December 3
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PSALM 83 DO NOT BE SILENT LORD
O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.
3 They lay crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your treasured ones.
4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
5 For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah
–Psalm 83:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, I come to you with trembling and fear
Do not be silent as the enemies conspire with one accord
They are determined to wipe out those whom you love
Hear my plea O God of my salvation, come to our rescue!
Do you not see how they have enslaved your people?
How long before you avenge us from their cruelty?
It is wearisome to watch the violence all around us
Will you continue to be quiet as they devour your people?
Those who hate you are all contriving to bring us down
Will you allow them to oppress and keep us in bondage?
Give us strength to endure all the persecution and suffering
O Lord, make haste to come to our aid and bring us deliverance.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it a good practice to plead the Lord when we are being pressed down with attacks from the enemy?
• How do you make sense of much suffering experienced by those who are persecuted for their faith? Is God silent when they are killed?