Psa 83
Scripture:
[1] O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
[2] For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads.
[3] They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.
[4] They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
Observation:
This was a call for God’s righteous judgement written at a time of great turmoil for Israel. They were constantly attacked and surrounded by enemies who tried to wipe them out as a nation and as a people. Their enemies were trying to erase all memories of them.
As Asaph cries out in this psalm, I can’t help but draw a parallel to what is happening these days to this country and to the Church.
Application:
I’m not saying that the United States is a chosen people as Israel was, but each of us, as Christians, have been chosen and grafted in.
Similar to what is happening in the United States and the Church where, what I believe to be a minority of outsiders (I call them outsiders since I believe them to be primarily controlled and driven by godless people), are trying to erase the history of a great nation, and our Christian values along with it. They are attempting to erase all memories of a land where people came to practice religious freedom, building a nation wholly based on Christian values. If we are sleeping, this godless minority will restart a totally godless nation right under our noses. The future will be different than anything we would have imagined only a few years ago.
Yes, God is in control even if we don’t feel it. Enemies surround us but we are not to be afraid.. “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim 1:7). We have power. What I’m saying is that we have power and cannot be silent. We need to cry out to God as Asaph did in this psalm. If ever there was a time where we need to pray, it is now. If ever there was a time where we should ask for God’s righteous judgement, it is now.
Pray for our nation. Pray for our leaders. “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:21). Pray for our Church. Pray for wisdom – that God let us know how to navigate these times in the country and the Church. Pray that we understand how God wants to use us in these difficult times, and pray that we obey his commands.
Prayer:
Lord we love you. Thank you for the gift of faith and for opening our eyes and our hearts. Help us understand your way, especially in these trying and turbulent times. Lead us in your way and help us stay united as a Church as we live amongst what seems like a growing culture trying to crush our voice and our spirit. We know that through all of this, you are in total control and in that, we find comfort and peace. In Jesus mighty name we pray, amen.