Surrounded Psalm 83-85

Hear the reality of the prayer that is offered up by the sons of Asaph on behalf of Israel. Truly the times they lived through were often harsh and violent. And we often can get frustrated wondering why God is allowing this or being quiet. Here we are still in Book 3 of the psalms . There is faithfulness and unfaithfulness and constant struggle in the land of these songs.

Psalm 83:title–8 “ A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. 1 Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, And do not be still, O God! 2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” 5 For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah”

Like many laments this starts out like we do, crying out first to God then naming off a list of things. Reminding God in case he is missing it, that the enemies of His are coming against them.

we often do the same when feel surrounded Verses 5–8 describe encirclement: Edomites, Ishmaelites, Hagrites, Gebal, Bedouin from the eastern and southern desert, Ammon and Amalek from the northeast, Philistia and Tyre from west and northwest, and Assyria.

When your “enemies” you cares surround you, who do you put them on? 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

In vv2-12 we see them ask God to do what did with Midianites that came against Israel that Deborah & Gideon were raised up (Jg 4-8) God has his ways and timing.

a confederacy (bi-rit) isn't like in the civil war, its these guys are working from every side to come against them. Kind of like today! v4 they want to erase the name Israel! This is the declaration of Hamas! Of the Nazi party. Of all who seek her destruction.

Psalm 83:9–12 “ Deal with them as with Midian, As with Sisera, As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon, 10 Who perished at En Dor, Who became as refuse on the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna midianite princes (Jg 7 Gideon), 12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves The pastures of God for a possession.””

And whats the process? Well surely the songwriters are pretty confident in God -

Psalm 83:13–18 “ O my God, make them like the whirling dust, Like the chaff before the wind! 14 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.”

One of the things Deborah said stuck out to me - Judges 5:2 “ “When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!” - its a very convicting verse. And I don’t want to spend too much time here because it hurts.

Now the sons of Korah back on deck

Psalm 84:title–12 “ To the Chief Musician. On An Instrument of Gath. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. one commentator said new year festival 1 How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young— Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your anointed. 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!”

Does this mean they or we were free from sickness/suffering? No. We live in (mostly) constant rebellion against God preventing a natural healthy relationship with creation.

at same time, He does say blessed is the man who trusts in you!

Psalm 85:title–13 “ To the Chief Musician. A Psalm Of the Sons of Korah. 1 Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. (post exilic to devastation) 2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. Selah 3 You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger. 4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation. 8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. (dont let us be idiots) 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before Him, And shall make His footsteps our pathway.”

Again, we have failed, Lord hear and see our repentance. Like we men read in 1Pet1 our salvation produces our obedience not obedience salvation. The Lord saves the Lord restores and lifts up by the Holy Spirit.

God witnesses the heart, man and god testify via obeying the word. Here their repentance is let us walk in you! Let us practice obedience and see the fruit of what God does in it. Their return doesn't mean all perfect. God read Nehemiah.

Sing Trading My Sorrows

Historical Footnote: Satan is always trying to destroy Gods people - One example was the Roman Emperor Diocletian (A.D. 284-305). Diocletian boasted that he had destroyed Christianity. He liked to think that he had defeated Christianity. He ordered a medal to be made with this inscription: “The name of Christianity being extinguished.” Diocletian also set up at least two monuments on the frontier of the empire with these inscriptions:

Diocletian Jovian Maximian Herculeus Caesares Augusti for having extended the Roman Empire in the east and the west and for having extinguished the name of Christians who brought the Republic to ruin

Diocletian Jovian Maximian Herculeus Caesares Augusti for having everywhere abolished the superstition of Christ for having extended the worship of the gods

iv. Diocletian is dead and gone, comparatively a footnote on the pages of history. The fame and glory of Jesus Christ is spread over all the earth. God still takes care of His sheltered ones.