured ones. 4) They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, That the name of Israel be remembered no more.” 5) For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You they make a covenant:” Psalms 83:1-5
This Psalm pulls the mask off an aspect of spiritual warfare. Evil and wicked nations plot together for the destruction of Israel. They hate Gods people without cause.
I would say it is the Old Testament equivalent of Revelation 12. That chapter unpacks the unseen forces in the battle. It ends by saying; “17) So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Make no mistake, Gods people have evil and irrational enemies against them. They are targeted for destruction.
But the amazing thing about Psalm 83 is that it is proactive. It calls on God to frustrate the plans of the adversaries. I love verses 13-18. They call upon God to action. Listen to these verses:
“13) O my God, make them like the whirling dust, Like chaff before the wind. 14) Like fire that burns the forest And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire, 15) So pursue them with Your tempest And terrify them with Your storm. 16) Fill their faces with dishonor, That they may seek Your name, O Lord. 17) Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever, And let them be humiliated and perish, 18) That they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalms 83:13-18
We need that kind of praying today. God can work in ways we cannot. God has a perspective we do not. God can work in situations we cannot.
I admit, there are heart breaking situations around the world today that seem impossible. Haiti with all the gangs and corruption is one example that is heart wrenching. But that doesn’t mean there is no hope.
Let me make an observation from Psalm 83; “Prayer is not useless!” Prayer is more than a “last resort.” Intentional, urgent, diligent and purposeful prayer turns the situation over to the mighty hand of God.
The kind of praying exemplified in the above verses acknowledges the problem, but it also says, “God, we cannot, but You can!” This kind of praying changes things because it calls on God to step up and take over.
It closes by reminding God that His reputation is at stake in the outcome. This is very bold praying, but it is what God expects from us.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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