December 4
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PSALM 83 THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU
9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10 who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.”
13 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane!
16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O LORD.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace,
18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD,
are the Most High over all the earth.– Psalm 83:9-18
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, pay attention to the deeds of the wicked towards your people
You see and know all things; let them stop from doing more damage
They boast about things that they don’t really grasp or know
They think highly of themselves and give others a blow.
It is unthinkable how they make others suffer when they take control
Will you expose all their plans to manipulate so others can bow to their idols?
O Lord, how long will you let these chaos and conflict continue?
I plead you to rebuke them that they may know who is the most powerful.
Cover all those who take shelter in you from their evil ways and wickedness
Keep your people from their tactics and guide them towards godliness
Put them in their places so that they may know who you really are
Bless your faithful ones so that they may continually worship and praise you.
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REFLECTION
• Asaph’s psalm speaks of the unthinkable things that God’s people suffer from the enemies. What are the promises of God that Asaph asks God to fulfill in this community lament?
• Should we also pray like Asaph when we are overwhelmed by the enemy’s tactics?