Today’s passage: Psalm 83
Helpful thoughts:
- In a time of struggle and feeling helpless, the psalmist appeals to God’s work in the past to ask God to work in the present/future.
- God’s actions recounted in verses 9-12 were acts of mercy. Israel had not been following the Lord and had only cried out to Him in their distress.
- Therefore, this psalm is a cry for mercy.
- Verse 16 parallels the beatitude of Matthew 5:3. Until we are humbled, we will not cry out for saving.
- When things are hard and we cry out for mercy, we must remember that God may be using that “Hard” to purify us, to bring us to repentance. It is better to go through hardship and grow then to have it easy all the time and remain in our sin. We often desire “healing” (Physically) more than “healing” (Spiritually). (Hebrews 12:11, James 5:13-20)
Questions to consider:
- Is God ever passive or sitting on the sidelines not ready to act? What would be a good description of that the psalmist is doing in verse 1? Whose perspective is being represented? How can this encourage you when you pray?
- Why did the psalmist want God to act against the enemies of Israel (Verse 16 & 18)? Who also needed to be humbled, to seek God, and know that He alone is Lord? Was it only Israel’s enemies who needed this wakeup call? Why had God brought Israel’s enemies in the past (Look over Judges 2)?
- Is God being silent today? How has God spoken to the world and who does He speak to the world through? (Matthew 5:13-16, Romans 10:14-15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)