Deal with Your Enemies

Psalm 83

• Psalm of Asaph (final psalm)• Occasion unknown:• Possibly 2 Chron. 20 with

Jehosephat – delivered from Moab & Ammon

• Or 2 Sam. 10 – David fighting against Ammon & Syria

• Or some unnamed battle

• OR – not an actual battle, but an occasion when Israel is being oppressed, and the psalmist reminds them of past deliverance.

• We live in times where we are surrounded by enemies – and can take consolation in this psalm!

A Plea for God to intercede (1-4)

• Do not keep silent (1) – UrgencyPleading with God to actGod’s silence

• Let us learn to wait for Him – Luke 18:7-8, Isa. 59:2, 1:15, Psa. 66:18 – silence due to sin

• Enemies causing tumult (2-3)

•Psa. 2:1-2 why do the nations rage?

• Crafty counsel – cf. Luke 20:20, Jn. 11:43-45

• Let us be awake – Rom. 13:11, 1 Pet. 5:8

A Plea for God to intercede (1-4)

• “Sheltered ones” (3) those who seek refuge in Him – the truly faithful

• Their desire – utterly destroy God’s people – History is filled with examples of this. Do NOT forget more subtle ways!

A Plea for God to intercede (1-4)

A confederacy of enemies (5-8)

• Sometimes enemies join together to defeat a “common foe”

A confederacy of enemies (5-8)

• Numerous enemies mentioned:• Tents of Edom – Esau• Ishmaelites – Abraham’s eldest• Moab (& Ammon) – illegitimate

sons of Lot• Hagrites?• Gebal – possibly a city of Tyre (Ezek. 27:9)

A confederacy of enemies (5-8)

• Numerous enemies mentioned:

• Amalek – Gen. 36:12 (Esau)• Philistia & Tyre – coastal

enemies• Assyria – Israel’s eventual

captors

A confederacy of enemies (5-8)

• An “impressive list” of enemies:

• Found in every direction• Recall: Why did they have

such enemies? Josh. 23, Jdg. 1:27-36, 2:1-5, 10-14

• Israel was their own worst enemy!

We too have enemies on every side.

Like the psalmist, let us appeal to Him

Deal with these enemies (9-12)

• “Deal with them” – let God deal with them! (cf. 2 Thess. 1:6-9)

• In times past God had:• Defeated Midian Num. 31:1-11

• Defeated Sisera & Jabin – Judges 4 & 5

Deal with these enemies (9-12)

• In times past God had:

• Defeated Oreb and Zeeb (Midianites)Judges 7-8 – with help of Gideon & his 300

• Defeated Zeba & Zalmunna – Kings of Midian – Judges 8

Deal with these enemies (9-12)

• Again, an “impressive list” of the power of God to defeat His (and our) enemies.

•2 Pet. 2:9, Rom. 8:31, 37 – More than conquerors

An appeal for defeat (13-18)

• Imprecatory request – - make them like whirling dust- burned as a mountain- destroyed by a strong storm- faces filled with shame

An appeal for defeat (13-18)

• “That they may seek Your name, O Lord”we are to love our enemies – Matt. 5:43-44, Rom. 12:17-21

• Let them be confounded and dismayed – don’t quit! Matt. 10:22, 2 Tim. 3:12-14

An appeal for defeat (13-18)

• That they may know…He IS in charge – Psa. 24:1, 1 Cor. 10:26-28 “The earth is the Lord’s”

• One day – every knee shall bow – Phil. 2:10-11

Do you trust Him?