That They Might Know The Most High

Well it has been a week hasn’t it?

Hurricane in Texas,

Fire one the reservation,

Assassination attempt of Former President Donald Trump.

And today we come to an imprecatory Psalm. To imprecate means to speak a curse against or to wish God’s judgment upon someone. Thus imprecatory psalms are those where the Psalmist asks God to judge wicked people.

The final stanza of this Psalm and current events makes this a particularly hard text to preach this morning.

Psalm 83:14–16 ESV

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.

At least a dozen families in San Carlos have lost their homes due to the Watch Fire - this has put 75 people out of their homes. Then outside of our community Texas was just hit by a Hurricane Beryl which caused 11 fatalities - and this Psalm ends with the Psalmists praying imprecations of fire and hurricanes upon the enemies of God…

But would you believe this isn’t the first time my sermon text has mentioned God’s wrath bringing fire while a wildfire breaks out…

in 2018 I was preaching Joel 1 when the Holy Fire broke out in Southern California and various church members and their families were evacuated.

On the one hand, I hope none of you think the work of a preacher is easy. On the other hand, it shows us the importance of preaching the whole counsel of God - preaching and teaching all of Scripture.

And if this week, and this text wasn’t going to be tough enough - I am going to ask you a tough question…

Just a moment ago we sang “You can have all this world but give me Jesus.” - did that actually mean anything to you when you sang it? Or was it just words on the screen?

The meaning of the song is though we may lose everything Christ is all satisfying - Christ is more important than anything else in this world.

And there is a sense that this is what the Psalmist is praying. But he’s praying it for others. In this interesting blend of supplication and imprecation - the Psalmist is praying “God take everything from them so that they might know that you alone are God.”

And this is because the psalmist knows that these people are wicked - and the greatest blessing that they will have in this life is not sports cars, riches or health but to repent of their wickedness and know God.

I mentioned previously that these are the Psalms of Asaph. The first of Asaph’s Psalms is Psalm 50, and then in book three they span from 73 to 83. Thus this is last of Asaph’s Psalms.

This morning I am going to divine the text into two sections.

The Plot in verse 1-8, and then the prayer in verses 9-18.

The Plot

The enemies of God seek to wipe out God’s people.

Psalm 83:1 ESV

1 O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

The Psalm begins with a call for God to speak. And as a reminder, book 3 is arranged in a manner that it anticipates the exile and the fall of the Davidic kingdom - and thus is a comfort to those in exile. In the midst of a time when they are anticipating God’s silence - the Psalmist is asking God to break his silence to speak and to pour out judgment.

His reason for doing so is because of the enemies of God have devised crafty plans against God’s people (v. 3). Now the enemies of God are those who are seeking the destruction of God’s people. Asaph in verse 2 identifies these enemies as those who hate God. In this text, the enemies of the people and the enemies of God are the same. THIS is not always the case. Our political enemies are not necessarily the enemies of God. As we looked at last week, sometimes the unjust judges are those in our own country.

And yet this text leaves us in an odd place…

In a week filled with chaos, destruction and confusion - it can be really easy to wonder If God is being silent… It can be easy to feel the same way that the Asaph feels in Ps 77:7-9.

Psalm 77:7–9 ESV

7 “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah

Maybe some of you have felt that this week and maybe you come this morning to church confused… or maybe you don’t… but I’m certain that someone you know is feeling this.

Let me say this - Hurricanes don’t happen because God isn’t strong enough to stop them, fires don’t break out because God closes his eyes and takes a nap.

God is slowly and patiently working to accomplish his purposes.

Ephesians 1:11 teaches us that God is “works all things according to the counsel of his will,”

Romans 8:28 “…for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God is no more surprised by the hurricane or the wildfire than he is the warfare against his people - or even the war against himself. And the end of this text that we are looking this morning shows us that God uses the wind, the fire, the hurricane for his purposes. The weather is not a rogue entity fighting against God’s design but rather his tool in accomplishing his will.

The enemies of God are seeking the total destruction of his people.

The opponents wants to wipe out the nation of Israel that they might be remembered no more.

This is by no means foreign in the Old Testament. We see this with various different battles. Most specifically in the book of Esther where Haman seeks to wipe out the Jews.

At the time this Psalm was written, in the Old Covenant, the primary people to whom God revealed himself were the blood children of Abraham. But in the new covenant, the children of Abraham are those who are in Christ Jesus, as stated in Gal. 3:29.

Those who seek to harm and wipe out the church and his people would be an easy way to see who the enemies of God are.

The language that Asaph uses to describe these enemies is that they are conspiring against God. And even in verse 5 we read:

Psalm 83:5 ESV

5 For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—

This precise language to demonstrate the calculated plot against God. We read in 3 that they left crafty plans, and consult against one They cut a covenant against God. Keep in mind that the major way in which God engages with his people is through covenants - to say that they cut a covenant AGAINST him - demonstrates - their hatred for God.

Additionally, covenants are cut by the shedding of blood. In the slaying of God’s people they cut a covenant against him.

In this instances that the psalmist is referring this is not merely an attack against God’s people, but rather they have declared war against God.

In verses 6-8 the text lists 10 enemies nations seeking to wipe out Israel. The 10 nations here being composed of descendents of Lot and Ishmael as a demonstration of those who had conflict with Abraham. This is showing those who are conspiring together against God and his people. It is an all out total war against God and his people.

Those that hate God, also hate his people. Do not be surprised when those who hate God also hate Christianity also hate you. In fact Jesus told us exactly this.

John 15:18 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

And then in the next chapter Jesus comforts us to tell us that he has overcome the world. Even when the world hates you look to Jesus. While we may face this here in the US by some - we should be reminded of those around the world who are not given the same freedom we are.

This text should drive us to pray for the persecuted church, and the judgment or repentance of their persecutors. There are many who would love to see Christianity stomped out - and many governments around the world who do their best to prevent the growth of Christianity.

Praise God they are failing.

The Prayer

But then the Psalmist compares that in 9-12 to those who the Lord has defeated. Defeat these nations as you have defeated others.

It reminds the reader of the great victories that God has accomplished for his people in Numbers 31, Judges 4, 5, 7, 8.

The first 8 verses of this Psalm is the Psalmist, Asaph, lamenting that enemies of God are pursing the people of God and seeking to destroy them. Then in 9-12, He asks God to remember what he did to Midian, Sisera and Jabin and to do the same to these modern opponents He reminds the reader of God’s faithfulness to bring victory for his people.

Then in the final stanza he calls for a somewhat judgment upon the enemies of God. However, it’s not merely about their destruction. But it is also about God’s glorification. It is also about the sinner’s repentance.

Psalm 83:13 ESV

13 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.

The request is made personal by the Psalmists address “Oh my God,”

Whirling dust could also be translated as tumbleweeds. But even so the wind, and the waves, and fire are often associated with God’s judgment in the Bible.

The argument here is for God to pour out his wrath in many ways upon these enemies…

to make them blow in the wind like chaff - or like a tumbleweed blows through the desert.

Psalm 83:14–15 “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!”

Though these enemies of God seek the Psalmist’s destruction, and his people’s destruction, the Psalmist does not desire the same for them. The Psalmist instead seeks for their humiliation so that God might be glorified.

The goal for which the psalmist desires their faces to be filled with shame is that they might seek the name of the Lord. That they might repent and seek God.

That they might be filled with shame so they might seek God. That they might be dismayed forever to know that the Lord alone is God.

This isn’t the prayer of someone saying “wipe MY enemies off of the map” but rather the prayer of one saying “God, humble your enemies who seek my harm in their hatred of you - so that they might know who you are. Bring your judgment so that you might be glorified.” This text is NOT praying that God would destroy China, or Russia. On this side of the cross, this text is praying that God might humble those who oppose his church and oppose the spreading of the gospel.

The goal of the Psalmist is the same as the song we just sang… except it’s more like a threat than a statement of devotion - Take all the world from them but give them Jesus.

Should we Pray Imprecatory Psalms?

I’m a firm believer that we should pray through Scripture. The Psalms are the song book of the Bible. They teach us how to worship and they teach us how to pray.

In many instances some will tell you not to pray imprecatory Psalms.

I am not one of those people.

You should pray that God judges the wicked. You should pray that God is glorified in his judging of sinners.

So my answer is Yes.

BUT!

A few qualifiers:

You have to have a good standard for wrath and a good standard for wickedness.

If someone going 90 cuts you off on your way to the valley and nearly runs you off the road do not pull over to pray that God rain hellfire upon them…

Be cautious who you pray imprecations on. They ought to be God’s enemies, not just your enemies. Enemies of righteousness not just people you have a grudge against.

The wrath of God is not something to wish upon someone frivolously.

EXAMPLE: There’s a certain obscenity that people use, which I will not repeat - and I hope none of you do either - as it is a violation of the 3rd Commandment - where someone might stub their toe on a book shelf and then they shout…GD it - let the hearer understand - what they are stating in that moment it that whatever they are saying is may God give this book shelf and eternal soul and then damn that book shelf’s soul to hell for all eternity. I mention this as an example that we do not think seriously of the wrath of God.

And we need to take caution if /when we pray Psalms of imprecation against others.

I would even go further to state this Psalm teaches us how we ought to pray imprecatory Psalms.

But do not do so without remembering who you are.

Remember that you have also sinned. And outside of Christ - you are an enemy of God. Outside of Christ you deserve the same wrath.

Christ Jesus on the endured the wrath that we deserve. Those who have faith in Jesus are forgiven of their sins. So for the Christian there is no wrath left to bear.

Jesus endured the wrath of God for us so that we might know that He alone is God. Jesus endured the wrath of the Father so that we might be forgiven of our sins. Jesus endured the wrath of the Father so that God might be glorified.

Jesus was put to shame, so that we might know God alone, whose name is the Lord - is Most High Over all the earth.

APPLICATION:

This psalm should lead us to pray:

And to pray in 3 specific ways.

1. Pray for the persecuted church

2. Pray for those that do not know the Lord, who persecute Christians. Remember that Paul was on his way to persecute Christians when the Lord saved him.

Be cautious that we do think that someone is too far beyond saving and that God might as well bring judgment - thus neglect the second half of the psalmists prayer here - remember that God is the one who saves - not us. God will save every single person whom he intends to save. Our responsibility is to proclaim the gospel, make disciples and to pray.

3. Pray for those who do not know the Lord and set fires that ravage the land. Pray for those who seek the harm of others.

As the Psalmist prays that calamity bring the enemies of God to repent and confess that

Remember that Christ was crushed for the enemies of God that that they might become friends of God.

4. Pray for those who face calamity to rejoice in God.

4.5 Suffering is not meaningless. Not all suffering is God pouring out his wrath. If you are in Christ there is no wrath remaining - but that doesn’t mean you wont be disciplined.

The two ultimate goals that we ought to desire from anyone’s facing of God’s wrath, suffering, or discipline is first, that God be glorified and second that they seek God. In repentance and faith.

Conclusion:

As I mentioned earlier this is the last of Asaph’s Psalms. And as I draw near the conclusion I want to point us back to an earlier Psalm.

Asaph first Psalm in book 3 is Psalm 73. And I think it is appropriate to reflect back on it today. Psalm 73 is a Psalm where Asaph is looking at the world around him and seeing the wicked prosper while he suffers… but eventually he realizes to stop looking at the wicked and instead to look to God. And his response in 25-26 is what we ultimately hope for any who face God’s judgment and discipline.

As a quick addendum, this doesn’t mean we do not help with disaster relief. When someone falls in the mud, we don’t leave them there. We still love our neighbor - but part of loving our neighbor is telling that that getting new stuff to replace what they lost isn’t going to save them. Only Jesus can do that.

Seeking to harm politicians will not fix your problems - only Jesus can do that.

We pray that those who have lost homes in hurricanes or fires to ultimately pray…

Psalm 73:25–26 ESV

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Ultimately, our hope and our prayer is that when God pours out judgment that it would be so that they might know the Most High. And they certainly will - they will either know him as Lord and Savior, or Judge and conquering King.