July 14, 2023 — Psalm 83 

“O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! Even now your enemies are in tumult; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against those you protect. They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more.” They conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the Wadi Kishon, who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, “Let us take the pastures of God for our own possession.” O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane. Fill their faces with shame, so that they may seek your name, O Lord. Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace. Let them know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm 83 

I like silence in my life. I seek silence. But not all silence is golden; especially when your wife or partner is angry with you. But when it appears that G-d is giving us the silent treatment, we truly become uncomfortable. But when our G-d is silent, it is always for our good. G-d withholds knowledge, G-d withholds from us things that may be too hard for us to bear at that moment — G-d may be preparing our hearts in quietness and repentance. No matter the reason for the silence, after that period of silence, we are always glad to hear G-d’s voice again — when G-d does eventually speak to us. It is during the period of silence where G-d seeks our obedience to wait. All silence is a testing, if you ask me. And G-d does this to test whether we will persevere in trust and faith that G-d will speak.  

I wonder sometimes where G-d is in the violence of this world — Russia attacking Ukraine, more unrest in the Middle East, and random shootings in our own country. I often sit in silence hoping to hear some wisdom from G-d. Sometimes in serious situations, G-d will show a surprising silence, as if G-d is unconcerned. But G-d does hear our prayers. G-d wants us to cry out — to break that silence often with our prayers and our laments. This Psalm clearly encourages us to pray to God with boldness and purpose, fully knowing that G-d will hear and answer us — in G-d’s time. 

Prayer 

God of the nations, you alone are the Most High over all the world. Dispel from us false pride and illusions of greatness, and drive away all that would threaten our faith, that we may always seek your name and stand in awe of you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 

Amen.