Many Psalms are prayers lifted to God during times of war, seeking victory. This particular Psalm is one such prayer, offered when Israel was under attack by its enemies. At times, these prayers reflect a sense that not only God’s people but even God Himself is being overpowered. In the Old Testament, whenever Israel disobeyed God and drifted away from Him, their enemies would conquer them and subject them to their rule. However, God often used these adversaries as a means to bring His people back to Him.
Unfortunately, rather than recognizing God’s purpose in their struggles, the people misunderstood their defeat, assuming either that God was silent or that He was gathering strength to destroy their enemies. Similarly, when people today face prolonged suffering, they may assume that God has been overpowered by evildoers. Instead, such moments should be seen as opportunities to turn back to God rather than drifting further away.
O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God.
See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads.
With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”– Psalms 83:1-4 (NIV)
As Asaph pleaded for God not to remain silent, it is clear that the struggle had been long, and the resolution they hoped for had not yet come. Scripture tells us that God’s ears are not deaf, nor are His hands too short to save; rather, it is our sins that create a barrier between us and Him (Isaiah 59:2). We often view our enemies as God’s enemies, but in reality, God sometimes uses them as instruments to draw His people back to Him. Failing to recognize God’s control, people become fearful when their enemies seem to prevail, even believing they will be wiped out and forgotten.
After His resurrection, Jesus ascended to glory, desiring His people to join Him. Yet, many are too distracted to look up and listen to Him. It is like a man standing atop a high building, calling people to admire the breathtaking view before the age of cell phones. To get their attention, he first tosses down coins and gold, which people eagerly take before walking away. Then, he throws bricks and stones, and only then do they look up and finally listen. Similarly, God sometimes allows challenges—represented by the bricks and stones—not to harm us, but to redirect our focus toward Him. However, some misinterpret these difficulties, fearing destruction rather than seeing them as graceful invitations to return to God.
Enemies of Enemy Became Friends
With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you—
the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, Byblos, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
Even Assyria has joined them to reinforce Lot’s descendants.– Psalms 83:5-8 (NIV)
According to the theory of relativity in relationships, our friends’ friends often become our friends as well. However, it does not necessarily follow that our friends’ enemies must also be our enemies. It is an immature mindset to believe that true friendship requires adopting an identical stance toward an enemy. A bitter truth we experience, when we trust and love God alone, is that even our friends become our enemies and make alliance with our enemy. For instance, when Herod mocked Jesus, the long-standing enmity between Herod and Pilate dissolved, and they became allies (Luke 23:12). However, this change made no difference to Jesus. Unlike Him, people often become unsettled when their enemies and their enemies’ enemies unite against them. They focus more on the threats, conspiracies, and timing of potential attacks rather than placing their trust in God and understanding His ways.
Enemies join forces because they lack God’s presence in their lives. Without God, they are plagued by fear and insecurity, seeking strength in alliances. However, when we are in communion with God, who dwells within us, we can find peace. Though He loves our enemies, He will not forsake us simply to win their approval. God deals with each of us individually, and His love is never harsh—it endures forever.
God Never Changes But His Actions Change
Do to them as you did to Midian, as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground.
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
who said, “Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God.”– Psalms 83:9-12 (NIV)
Asaph marveled at the unity displayed by Israel’s enemies. Ironically, when the people of God gather, such unity is often lacking, even though they frequently pray for God to bind them together in love. Shouldn’t God’s people display an even greater bond of unity than those who seek to destroy them?
Asaph recalled God’s past victories—how He triumphed over the Canaanite king Jabin and his general Sisera through Deborah and Barak (Judges 4), and how He delivered Israel from Midian through Gideon (Judges 6–8). He expected God to act in the same way again. However, as Isaiah 55:8 reminds us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD.” We often expect God to work as He has before or as He has in others’ lives, but His ways are unique and new each day. Instead of dictating how God should act in our lives, we should surrender to His perfect plan and allow Him to work in His own way.
Evil Men’s Wicked Plots
Make them like tumbleweed, my God, like chaff before the wind.
As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm.
Cover their faces with shame, LORD, so that they will seek your name.
May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace.
Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD —that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
– Psalms 83:13-18 (NIV)
There is no doubt that God is our greatest friend, always caring for our well-being in every way. When our enemies form alliances to plot against us, we often respond by joining hands with our eternal Friend—not to seek His guidance, but to scheme against them. Asaph’s plea in this passage reveals how misguided we can be, seeking to fulfill our own vengeful desires despite being saved by the boundless love and grace of our Father.
Who can withstand the storm of God? Who can escape His consuming fire? Who can endure when God Himself brings them to shame? Will they not perish in disgrace or be consumed by His wrath? Yet, after asking God to bring destruction upon them, we turn around and say, “Let them come to know You, Lord.” But how can the dead come to know God? The truth is, the psalmist was not entirely sincere in his plea for his enemies to be saved. He desired their destruction yet hypocritically asked that they acknowledge God as the Most High.
Instead of responding with harshness in our words perhaps in prayers or actions, let us treat our enemies with grace, so that when the time is right, we can genuinely pray for their salvation as well (Job 42:8-9). God loves all people equally and gave His Son as a ransom to save all of humanity.
Heavenly Father, help us to understand Your love that reaches even those who reject and oppose You. Remind us, Lord, that we were once like them, yet Your amazing grace saved us from destruction. Knowing this truth, may we stand with You as You extend Your unconditional love beyond the boundaries of religion. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
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