Psalm 83:17-18 "Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: (18 ) That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."
We have encountered several Psalms where the writer is addressing persecution
and attacks against the cause of God. Remember when David went to the army of
Israel as they were hiding from the big man, Goliath? When David volunteered to
go against him, even his own brothers accused him of trying to make a name for
himself. His answer to them was in the form of a question: "Is there not a
cause?" It seems King Saul and all the army of Israel had forgotten
there was a cause much greater than Saul, the army, or even all of the nation
Israel. The cause that David was concerned about is expressed in this final
verse of Psalm 83. " That men may know that thou, whose name alone is
JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth." This is the same
expression given by David as he confronted Goliath: "that all the earth
may know that there is a God in Israel. " (1 Samuel 17:46)
Sometimes, we lose focus of what is most important in the world in which we
live and even in our lives. We think the enemy consists of people around us who
do not agree with us or want things contrary to us. We are told in God's Word
as to who the enemy truly is. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians
6:12) We want to identify the enemy as some individual when in reality, the
enemy is "wickedness in high places." This is why Paul wrote to
Timothy concerning praying for those who are in authority. (1 Timothy 2:2) And
Peter wrote to those who had been scattered into strange lands because of their
faith. (1 Peter chapter 2)
Sometimes, we need to be praying for ourselves because that which causes us to
be troubled is often within us. With that thought, I look at verse 17 and pray
with that approach that that which confounds and confuses and troubles me are
often my own misguided thoughts and attitudes. "Lord, let my wrong
thoughts be put to shame and perish" from me that I might not pay
attention to those things which Satan himself tries to plant within my mind.
Help me Lord to stay focused on your Word and not mine. Help me to follow your
instructions for me rather than my own misguided thoughts which lead me astray.
Lord, please help me in these things "That men (that I) may know that
thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."