Psalms for Turbulent Times - Part 9

Psalm 83

by Pastor Jim Jester

May 2, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 64:1-10

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

“Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: 3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: 4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. 5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? 6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. 8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. 9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.” – Ps. 64:1-10

In the News

George Floyd Autonomous Zone Issues ‘Rules For White People’

by Paul Joseph Watson | April 22, 2021

The ‘George Floyd Autonomous Zone’ in Minneapolis has issued a list of ‘rules for white people’ that they have to abide by in order to enter the area. The zone has popped up around the area that Floyd died and has come to resemble something akin to a religious cult encampment. Apparently, baptisms, miracles and other spiritual events can be witnessed on a regular basis.

However, entering the area as a white person comes with potential risks if you make the mistake of behaving in a “problematic” manner. All visitors are asked to wear face masks and act with “humility,” but a lengthier list of rules for white people explains how they will be treated differently.

The rule sign to the autonomous zone has additional rules for white people. Since forming, the area has seen increased violence, criminal activity, drug abuse & even a murder.

Whites are asked to “decenter yourself,” which is a euphemism for a mandate to behave like second-class citizens and keep quiet. “Be mindful of whether your volume, pace and movements are supporting or undermining your efforts to decenter yourself,” states the advisory.

The patronizing tone continues with a demand to “contribute to the energy of the space, rather than drain it.” The rules also state that white people should seriously consider whether taking photos is appropriate and to seek consent from anyone they photograph, despite the whole area being public.

The rules also encourage whites to intervene if they “witness white folks doing problematic things,” which presumably includes doing anything other than engaging in slavish worship for the 21st century deity that is George Floyd.

Black Lives Matter groups routinely issue demands of white people for their events, some of which enforce outright segregation.

-----------[End of article]

So, they want us to love & adore the dark race; but hate & deny our own.

Psalm 64

In the Scripture we read, David’s meditation or complaint, we see how evil loves to plot in secret against God and His people. Ever hear of “secret societies,” e.g., the Free Masons? What about government agencies, e.g., the CIA and NSA? Presidents like to speak about their “openness” before the public, while the complete opposite is true.

The Democrats secretly plotted a steal of the election. They were the real insurrectionists or revolutionaries, not the Trump supporters of January 6. And, where is the cry of “police brutality” over the death of, Ashli Babbit, who came through a window at the capitol and was shot? What is the name of the shooter who killed her? Why isn’t it made known? Ah, we have a new administration in Washington. And even if some Trump supporters exhibited limited violence, was it not justifiable under the present conditions of: clear vote manipulation, the refusal of the courts, and a vice-president who did not have the “guts” to have certain states re-certify their fraudulent elections. Knowing American history, wouldn’t our founding fathers have agreed and been very angry? Wasn’t it an insurrection when we broke away from king George? Besides, there were no guns at the so-called “Trump insurrection.” How can one have an insurrection without guns?

Verses 1-6 of this Psalm are David’s petition for preservation. His enemies (the wicked), “whet their tongues like swords” and “aim bitter words like arrows,” shooting suddenly in ambush at the blameless. Some interpret these words as references to the casting of curses or spells by those who practice black magic. Which reminds me, aren’t masks magic? Masks, according to their ads, are supposed to “make us one,” yes, “re-unite the world” (as if it were ever united in the first place). Did you ever see such a concerted ad campaign, by all media and willing corporations, to convince the public to take a medical device? Never, this is a first! Others hold that these word pictures in the psalm refer to malicious slander. The troublemakers are certainly guilty of both, as they talk of laying snares secretly, and think that no one knows about their schemes. One translation puts verse six this way; “They devise wicked schemes, saying, “We have completed our plans, hiding them deep in our hearts” (Ps. 64:6, ISV). Reminds me of the “Deep State.” But their schemes are not hidden from the Omniscient One.

Speaking of David’s plea for preservation, we should ask, is God a Nationalist? God Almighty is neither Republican nor Democrat (that’s our job), but if we could judge Him on His policies, we can see He is a great Statesman for the preservation of national righteousness (we usually call it “conservatism”). Let’s briefly look at some of the issues:

• Abortion: Psalm 22:10, “I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly.”
• God’s Covenant nation: Amos 3:2, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.”
• Open Borders: Nehemiah 2:17, “…Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.” Deuteronomy 28:43-44, “The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low. He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.” Exodus 23:33, “They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.”
• Candidate for Public Service: Deuteronomy 17:15, “…One from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.”
• Marriage: Deuteronomy 7:3, “Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.”
• Death Penalty: Genesis 9:6, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”

Yes, God is a Nationalist; and furthermore, since His Law is supreme, that makes other laws either subservient or void in His sight.

Many modern Americans would call this “extremism.” But ask yourselves: Was it extremism when the 13 colonies of America revolted against king George of England? Was it extremism when the southern states seceded from the oppressive taxation of the United States? Was it extremism when the Third Reich picked itself up by its “bootstraps” from the oppression of the Versailles Treaty following the Great War to end all wars? No! “Extremism in defense of liberty is no extremism at all.” The Bible also tells us: “…Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses” (Neh. 4:14). Personally, I would like to see some of our people in the streets with signs of Bible verses (shortened) such as shown above, in opposition to the Left. We need pushback; it will encourage others.

In verses 7-9, David’s petition is granted. Those interpreters who see the wicked as sorcerers that cast magic spells, understand these verses as a counter-curse (or imprecation) uttered by the psalmist. But this may not be the case here, because the psalmist is certain that his prayer has already been answered. God will recompense the wicked “suddenly” (v. 7), with their own weapons (arrows, tongues). This deliverance will cause even those outside of Israel to fear God.

“The righteous shall rejoice” (v. 10). The psalmist calls upon all those in covenant relation with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to rejoice and glory in His triumph over the evildoers.

Psalm 83

1 A Song or Psalm of Asaph. [A community lament.]

“Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. 2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. 4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: 6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot.

9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: 12 Who said, ‘Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.’

13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. 14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; 15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. 17 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.”

This psalm was composed on the occasion described in II Chronicles chapter 20, where we learn that a great crisis is threatening the people of God. It was written to be sung before the battle, in anticipation of certain victory. The Levites chanted it as Jehoshaphat’s army marched out against the great confederacy of nations, which threatened the very existence of Israel. There were strong reasons for God’s intervention, for Israel’s foes were God’s foes also. His people were the target of a crafty conspiracy. Were they not His “hidden ones” (Ps. 83:3)? Should a hostile world pluck them from the hollow of His hand? When our life is “hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3), we may confidently appeal for His safekeeping.

This is the last of the Psalms of Asaph. The author was probably “Jahaziel… a Levite of the sons of Asaph,” upon whom “came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation” (II Chr. 20:14). In II Chronicles 20:19, we read that, “The Levites stood up… to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.” This was likely the psalm they sang.

The Prayer of King Jehoshaphat

Since the setting of our psalm is the time of king Jehoshaphat, let us notice the prayer of the king as found in II Chronicles chapter 20:

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 And said, “O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” – II Chro. 20:5-12

What a great and “to the point” prayer from a national leader. Why don’t we have any “leaders” like this? Our corrupt politicians usually get a corrupt judeo-minister to “say” a prayer.

Then Jahaziel, by the Spirit of the Lord, said this: “…Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat! Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (II Chro. 20:15).

Jahaziel continued in verse 17, “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” Jahaziel was just a lowly musician, but God used him to lead the people.

Then you should notice what the king did:

18 “And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.” – II Chro. 20:18-19

Here is what happened:

20 “And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” – II Chro. 20:20-22

Victory was theirs.

Israel’s Danger from Conspiracy (Ps. 83:1-8)

After the very brief appeal to God in verse 1 of this psalm, the reasons for the appeal are laid out in verses 2-8. God’s enemies show their hostility to Him by plotting against His protected and treasured people. Their plot against God is the conspiracy to obliterate “the name of Israel” from remembrance on the Earth. Note today, that many of our people are being vaccinated with a slow death bio-weapon to reduce the population of our land and have them replaced with illegal aliens. Someone needs to stand up against it!

The conspirators in the psalm include Edom, located south of the Dead Sea; and the Ishmaelites, Hagarites, and Amalekites. Gebal, a mountain district close to Petra. Philistia, Tyre and Assyria (“Assur,” earlier known as the Assyrian Empire); and, “The children of Lot” (Moabites, Ammonites) as the chief enemies who are supported by the other nations/tribes. These people still live on today in the Arab and Jewish ethnicities. The “elite,” as they think themselves to be, include Dr. Fauci, Bill Gates, etc. (it is quite a list). They are also the ones coming across our southern border as alleged “refugees.”

Imprecation on the Conspirators (Ps. 83:9-18)

Israel prays that God will destroy their present enemies as He destroyed the Canaanites by Deborah and Barak (Judges 4-5), and the Midianites by Gideon (Judges 7-8). Jabin was king of Canaan and Sisera was his general. Their army was defeated at the River Kishon; and the city of Jabin was eventually destroyed. Endor is south of Mount Tabor. Oreb and Zeeb were Midianite princes; Zeba and Zalmunna, were former kings of Midian.

Various expressions are used to make the curse upon these enemies vivid: whirling dust, chaff driven by the wind, a forest fire, a hurricane, and shame. One purpose of the curse is that survivors may acknowledge Israel’s God, “…whose name alone is Jesus, the most high over all the earth” (Ps. 83:18).

The prophet Isaiah also makes the same claim, “Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, eventhou only” (Isa. 37:20).

Conclusion

As David prayed, “Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity” (Ps. 64:2). As Jehoshaphat prayed, “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee” (II Chro. 20:12). As Jahaziel (son of Asaph) prayed and sung, “O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still” (Ps. 83:1). As Jesus Christ is, “…the most high over all the earth” (Ps. 83:18). God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, today, we are once again helpless and at Your mercy. Hear our prayer, O Lord.

Psalm 83 by Isaac Watts. BOYLSTON, 6686, “A Charge to Keep”

1 And will the God of grace
Per-pet-ual si-lence keep?
The God of jus-tice hold His peace,
And let his ven-geance sleep?

2 Be-hold, what curs-ed snares
The men of mis-chief spread!
The men that hate Thy saints and Thee
Lift up their threat-‘ning head.

3 A-gainst Thy hid-den ones
Their coun-sels they em-ploy,
And ma-lice, with her watch-ful eye,
Pur-sues them to de-stroy.

4 "Come, let us join," they cry,
"To root them from the ground,
Till not the name of saints re-main,
Nor mem-‘ry shall be found."

5 A-wake, Al-migh-ty God
And call thy wrath to mind;
Give them like for-ests to the fire,
Or stub-ble to the wind.

6 Then shall the na-tions know
That glor-ious, dread-ful word,
Je-ho-vah is Thy name a-lone,
And Thou the sov-‘reign Lord.