PSALM 83

As the fire burns the woods, And as the flame sets the mountains on fire, 15 So pursue them with Your tempest, And frighten them with Your storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame, That they may seek Your name, O LORD. 17 Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish, 18 That they may know that You, whose name alone [is] the LORD, [Are] the Most High over all the earth.

PSALM 83:14-18

THE CONVERSION OF MY ENEMIES

The Psalmist prays for His enemies. Most of this prayer is dedicated to their destruction and finding out just how wrong they are to defy the hand of God. He is comfortable asking for their total obliteration. It’s what they deserve. There isn’t a whole lot of hope and compassion to spare on enemies… is there?

Most of this Psalm calls for God to act so that the enemies see God is really who He says He is. He wants them to see just how much they have underestimated God. He wants them to bow a knee. He wants them to see God in all of His glory through justice and wrath. Yet in verse sixteen we get a rare glimpse at compassion in the midst of fiery condemnation. He calls for them to, “seek your name.” He calls for the conversion of his enemies.

It might have seemed impossible for the enemies of Israel in the Old Testament to convert to see the LORD as the one true God, yet here we see that prayer request issued. How awesome is God that he not only has the power to decimate his enemies, but that he has the power to convert them into his friends.

And that is what he has done through Jesus Christ. He has reconciled us to him through the cross. Just Read Romans 5:8-10 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

PRAYER

Father, How great you are. While I was a long way off… When I was dead in my trespasses and sin…. When I made myself your enemy… You loved me. Christ died for me. I was redeemed by the blood of the lamb and brought into your family. Thank you that you are the kind of God who transforms enemies into friends even in situations where it seems impossible. Today I lift up those who have made themselves enemies of you by their sin and ask for full and genuine repentance to take place in their lives. I ask for your grace to be poured out and multiplied. Let it go beyond what makes human sense so it is evident that it is a work of You Lord! You are worthy or all praise, honor, and glory. You are worthy of worship! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.