Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 83:1-8
Ps. 83:1-8
1 O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. 2 See how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. 3 With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. 4 "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more." 5 With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you--
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, 7 Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. 8 Even Assyria has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot.
Acts 5:33-34, 38-39
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
Over the years, there have been many attempts by Satan to try to destroy the people of God. As in this Psalm, there have been many nations that have tried to get rid of the Jews. After the establishment of Christianity, there have been many attempts to get rid of those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord. God has overthrown every attempt. While many have died for their faith, his people continue.
Even though the Jews at the time of this Psalm were the physical nation of God’s people, the Psalmist is not asking for personal or national vengeance. He is asking that God destroy his enemies so his name will be glorified and others will see that he alone is the God who controls nations. His heart was set on honoring God.
Jesus said his kingdom is not of this world or else his servants would fight. Our battle today is against the same enemy, Satan, but it is a spiritual battle. This battle is against our hearts and our minds and the goal is to detract us from faith in God and the resulting service to him. We must ever be true to Jesus as King.
Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you provide me with all that is necessary for me to win in my battle against Satan. Help me never become complacent or overly confident in my own strength. Keep me focused on you and allow your Holy Spirit to work in my heart and in my life so that I become more like you every day. As Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage, you have delivered me from the bondage of sin. Help me never forget this and to always be thankful to you and faithful in serving you by serving others. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
