As much as we try to live lives characterized by love and kindness, gentleness and patience, it is also true that we might have people who don’t like us – maybe even hate us. Since Jesus was the most perfect person who ever lived and He was crucified, it should not surprise us that we cannot avoid stirring up animosity among other people.
But how do we handle it when we have “enemies”? Maybe even people who hate us because of our Christianity? How do we deal with that? Jesus said, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44).
Asaph was a song leader during the reign of King David. There were three other men named Asaph in the OT as well, but most of them are related to the worship service of the nation of Israel. There are 12 psalms which are connected to Asaph, which Asaph apparently wrote. This specific psalm – Psalm 83 – is a prayer for justice from God regarding enemies of Israel who actually wanted them destroyed.
ASAPH WANTS GOD TO HEAR – 83:1-3:
In this paragraph, Asaph calls for God to: 1) Not remain quiet; 2) Not be silent; 3) Not be still. In other words, Asaph wants God to: 1) listen, and 2) do something!
Why? Because God’s enemies are making an uproar. Those who hate God have exalted themselves against God.
Don’t forget that to attack God’s people is to attack God, just as Saul of Tarsus learned (Acts 9:4).
HIS ENEMIES WANT TO WIPE OUT HIS NATION – 83:4-8:
This “covenant” is what we would today term a “treaty.” These 10 nations have made a treaty with each other to destroy the people of God! This is the only time in the Scriptures that a covenant is made against someone!
It reminds me of the apostle Paul who had stirred up the anger, envy, and hatred of the Jewish people so that 40 men took an oath – made a “covenant” with each other – to not eat or drink before they killed Paul. The story is told in Acts 23:12-22. By the grace of God, Paul’s nephew overhead of the plot and Paul’s life was saved.
ASAPH REMEMBERS GOD’S PAST JUSTICE – 83:9-12:
So far, Asaph has asked God to listen to him and do something (verses 1-3) and he has told God why (verses 4-8). In this paragraph, Asaph asks God to be just in His punishment, just as God has done before…
When you are dealing with people who are criticizing you and putting you down, who are maybe working behind your back to destroy you or your influence, perhaps you should remember your relationship with Jesus Christ. Maybe you need to remind yourself that you are Christ’s and that He has done great things for you in the past, and He will do great things for you in the future.
EVANGELISM IS AT THE HEART OF ASAPH’S PRAYER – 83:13-18:
In Deuteronomy 32:35, God tells Israel to leave vengeance in His hands. In Romans 12:19, Paul tells Christians the same. That means that when we feel like we need to “get back” with someone… just pray to God and put it all in His hands. Then trust Him for the results that will be good and right and holy.
In the story of Queen Esther, we see where the Persians were going to kill and wipe out all the Jews in the Persian Empire. The king gave the Jews the legal right to defend themselves and, in the end of the story, many Persians actually were converted and became Jews!
When we feel that conflict in our hearts, the conflict between getting back at someone who did us harm and the knowledge that we need to reflect Christ in our lives, remember Colossians 4:5-6:
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” And pray for wisdom.
We might have enemies in our own lives, for whom we pray that God will be just in dealing with them. Let us also pray that they will be converted to the gospel of Christ and become our spiritual family!
Paul Holland