Psalm 83 - Let them know

Read: Psalm 83 vs 1-18

Psalm 83 is a prayer prayed in the middle of the things. The things that are going on and the things that surround Asaph as he prays are not good. Asaph was a ‘Levite’, someone who served God in the temple. He worked under the supervision of the king, he was ‘skilled in music’ and his job was to lead the people in praise, and through music to keep a worshipping people focused and centred on God (1 Chronicles 25:6). 

So how do you do this job when enemies are ‘growling’ and the foes of God’s people are ‘rearing their heads’ (Psalm 83:2). What songs do you write for the people, or encourage them to sing when other peoples are actively plotting against God’s people (vs 3)? What songs do you write or sing when in the middle of all of this God is silent (vs 1)?

Well Asaph is not silent and as he sings he calls out to God to not remain silent and to not to stand far away (vs 1). There is nothing vague about this song. The enemies who are causing Asaph distress have names, Asaph can literally list who they are (vs 5-8). 

How can a Christian love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44) if they have never named those enemies.? Naming those who threaten us and who want to harm is an important moment in this song.

But where is love as Asaph prays that these same enemies will perish (vs 10) and be terrified by a God induced storm (vs 15)? The key verse, the line where this song comes to land is found in vs 16:

‘Cover their faces with shame, LORD, so that they will seek your name.’

As Asaph leads the people in song and prayer his greatest ambition is not that he and his people will be delivered from harm (though he does pray that), neither is it that their enemies will be punished (though that is in there too), but rather it is that all people (including those now opposed to him) will come to bow before God in worship. In love for God, and in love for his enemies, this is the outcome, he prays for. This will be a very good outcome for everyone. 

Prayer: Lord help me to care when people oppose you. Help me, in love, to long to see enemies transformed into worshippers. Lord you can do this, teach me to pray for this. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.