September 14, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Praying Dangerously

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Father, Your embrace comforts me and Your presence empowers me. I rejoice in the security You give me.

Read Psalm 83:1-18

[1] A song. A psalm of Asaph. O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God. [2] See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads. [3] With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. [4] “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” [5] With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you- [6] the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, [7] Byblos, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. [8] Even Assyria has joined them to reinforce Lot’s descendants. [9] Do to them as you did to Midian, as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, [10] who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground. [11] Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, [12] who said, “Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God.” [13] Make them like tumbleweed, my God, like chaff before the wind. [14] As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze, [15] so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm. [16] Cover their faces with shame, LORD, so that they will seek your name. [17] May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. [18] Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD- that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

What can this angry, outspoken song say to us today? It seems so local, so specific to one people’s history (5-11).

Feelings are raw in this psalm. A time of desperate national crisis produces desperate cries for help. “Do something, God!” In the mention of ten nations there is no specific event in mind; in the Bible ten means totality. This is a way of saying that the enemies of God’s people (and therefore of God himself) are planning total annihilation of the witness to God’s world sovereignty.

Having outlined the frightening realities to God, the worship leader next prays, “Do as you have done before, Lord!” Looking back to how God acted in the days of the Judges encourages the congregation. The word pictures of twisters and brushfire remind them of the power of the Most High; they are content to leave all vengeance to God, while also desiring his glory in the conversion of their enemies (13-18).

In many parts of the world today the very existence of the church is threatened, and even in the West there is a growing tide of secularism bent on exterminating all credible witness to the Most High God. Paul called it “the cosmic powers of this present darkness” (Eph. 6:12, NRSV). It is surely right to pray for the vindication of God’s world sovereignty. We can look back to what he has done in the past and be encouraged. We can still ask God to act, even though Jesus counsels us to pray for the human personification of our enemies rather than against them (Matt. 5:44). We can still pray that they will be put to shame in order that they may seek his name and come to recognize that God in Christ is alone the Most High over all the earth.

Apply

Who are the opponents before you (or your church) right now? How can you live out the truth; “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44)?

Closing prayer

Loving Lord, You have been gracious and generous to me. I admit I have hostility in my heart to some, so I pray Your blessing on them. Help me to let go of this negativity.

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