Passage: Psalm 83
The Big Idea
In Psalm 83, a whole confederacy of nations conspires to wipe Israel’s name from memory. Asaph asks God not to keep silent but to deal with them as He dealt with Midian and Sisera. Yet the goal of his prayer isn’t simply destruction: Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord, so they will know that He alone is the Most High over all the earth.
Reflections
Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace (v. 1). I can cry out to You in reverent fear. I trust You’re in control and have a will for my life, and part of that will is for me to cry out to You in every trial. I want to hear You, and I want the world to hear You. Don’t be still. Move. Break hard hearts by Your power.
For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; those who hate You have lifted up their head (v. 2). They aren’t really my enemies; they hate You. I submit to Your rule and delight to do Your will. I make myself weak before You and the world for Your sake, so Your grace can be magnified.
They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones (v. 3). Your sheltered ones! I’m hidden in You. I have no protection except You. I’d rather die than be outside Your care. Defend me from their plans.
Let us cut them off from being a nation (vv. 4-8). In eternity, everything will look different. Give me eyes to see eternity now, and patience, love and commitment to pray and trust. Hold me up and keep me from falling.
Deal with them as with Midian, as with Sisera (vv. 9-15). Make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind: no threat, no danger, just a vapor. Protect our lives and reputations. Show Your grace so the world sees how You look after Your children, silly as we are. You’re my Father. Discipline me Yourself, in Your wisdom; I want Your hand of mercy.
Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord (v. 16). This is the heart of it. When they lose, maybe they’ll seek Your mercy. I hope that’s the end of the story. Don’t let rebellion succeed, so that people will call out to You. I’ve warned and I’ve tried. Only You can do it. It would be wonderful for everyone, my family and my opponents, to seek Your name.
That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth (vv. 17-18). That’s the goal: that the whole world would know who You are.
Grace Takeaway
Even our hardest prayers against opposition can carry God’s heart: that those who oppose Him would be humbled and seek His name. You’re one of His sheltered ones. Let Him handle the conspiracy, and pray for your opponents to find mercy.
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