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The enemies of God’s people are the enemies of God, and the enemies of God are the enemies of God’s people. These enemies are a constant threat; they have been defeated before by the Lord and His people, but they keep hanging around, surrounding on every side.

Ten different nations, tribes and peoples are listed who threaten and plot against the pasturelands of the people of God, where they yearn to dwell securely with their Shepherd. We could name our own ten specific ever present spiritual enemies, previously defeated but presently threatening: Sin and his bad consequences, Death and his scary pains, Satan and his lying accusations. Each plots destruction and loss of life, either singly or in alliance.

The battle is the Lord’s; only Jesus overcomes; we can do nothing; He does it all. He knows our enemies; He knows what they are doing; He knows how to win. And He will. Meanwhile, while He wins for us, He wants us to pray and plead and beg for Victory so that both the beggar and the threateners know that the name of Jesus alone is Most High over all the earth and all of life.

 

 

 

God is the Creator and Preserver of the entire universe, all living beings that exist, visible and invisible. He is also the Supreme Judge and Absolute King of it all. He must, He can, and He will maintain perfect and absolute justice for all things and people for all times and places. Justice holds it all together. If even one injustice was ever allowed and unaccounted the foundations would crumble, chaos would ensue, and the universe cease.

But even us flawed humans can see that injustice is rampant and justice for the defenseless is seldom administered rightly in our world. Injustice is even carried out in the heavenly council of the gods which humans cannot see. The Psalm gives a glimpse into the invisible council that affects earthly affairs and shows that God is in charge. If so, we can rest assured that the supreme Judge will put everything to rights some day, some way.

Therefore, we can rest comfortably under the control and kingship of our loving and just Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We can trust that our spiritual enemies will not gain unfair advantage over us and that He is in charge of our lives for our good. It’s all OK.

The Lord God loves His people so as to be their Savior and Deliverer; this is who He is, this is what He does: “I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” This is a finished fact, already accomplished by Grace and Power. Like the finished fact of the Cross and Tomb, Jesus says ,”I am Yahweh your God who delivered you.”

After God’s Love already saved His people He still loves them and wants to bless them further so as to be their Protector and Provider; He would love to subdue and turn away their enemies and to feed and satisfy them with wheat and honey. God yearns, longs and aches to protect and provide because He loves so much, but He can’t if they won’t listen and obey (hearken). “If only they would walk in my ways I would subdue their enemies and feed them abundantly.” This promise is conditional: if you would…I would.

Unfortunately, sinful man “would not.” Therefore, he will hear these most dreadful words: “So I gave them up to their own hearts’ lusts.” But He still loves him: the way of repentance and faith in the Gospel is still open.

We need the Shepherd, the God of War, to restore the soul again to its former state of peace, security and abundant blessing. “Turn us again:” cause us to repent and turn to our Lord in prayer and faith. “Cause your face to shine:” smile on us with favor and blessing and your loving presence. “Save us:” restore us again by routing the enemy.

The believer looks back to the Christ Event of Redemption, just as the OT believer looked back to the Exodus Event of Redemption: the Shepherd and God of War took a vine from the Enemy and transplanted it in the Promised Land to grow and prosper. But now, because of Sin, He has allowed the hedge of protection to break down and the enemies have come into the vineyard to trample and devour.

In answer to repentance, prayer and faith the Lord’s shining face shows up to cause the enemy to perish at His rebuke. He turns His shining Face to us and gives us life and we are restored again. We will not turn back and will call on His Name.

The destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple, the Land and the Nation in the Babylonian Exile is the most devastating event imaginable for the people of God. Everything is lost, even hope is demolished. In retrospect it is like the Genesis Fall of Man into Sin and Curse. It is like the Death of Jesus on Friday.

What is left after the loss of all hope, even the apparent loss of God? The presence of God in Paradise (Fall), in the Temple (Exile), and in the Promise (Crucifixion) has vanished. What now? It is the “what now” that makes the story.

What’s left is a faith relationship with God. Prayer is left, and the Enemy can’t take that away. Even if that prayer is for justice and for the punishment and destruction of the enemies, faith and prayer remain. Somehow the people believe they will still thank and praise God forever.

Yes, Redemption comes after the Fall, Return after the Exile, and Resurrection after the Crucifixion, but before we see it we must believe it. And in the ultimate, absolute, Final End of it all justice and judgment, mercy and grace, and the end of the enemies will be seen. Meanwhile, pray.

A parable and a dark saying is like a riddle: a riddle is a saying of something you can’t figure out unless you are given the simple key. The history of God’s people is recounted from the Exodus to the reign of David as king.

The riddle is why did the people act so faithless, unbelieving, rebellious and idolatrous in the obvious face of all the wonderful miracles of salvation and provision of God’s grace? But even more: the riddle is also about why did the Lord act so faithfully, wonderfully and mercifully to His faithless people?

It was irrational for the people who were miraculously delivered and provided for to respond in Unbelief and rebellion. It doesn’t make sense. The Sin of Unbelief may still be the greatest Enemy with which we have to deal. But it was irrational for God to continue faithful to His promise and covenant in the face of their unbelief. It doesn’t make sense. The wrath of God makes sense; the faithfulness does not.

The answer to the riddle: Grace! The human mind will never, even in eternity, plumb the depths of the mystery of the Grace and Love of God.

Unbelief, the first or primary Sin, is the Enemy that arises in the form of Doubt: doubt God’s Word; doubt God’s promises; doubt that God is good; doubt that God won’t change His mind; doubt of God’s unchanging, faithful Love. The believer questions the truth of the basic belief in Exodus 34.6: “The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.”

In a season of trouble and distress the Lord does not seem to be present, or even caring enough to intervene in answer to prayer. The Psalm looks back and remembers what the Lord once did: He defeated the Enemy and gave life in the Creation Event and the Exodus Salvation. For me, I look back and remember He did the same in the Cross and Tomb Event. But will He do it now, in my present hour?

Has His faithful love failed? Can I still trust His promises? The “Yes” answer awaits; the psalmist won’t answer; the jury’s still out. The Gospel story brings us to the threshold but a step of faith is still needed to enter. Fresh faith is demanded for every present moment of crisis. Is God good? Say, “Yes!”

Human beings are not willing and able to imagine how incorrigibly terrible evil really is. Humans are not willing and able to imagine how awesomely Terrible God can be.

Almighty God is terrible (able to evoke terror) as Warrior and Judge against our enemies. I don’t enjoy picturing a kind, gentle, tender, soft, caring and loving Shepherd God as being a warlike, violent, fearsome, cruel, hateful and punishing Warrior God. One reason I don’t like that picture is because I can’t see the Enemy as terrible (terror evoking) as he really is. And I can’t see how terrible he is because I Continue reading Psalm 76: Terrible Victory over Terrible Enemies

All people and all of time is inexorably headed toward a Great and Final Judgment on the Last Day. That is as certain as death and taxes. This day will come at The Judge’s choosing. Every human being has some awareness, though dim and widely suppressed, of the coming Accountability.

Snippets and signs of The Judgment will show up from time to time: earthquakes and earth shaking events happen, but the Lord holds the pillars steady until the Time; the cup of the wine of God’s wrath is poured out for the wicked here and there; the horns, the power, of some are brought down and some lifted up until the End.

The listed enemies of the Just Judge are the proud, the boastful, the arrogant, and the insolent. This attitude of the wicked must be judged: shaken, put down, made to drink, and cut off. This attitude in one’s own self must be discovered, repented of, and rooted out by the Cross. Repent now of this inner enemy: desire to control, judge others, blame and criticize, run my own life, “let me alone,” and various self serving and prideful thoughts. Lay the Cross on such thoughts. Receive forgiveness before judgment.

The worst calamity imaginable for the people of God has taken place. The Kingdom is destroyed, the people taken into exile in a foreign land, the city is in ruins, and all hope of earthly wellbeing has turned to despair. But that’s not the calamity; the great calamity is that the temple is utterly destroyed. The temple is the meeting place of God on the earth.

If the presence of God is gone, where can we meet him, how can we pray, how can we gain access to our God? Indeed, where is God? Is there a God for us? Is the Enemy stronger than our Lord? Now there is no place to turn, no One to help, no way to find a way out. We can live without king and kingdom, land and city, but we can’t live without God.

Though all is lost, no answer comes, and no solution is in sight, God’s people still pray and plead. We call on our Lord to look at His Holy Place, to see what the Enemy has done, to remember Creation Power, and to arise and act again. Without visible hope in the presence of defeat we still pray to the God of Promises.