April 22
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THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU ARE THE MOST HIGH
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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In this song, Asaph runs to God for rescue from the Gentiles who formed alliances to bring down the people of God. He recalls how God delivered them from the Midianites, Siserites and Jabinites at the Kishon river by crushing them and becoming dung for the ground. He particularly names their nobles like Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna who wanted to take possession of God’s pastures. What a strategy to win! Running to God and reminding him of his great deeds for them in the past!
In the ESV study bible, the basic request is that these enemies would utterly fail in their scheme. The ultimate reason for Israel’s existence is to serve God’s purpose of restoring true worship and authentic human life among all mankind. Therefore, it is really for the good of these hostile Gentiles that they fail in their plan to destroy Israel.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for all the mighty wondrous deeds he does for his people.
CONFESSION: The Lord is our rescuer, our strength and our fortress.
THANKSGIVING: Let us give thanks to a God who constantly protects the righteous.
SUPPLICATION: May all of the schemes of the enemy be exposed and destroyed so that there will be no more impediments in worshiping and giving God the glory.
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REFLECTION
• What are some of the tactics or schemes of Satan to destroy God’s people?
• What attacks from the enemy have you encountered lately? How did you respond?