OVERVIEW: The psalmist’s cry for deliverance for Israel; the blessedness of living in the midst of God’s presence; David’s desire to walk in truth; cry for deliverance from death; praise for God’s covenant and promises.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
Psalm 83 is another psalm that points us prophetically to the time of the second coming of Christ. Asaph describes this incredible event, as do the other inspired writers of scripture, as a time when all of the nations of the world (83:6–8) will have converged “together with one consent” (83:5a), “confederate against” the nation of Israel (83:5b), to “cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.” (83:4) As we have seen repeatedly, just at the time when Israel’s back will be against the wall at the end of the Tribulation Period, when from a human standpoint, she is utterly helpless and hopeless, with nowhere to turn, it is at that very moment our Lord Jesus Christ will step out of heaven and answer their prayers! (83:1) The Apostle John reveals that Christ will return with such fury against Israel’s enemies in that day that their blood will literally rise up to the horse’s bridles in the Valley of Megiddo! (Rev. 14:20) Asaph’s prayer in 83:13–18 will, in fact, be answered! “O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth!” Hallelujah!
May this incredible prayer and prophetic promise serve as a great reminder to us of God’s power and ability, in those times when our backs are against the wall, and from a human standpoint, we find ourselves utterly helpless and hopeless, with nowhere to turn! May this psalm remind us that “there is nothing too hard for the Lord!” (Jer. 32:17) May it remind us that our God hears and answers prayer! (Psa. 65:2) May it flood us with confidence that “in the day of [our] trouble”, He can and will step in to do what could never be done in our own strength or power. (Psa. 86:7) May we also not miss that He has already proven that He can and will answer our prayers in this way, because that is exactly how Ephesians 2:11–17 describes what our Lord did on our behalf when in our lost condition, we cried out to the Lord for our salvation! At that time, not only were our spiritual backs against the wall, but we were totally without help and hope, with nowhere else to turn, and Christ stepped in to do what we could have never done in our own strength or power. Again, I say, hallelujah!
Note that the basis for the psalmist’s requests in the last verse of this Psalm, should be the overarching desire, passion, and prayer of our hearts in and through every aspect and dimension of our entire lives, “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH (the “self-existing One”), art the most high over all the earth.” (83:18)
Notice that the context for the outpouring of praise that the psalmist offers to the Lord in Psalm 84 is, once again, rooted in the millennium, or “the day of the Lord.” (84:4, 8 “Selah!”) Notice in 84:1, that during the millennium, our Lord Jesus Christ will once again “tabernacle” among us. (Psa. 84:1; John 1:14 — “dwelt” = “tabernacle”) We would do well to ask ourselves today whether the passion of the psalmist’s heart for God and His glory in verse 2 expresses what is in our hearts today! Can we genuinely and honestly say with the psalmist, “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God?” (84:2)
The last part of 84:11 is also a great promise and reminder that “the Lord will give grace and glory: NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD FROM THEM THAT WALK UPRIGHTLY.” God most certainly “withholds” certain things, but contrary to Satan’s lies (see Genesis 3:5), it is never because He is “withholding” some “GOOD” thing from us. His restrictions are always to keep us from something He knows will be BAD for us, and ultimately, be harmful to us and/ or destroy us. It is sometimes difficult to get our flesh to really believe that, and the “father of lies” is at every turn more than willing to convince us otherwise. (John 8:44) In light of that, the last verse of Psalm 84 is very fitting, “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” (84:12)
The millennial context is also seen in Psalm 85. The description of that time is laid out beautifully in verse 10. It will be that time on this planet when “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” (85:10) It is also a beautiful thing when the word pictures in this verse are found in the life of a New Testament believer! “Mercy” with no regard for “truth” makes us wishy-washy, spineless, and way too accommodating of unholy doctrine and unholy living in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, “truth” with no regard for “mercy” makes us harsh, judgmental, and unloving. God’s intention, is that like His Son (John 1:14c), we have a perfect balance of both! (See Eph. 4:25, then Eph. 4:15.)
Psalm 86:5 and 15 are a personal favorite. “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee…Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” How many times do we need those reminders, especially those of us who are prone toward feeling the need of doing some sort of “penance”, as it were, before we can let go of our spiritual failures and sins? I love the fact that the psalmist reveals to us that before we even come to Him, He is “READY TO FORGIVE”! He made that abundantly clear by the willful offering of His only and beloved Son! (1 John 4:9)
For those who find themselves in the depths of despair today, find comfort and solace by using the words of the psalmist in Psalm 88 as he lifts his complaint up to the Lord. Then, allow the Lord to bring you up and out of your despair in Psalm 89, as the psalmist expresses his confidence and praise to the Lord!
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
By the SEED OF DAVID — Psalm 89:3–4 (Christ was made of the seed of David according to the flesh – Matt. 1:1; Luke 3:31–32)