deal with your enemies psalm 83
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Deal with Your Enemies Psalm 83. Psalm of Asaph (final psalm) Occasion unknown: Possibly 2 Chron. 20 with Jehosephat – delivered from Moab & Ammon Or 2 Sam. 10 – David fighting against Ammon & Syria Or some unnamed battle. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Deal with Your Enemies
Psalm 83
• Psalm of Asaph (final psalm)• Occasion unknown:• Possibly 2 Chron. 20 with
Jehosephat – delivered from Moab & Ammon
• Or 2 Sam. 10 – David fighting against Ammon & Syria
• Or some unnamed battle
• OR – not an actual battle, but an occasion when Israel is being oppressed, and the psalmist reminds them of past deliverance.
• We live in times where we are surrounded by enemies – and can take consolation in this psalm!
A Plea for God to intercede (1-4)
• Do not keep silent (1) – UrgencyPleading with God to actGod’s silence
• Let us learn to wait for Him – Luke 18:7-8, Isa. 59:2, 1:15, Psa. 66:18 – silence due to sin
• Enemies causing tumult (2-3)
•Psa. 2:1-2 why do the nations rage?
• Crafty counsel – cf. Luke 20:20, Jn. 11:43-45
• Let us be awake – Rom. 13:11, 1 Pet. 5:8
A Plea for God to intercede (1-4)
• “Sheltered ones” (3) those who seek refuge in Him – the truly faithful
• Their desire – utterly destroy God’s people – History is filled with examples of this. Do NOT forget more subtle ways!
A Plea for God to intercede (1-4)
A confederacy of enemies (5-8)
• Sometimes enemies join together to defeat a “common foe”
A confederacy of enemies (5-8)
• Numerous enemies mentioned:• Tents of Edom – Esau• Ishmaelites – Abraham’s eldest• Moab (& Ammon) – illegitimate
sons of Lot• Hagrites?• Gebal – possibly a city of Tyre (Ezek. 27:9)
A confederacy of enemies (5-8)
• Numerous enemies mentioned:
• Amalek – Gen. 36:12 (Esau)• Philistia & Tyre – coastal
enemies• Assyria – Israel’s eventual
captors
A confederacy of enemies (5-8)
• An “impressive list” of enemies:
• Found in every direction• Recall: Why did they have
such enemies? Josh. 23, Jdg. 1:27-36, 2:1-5, 10-14
• Israel was their own worst enemy!
We too have enemies on every side.
Like the psalmist, let us appeal to Him
Deal with these enemies (9-12)
• “Deal with them” – let God deal with them! (cf. 2 Thess. 1:6-9)
• In times past God had:• Defeated Midian Num. 31:1-11
• Defeated Sisera & Jabin – Judges 4 & 5
Deal with these enemies (9-12)
• In times past God had:
• Defeated Oreb and Zeeb (Midianites)Judges 7-8 – with help of Gideon & his 300
• Defeated Zeba & Zalmunna – Kings of Midian – Judges 8
Deal with these enemies (9-12)
• Again, an “impressive list” of the power of God to defeat His (and our) enemies.
•2 Pet. 2:9, Rom. 8:31, 37 – More than conquerors
An appeal for defeat (13-18)
• Imprecatory request – - make them like whirling dust- burned as a mountain- destroyed by a strong storm- faces filled with shame
An appeal for defeat (13-18)
• “That they may seek Your name, O Lord”we are to love our enemies – Matt. 5:43-44, Rom. 12:17-21
• Let them be confounded and dismayed – don’t quit! Matt. 10:22, 2 Tim. 3:12-14
An appeal for defeat (13-18)
• That they may know…He IS in charge – Psa. 24:1, 1 Cor. 10:26-28 “The earth is the Lord’s”
• One day – every knee shall bow – Phil. 2:10-11
Do you trust Him?