LORD’S DAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Psalm 83:1-18
Matthew 6:13

“Follow Me.”

A PATRIOTIC PSALM

Every citizen must love his country, the land of his birth. The British call theirs Motherland and the Germans Fatherland. To protect our homeland we must have national service, and we must be prepared to be called to arms in event of war.

Asaph here writes of patriotism for Israel. God’s chosen people Israel is God’s testimony to the world, a light to the Gentiles. When all around her are gathered the Gentile nations to destroy her, all the more is there need to stir up the sons of light to action against the forces of darkness.

The background of this Psalm seems to be the times of King Jehoshaphat when he was invaded by Ammon, Moab and Edom (2 Chron 20). When Jehoshaphat sought the Lord’s help rather than man’s, then God came to their help. God sent confusion into the allied armies, so that they began to set upon one another. Does this not reflect the feuds among the Arab forces in Lebanon during the bitter years of civil war in the eighties?

By way of application the true Church of Jesus Christ is often engulfed by foes in the ecclesiastical world. The Ecumenical Movement of the World Council of Churches with the collusion of Rome is a menace to the true Church. The true Church, however, must continually look to her most high God for help and strength.

THOUGHT: “… thou … JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” (Ps 83:18)
PRAYER: (Use Psalm 83:1- 2.)