Victory in the Valley
We are following a six-week Bible Study by Katie M. Reid entitled, “God, What Do I Do?” This study is based primarily in the Book of Judges, Chapters 1-5, and we are digging into what these lessons teach us about making wise decisions in uncertain times.
Today, we are taking a bit of a detour from the Book of Judges to rest in Psalm 83:1-18. We will follow along with Israel’s story about the battle between Barak and Sisera, our ideas about victory, and our need to make a decision to the question, “God, What Do I Do When Enemies Rise Against Me?”
It is a challenge to stop ourselves—by decision—from hurting those who have hurt us, isn’t it? Our flesh is wounded and we want to defend ourselves. Yet, we must remember our battle is not with flesh and blood it is with authorities and powers of darkness and evil forces (Ephesians 6:12). And, here is the greatest truth, God is more powerful than anything that tries to come against us.
People are like decoys for evil hiding within; humans have the ability to choose where they place their power. The devil tries to set our focus on confusion, pain, injustice, and unforgiveness. These things lead to bitterness which is a very ugly evil spirit and difficult to overcome. All battles have to do with human alliance. Will our alliance be to God or against God?
Our passage begins with Israel’s cry for God’s help, their enemies’ declaration of alliance with evil, and a list of nations who have made a decision to destroy Israel. However, Israel is in covenant with God; the One who will not break His promise to protect and provide for them.
Let’s look at just one enemy of Israel—the Ishmaelites (Genesis 25:12-18). Ishmael was the son of Hagar [Sarah’s handmaiden] and Abraham. Ishmael had twelve sons and his descendants lived east of Egypt. They were hostile toward Israel most of the time—a dynamic often characterized as an extension of the familial rivalry between Isaac and Ishmael. Yet, God extends mercy even on those who persecute Israel, because He is the Most High God of all the earth.
Psalm 83 A song. A psalm of Asaph.
1
O God, do not be silent!
Do not be deaf.
Do not be quiet, O God.
2
Don’t you hear the uproar of your enemies?
Don’t you see that your arrogant enemies are rising up?
3
They devise crafty schemes against your people;
they conspire against your precious ones.
4
“Come,” they say, “let us wipe out Israel as a nation.
We will destroy the very memory of its existence.”
5
Yes, this was their unanimous decision.
They signed a treaty as allies against you—
6
these Edomites and Ishmaelites;
Moabites and Hagrites;
7
Gebalites, Ammonites, and Amalekites;
and people from Philistia and Tyre.
8
Assyria has joined them, too,
and is allied with the descendants of Lot. Interlude
9
Do to them [deal with them] as you did to the Midianites
and as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.
10
They were destroyed at Endor,
and their decaying corpses fertilized the soil.
11
Let their mighty nobles die as Oreb and Zeeb did.
Let all their princes die like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12
for they said, “Let us seize for our own use
these pasturelands of God!”
13
O my God, scatter them like tumbleweed,
like chaff before the wind!
14
As a fire burns a forest
and as a flame sets mountains ablaze,
15
chase them with your fierce storm;
terrify them with your tempest.
16
Utterly disgrace them
until they submit to your name, O Lord.
17
Let them be ashamed and terrified forever.
Let them die in disgrace.
18
Then they will learn that you alone are called the Lord,
that you alone are the Most High,
supreme over all the earth.
When we are dealing with those whom we view as enemies, we need to ask God to change our perspective. We were once enemies of God and he extended mercy to us in Christ—we did not receive the punishment our sin deserved. Even the people we view as enemies can receive the salvation of God through faith. Jesus died for the sins of the world, so we could all be reconciled with God. We were created to glorify God and if we are going to do so, we must allow God to be the One to deal with our “enemies.”
Truth: When your enemies rise against you, decide to let God deal with them.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for this reminder about our enemies and how to view things from Your perspective. Please give us the courage to live in a way that honors and glorifies You. Thank you for exposing lies and helping us understand that it is Your place to right the wrongs we face as Your covenant children. We pray for our faith to rise up to Your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.