Monday Reflection \u2013 October 25, 2021
Bold and Faithful Prayer<\/p>\n\n\n
O God, do not keep silence;\u00a0do not hold your peace or be still, O God!\u00a0Even now your enemies are in tumult;\u00a0those who hate you have raised their heads.\u00a0Psalm 83:1-2<\/p>\n\n\n
Psalm 83 is the last of the Asaphian psalms, which began in Psalm 50.\u00a0Many of these are lamentations concerning the condition of the nation of Israel, especially\u00a0regarding threats\u00a0by opposing nations, as also the concerns of\u00a0the people of God in captivity. Yet, such lamentations are\u00a0accompanied by hope\u2014hope in the Lord. Like the other psalms\u00a0of Asaph, we\u00a0are unsure of the particular setting of this one, only that the nation is enfolded by foes\u00a0and\u00a0under threat. The reality is that this was the constant story of the people of Israel, in war battling against opposing nations who desired to wipe them off of the map.<\/p>\n\n\n
In today\u2019s Watchword, Asaph begins, \u201cO God, do not keep silence;\u00a0do not hold your peace or be still, O God!\u201d\u00a0This is bold and faithful praying.\u00a0When we\u00a0know God, we\u00a0can speak freely to God. This is not an example of irreverence; rather, it reveals the heart of one who takes God, His Word and His purposes\u00a0very\u00a0seriously. Yet, we must not overlook another issue in this verse – the silence of God. The Bible contains many examples of His people beleaguered by troubles while God seems to silently sit by. Note that I said, \u2018seems\u2019, because God is never silent, unaware, unconcerned nor inactive. God\u2019s\u00a0sovereign wisdom, runs the universe according to His perfect clock.\u00a0God is always working His plan. Job\u00a0is a perfect example of this. By the way, when God delivered\u00a0Job, he was not given insight into the whys and wherefores. God\u00a0remained silent about that. God simply restored Job and that was sufficient for Job to rest in God\u2019s sovereign\u00a0will.\u00a0We find ourselves in trouble at times, and we continue to labour and to live trusting God. Yet God\u00a0seems silent. How should we respond? With bold and faithful praying.<\/p>\n\n\n
Verse 2 offers some insight into what our prayers should be about – a\u00a0God-centred concern. Asaph\u2019s concern was not primarily for Israel,\u00a0but for God.\u00a0He says, \u201cEven now your enemies are in tumult;\u00a0those who hate you have raised their heads.\u201d \u00a0Note in this verse the usage of the second person: \u201cYour\u00a0enemies\u201d and \u201cthose who hate\u00a0You\u201d.\u00a0The plea for God to break His silence is due to a concern\u00a0for the glory of God\u2019s name. What is our primary concern? What dominates our prayers especially when trouble looms? Is it for our deliverance only? Or is it primarily that God may be glorified through our experience?<\/p>\n\n\n
When the church\u00a0is surrounded by scoundrels who clearly hate the Lord, when we observe the arrogance of God-rejecters conspiring to overthrow His rule, when we note the attempts to shut down God\u2019s church and to cut off our influence, then, for the glory of God\u2019s name, we must pray with boldness, \u201cO God, do not keep silence;\u00a0do not hold your peace or be still, O God!\u201d. The events of last week regarding the cultic movement in St. James is very concerning. These groups that call themselves church, yet do not represent nor reflect the principles of Christ\u2019s kingdom is alarming. They bring the church into disrepute, and strengthen those who doubt or question the authenticity and purpose of the church. More than that, they defame God\u2019s name. For them we must boldly and faithfully pray, \u201cO God, do not keep silence;\u00a0do not hold your peace or be still; may your name always be honoured and glorified!\u201d.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
Jermaine Gibson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Monday Reflection \u2013 October 25, 2021 Bold and Faithful Prayer O God, do not keep silence;\u00a0do not hold your peace or be still, O God!\u00a0Even now your enemies are in tumult;\u00a0those who hate you have raised their heads.\u00a0Psalm 83:1-2\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","watchword_topic":[11],"class_list":["post-655","watchword","type-watchword","status-publish","hentry","watchword_topic-prayer"],"yoast_head":"\n