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THE GREATEST WAR (Psalm 83)

The greatest war on our planet is not political, philosophical, or even military. It is a spiritual war.

We are living amid a great age-old conflict. It goes back to the beginning of time when Satan rose up and raised an army to rebel against the true and living God. That fight has continued to rage, and we are living through something that is much bigger than ourselves.

When you come to Psalm 83, you find a description of the spiritual war that we are in. This is the last of the psalms of Asaph, and many believe that it fits in Jeremiah 39 when the children of Israel are being overtaken and carried away captive. The Psalmist was praying from a desperate heart under desperate conditions.

Verse 1: “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.”

The idea here is that the Lord was allowing this to happen, letting the enemy come in like a flood, so he cried out for God to speak.

But I want to remind you that our God is always at work. Even when He is silent, He is not still. We can be still in our souls because we know that He is always in motion — working in us, for us, and through us.

Verses 2-4: “For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and 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.”

This is a description of the battle itself. The hate seen here sounds a great deal like the world we live in today. There is so much fighting going on, and everywhere you look it seems as though people are speaking against God and spiritual truth. They are not just our enemies; they are His enemies, propelled by hatred. Remember, the name Satan means “adversary.” He is God’s adversary. Do not be shocked when those who hate God also hate His followers.

I love the phrase “consulted against thy hidden ones” in verse 3. It is a reference to our position in Him. We as New Testament believers have been hidden by God in Jesus Christ. That is a safe place to live.

The clear objective outlined in verse 4 was to destroy Israel as a nation. We understand that we as the church are not the same as Israel, yet the great objective of the enemy is the same. The ultimate goal was to grieve the heart of God. The enemy wants to destroy what we do today not because we are important in and of ourselves, but because we are important to God.

From the very beginning in the Garden of Eden, Satan has been striking not just at man but at God. The reason He hates us so much is because God loves us so much.

Verse 5: “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee.” This is the enemy. It is an uprising, and Satan is the leader of the Confederacy.

Verses 6-8: “The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.”

This is a list of 10 nations taking part in this battle. They are the enemies. Why make this detailed list? Because every nation mentioned here reminded Israel of a specific attack. It is a reminder that no matter which adversary comes, God is greater than all.

This list goes back as far as the children of Lot. Sometimes we think we are facing new enemies, but they are always extensions of the same old enemy. They may take a different form, but behind them all the devil is doing whatever he can to oppose the work of God.

Verses 9-12: “Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.”

Once again, the psalmist referred to these great battles of history to point out that God delivered the people back then and would do it again. He was greater than those enemies, and He is greater than the enemies we are dealing with today. Remember, “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).

Verses 13-15: “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.”

This part of the psalm deals with the victor. God can do what the weapons of war cannot do. I am reminded of II Corinthians 10:4, where Paul wrote, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”

The Bible says in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Our ability lies not in our own ingenuity or ability, but in the power of almighty God. He alone is the victor.

When Jesus Christ came out of the grave, He conquered the devil. Satan is already a defeated foe, and he knows it. He will fight to the bitter end, but he knows the battle has already been won.

Verses 16-18: “Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled forever; 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.”

Twice in the closing verses the psalmist referred to God’s name. The devil’s main objective is to take glory from God’s name and rob Him of the worship that is due Him. But in the end, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

You may have battles and enemies today. But if you are born again, you have a victor living inside of you. The Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of worship and praise today because He has already conquered, and we are more than conquerors.

God is greater than the battle. Trust Him, and you will live in victory.