Imprecations In Context.

IMPRECATIONS IN CONTEXT.

Psalm 83:1-2, Psalm 83:13-18.

Today’s Psalm begins, “Keep not silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still O God” (PSALM 83:1). As if He ever would, when to attack God’s people is to attack the LORD Himself! ‘Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence,’ anticipates Psalm 50:3.

When we are faced with an imprecatory Psalm like this one, it is quite appropriate that we ask the question: ‘Is there not a cause?’ (cf. 1 Samuel 17:29). In Psalm 83, that cause is not far to seek: “For, lo, THINE enemies make a tumult: and they that hate THEE have lifted up the head" (PSALM 83:2). ‘They have taken crafty counsel against THY people, and have consulted against THY hidden ones. 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’ (cf. Psalm 83:3-4). ‘Who said, Let us take to ourselves the HOUSES OF GOD in possession’ (cf. Psalm 83:12). Looking back over history and cataloguing several of Israel’s enemies from his past and present, the Psalmist Asaph envisages them as one single confederacy ‘against THEE’ (cf. Psalm 83:5-12).

It all sounds so modern: but whilst it is still our duty as Christians to ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem’ (cf. Psalm 122:6), it is also appropriate to pray that ‘the full number of the Gentiles be gathered in, and so all Israel shall be saved’ (cf. Romans 11:25-26). ‘Israel’ here comes to represent the persecuted church of God, both Jews and Gentiles (cf. Ephesians 2:13-14), scattered throughout the world (cf. Acts 8:1; James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1-2). ‘The houses (or pastures) of God’ (cf. Psalm 83:12; 2 Chronicles 20:11) can then be recognised as ‘the Israel of God’ (cf. Galatians 6:16) - the beleaguered churches of our Lord Jesus Christ, as much ‘strangers and pilgrims’ in this world (cf. 1 Peter 2:11-12) as were our spiritual forefathers before us (cf. Hebrews 11:13).

The imprecation consists in ‘Do unto them as…’ (cf. Psalm 83:9-12), already referred to in the catalogue of enemies; and “O my God, make them like..” (PSALM 83:13-15). This is not vindictive, but honours God in that the LORD has promised such protection for His people. ‘He who has begun a good work in you will see it through to the day of Jesus Christ’ (cf. Philippians 1:6).

The “wheel” being tossed around in a whirlwind (PSALM 83:13) might refer to tumbleweed (it is simply called ‘a rolling thing’ in Isaiah 17:13). It evokes images of the devastation caused by a tornado; whereas “the stubble before the wind” reminds us just who it is, in the final analysis, who separates the wheat from the chaff (cf. Matthew 3:11-12)!

PSALM 83:14. The image of the “fire” devouring the mountains echoes the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:22. It is quite a picture!

“So persecute them,” says Asaph (PSALM 83:15), “with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.” In Psalm 50:3, (quoted above under PSALM 83:1) the writer goes on to invoke “fire” and “tempest:” ‘a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.’

As for the enemies, there is, after all, an evangelistic message here. “Fill their faces with shame, THAT they may seek thy name, O LORD” (PSALM 83:16; cf. Psalm 9:19-20). It is only when people are brought to the end of themselves that they might ever truly begin to seek the LORD. Then they might find out that, through the blood of Jesus, ‘There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared’ (cf. Psalm 130:4).

Justice must be served, so the imprecation remains: but only for those who persist to the very end in their enmity to God (PSALM 83:17). For those who repent, we find that Jesus has already been judged in our place (cf. John 3:18; Romans 8:34; 1 Peter 2:24). The aim is always that the name of the LORD will be glorified as “the most high over all the earth” (PSALM 83:18; cf. Ezekiel 38:23).