Psalms

Psalms 83: God alone is the Most High

Begin in prayer

Before we hear the threatened people's cry, let us remember that the Lord alone rules over every enemy. Let us seek mercy through Christ and ask the Most High to make His name known through His righteous judgment.

“So let all your enemies perish, Yahweh, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had rest forty years.

Judges 5:31

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that God alone is Most High and His people can bring every threatening power before Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Asaph asks God to break His silence while a united enemy plots to erase Israel's name. The surrounding peoples have formed an alliance against God's cherished ones and against God Himself. Remembering victories over Midian, Sisera and Jabin, the singer asks the Lord to overthrow the new threat as He defeated the old. He asks God to scatter the enemies like chaff and pursue them like a storm driving through the land. Their shame is to bring them to seek the Lord's name, while the prayer also asks that they be confounded and perish. Its final purpose is that they know the Lord alone is Most High over all the earth.

As you read Psalms 83, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God alone is Most High over the earth, and His threatened people ask Him to judge those opposing Him.

The enemies' lifted heads and secret counsel explain the urgent plea that God end His apparent silence with action. Their aim is the destruction of Israel as a people, making their alliance an attack on the God whose cherished ones they threaten. The named nations gather the pressure surrounding Israel, with Assyria adding its support to Moab and Ammon, the children of Lot. Midian recalls Gideon's victory, while Sisera and Jabin recall the forces God defeated through Deborah and Barak at the Kishon. The dead lying like dung and the defeated princes show the severity of the judgment Asaph asks God to repeat. Tumbleweed, chaff, forest fire and storm picture hostile strength scattered and pursued by a power it cannot resist. The prayer seeks shame that brings enemies to seek God's name, and also asks that they be dismayed forever and perish. Both requests seek the enemies' recognition that the LORD alone is Most High over all the earth.

How does Psalm 83 show us that God alone is Most High over the earth, and His threatened people ask Him to judge those opposing Him?

God hears His cherished people facing a united threat.

The enemies seek to erase Israel's name and seize the land that belongs to God. Their common purpose makes the alliance an attack against Him. Asaph therefore brings their plan to the Lord whose people they threaten.

God's past victories give His people reason to seek His judgment.

The names of Midian and Sisera recall threats God had already overthrown. Their defeated leaders show what His power can do to proud oppressors. Asaph asks the same Lord to scatter the present alliance and bring its strength to ruin.

God's name must be known as supreme over all the earth.

The prayer seeks shame that leads the enemies to seek the Lord. It also asks that they be confounded and perish. Asaph's final concern is that those opposing God come to know who alone rules over the whole earth.

Memorise

that they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth.

Psalm 83:18

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what opposition am I bringing to Jesus while seeking the honour of His name?

Asaph begins, “God, don’t keep silent.” The alliance against Israel was directed against the God who cherished His people. Asaph asks the Lord to act so that the enemies know who alone is Most High.

We also have resisted God's authority and deserve His judgment. Jesus carried the sin of His people and suffered its punishment, giving His life to reconcile them to God. He was raised from the dead. His finished work is enough for their pardon and peace, leaving no further sacrifice for them to bring.

Turn from your resistance to God and rely on Jesus for forgiveness. All who come to Him receive mercy. Bring Him the fear of people who oppose His truth, asking that His name be honoured. His righteous rule gives those trusting Jesus reason to pray that every nation will know His holy name. Their safety rests in the Saviour who has secured their lasting hope.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God alone is Most High and His people can bring every threatening power before Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He alone is Most High and bring the troubles of His threatened people before Him. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

But all these things will they do to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me.

John 15:21

Most High God, please turn us from resisting Your rule and bring us to Jesus for mercy. Hear Your people when they face threats and hatred. Overthrow the evil that opposes Your name, and bring enemies to seek You. Thank You that the finished work of Jesus gives His people lasting hope, and help us trust Your righteous care. Amen.