Psalm 83
The setting of this psalm is a setting of danger for Israel. Attack is possible from almost every side. Many enemies have allied themselves together against them. Those of Israel who are moved by the Spirit of God have gathered together at the temple for prayer. Asaph has composed this prayer-song for the occasion.
But he doesn't pray as we might expect. He doesn't say, "Help us overcome them, powerful as they are, O Lord!" He doesn't say, "Grant, Lord, that every man of us may act like ten, that we may be powerful to defeat these enemies." He does pray for victory, but it is for God's victory, not merely that Israel's victory for which he prays.
He tells God, "For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head." In the same vein, he says, "For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You." He goes on to tell Him about their enemies' crime. He explains that they are saying, "Let us take for ourselves the pastures of God for a possession." So he finally ends the psalm by saying, "Yes, let them be put to shame and perish, that they may know that You, Whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth!"
So it should be for us as well. We battle the world, the flesh, and the Devil because we want our lives - all we think, say, or do - to be to the glory of our God. But the victories we win must not be for the purpose of winning commendations for ourselves. Instead, our desire should be that God be glorified not only in our lives, but in the battles themselves - that He might not only enable us to defeat the enemy, but that it might be most obvious that He has defeated HIS enemies. We shouldn't desire that WE may be seen as spiritually strong, but that HE may be seen as loving, merciful, and powerful to save.
How is it with you today? The first essential question is whether you are even aware of battles. Are you aware of a conflict with sin and self and do you desire God's glory in it? Even more to the point - do you want Him to glorify Himself in you? How much do you want every thought you think, every word you say, and every action you take to be pleasing to Him and glorifying to Him? Do you realize that there are enemies of God's Kingdom all around you? Do you recognize that He is walking with you through the day? Oh pray, then, for grace! Pray that your Lord's enemies may be defeated. Pray that it may be easily seen that it happened by His power and grace!
Brother Al: Why is it that some of us go through so many more battles than other Christian? I think of my friend Kitty, in the 5 years I have known her she has had so many battles in all aspects of her life. She gets angry with God and tells Him so.
Then I look at my life and I don't see the extreme battles going on. I have been told that when one is facing so many battles it is becaue they are doing what is right and that if we do not have name battles that satan doesn't care about getting to us. Sometimes it is all so confusing.
Thanks for that question - it's a good one. Our Heavenly Father, of course, knows us absolutely perfectly. He knows every aspect of our personalities, every difficulty we've ever faced, every sinful tendency we have, every weakness we have - everything! Knowing so much about us, He also knows what to do to grow us, to humble us, to move us to trust, etc., etc. He knows just exactly where He wants us to be twenty years from now, six months from now, and tomorrow morning.
Battles are just one aspect of the Christian life. They're useful for many, many things in shaping us according to the image of Christ. Also, He is fully intent upon glorifying Himself - whether by our winning the battle, losing it, or the way we fight it. You can count on it - His love for us and His intention to glorify Himself always work perfectly together.
There - that's way more than you bargained for, right? The ultimate answer is - we don't (can't) know why each of us has the battles we have, but we can be sure it's for our good and His glory.
Thanks Al I needed that. I often pondered WHY my battles seem so small compared to others. I do know that I maintain my faith and trust in Him, where as others seem to take back that trust when things don't go as "they" want them to go. I rtry to just go with what God has for me.
Thankyou Al.
This is true re Israel's enemies but offensive to some who want to see peace in the Middle East.....although I realise that without these battles there would be no Israel.
Verses 12-15 are vengeful and this psalm does nothing to promote peace.
I pray too that all in Israel region, both Jew and Arab may come to know Jesus as their saviour (v 18).
Marilyn.
Surely you have fought many battles and the Lord has given you the victory.
I think the Lord is now preparing you for a major battle and He is giving you a time of peace to prepare.
He has a mighty work for you to do.
Thank you, Jenny. I'm not personally convinced that this psalm is saying anything to modern-day Israel, but rather to the present Israel of God (us). It is over those battles that all the heavenly host will rejoice when God is revealed as the Victor!
(Al, this is a wee bit different from the Word file you sent)
Pat - pick the one you like the best. That's the right one!
Just want to have what you consider to be the up to date one. ;)
My recollection is getting a bit hazy, but I think the one I sent you is the most up-to-date one.
OK I'll copy and paste that one into here.
Thanks for such graciousness!