A Call For God To Act

O God, do not be silent!

Do not be deaf.

Do not be quiet, O God.

Don’t you hear the uproar of your enemies?

Don’t you see that your arrogant enemies are rising up? . . .

Utterly disgrace them

until they submit to your name, O LORD.

Let them be ashamed and terrified forever.

Let them die in disgrace.

Then they will learn that you alone are called the LORD,

that you alone are the Most High,

supreme over all the earth.

Psalm 83:1-2, 16-18

The nation of Israel was under attack. At least ten nations were allied against Israel. The outlook seemed hopeless. But the Israelites had been in desperate situations before this. God had crushed their enemies in the past; surely he would do it again. So the psalmist prayed. He asked God not so much for Israel’s survival as for God’s honor and reputation among the nations, for the plans of Israel’s enemies were, in effect, plans against God.

Though God’s people are no longer represented by a single nation, there are still many wicked rulers working against God’s ways. Christians should pray that God will one day cause these rulers to recognize that the Lord reigns supreme over all the earth.

• Almighty Lord, do not be silent. Make your enemies learn that you alone are the Most High . . .