“THE PSALMIST’S PLEA FOR JUSTICE” PSALM 83:1-18

The psalmist, Asaph, is lamenting earnestly for the Lord to execute justice.  Judah is bombarded about with enemies, and Asaph is asking for God’s help.  In a similar fashion, Asaph appealed for mercy in behalf of his people, for Psalm 79:5, 8-9 says:  “How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.  “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.”  We need God’s mercy every moment of our existence, especially during our crisis moments.  Would you agree with me?  When you are in trouble, you need to find perfect comfort in the Rock, the source of your strength, for Psalm 18:1-2 says: “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

In verses 1-8, the psalmist in distress calls upon God to help Judah because their enemies plotted to decimate them.  He pleads to God, “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God” (v. 1).  These enemies were even against God Himself as Aspah relates in verse 2, “For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.  These numerous enemies were against God and His people.

As God used His power in His past victories over the nation’s enemies, Asaph is appealing for Him to do so now (vv. 9-16).  In verses 15 and 16 he states, “So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.  Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.”

The psalmist concludes with an appeal for God to destroy and put to shame the enemies of Judah so that God’s name be revered:  “Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:  That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth” (vv. 17-18).

May God Bless!