Psalms 83

REFLECTIONS UPON PSALM LXXXIII.—To quicken his people’s importunity in prayer, the Lord sometimes appears for a time to disregard their distress. Whatever pretences men make for their opposition to God’s people, the real cause is their enmity against God himself, whose holiness they cannot endure, and whose image they cannot but hate. But, while saints are hid with Christ in God, no enemy can really hurt them. Wicked men, though diversified by nations, humours, or interests, strongly unite in opposing the cause of God and truth. Glad would they be if neither preacher nor professor of the true religion were left upon earth. But, though craft be employed to seduce, threatenings to intimidate, and fury to extirpate, the foundation of God standeth sure. God knoweth them that are his, and they shall never be moved. At the worst, they have their all-sufficient Lord to flee to, who can check the madness of the devourers. And past interpositions of God in favour of his people should encourage us to plead and hope for the like mercy. All opposition to God and his church is but rushing headlong into certain ruin. Even in this life, sinners terrors of mind often make their life a burden, and are a presage of more dreadful misery in hell for ever. Men must know at last that the Lord omnipotent regneth; and the execution of deserved vengeance on the ungodly will tend to his everlasting glory. Meanwhile we ought to long for the conviction and conversion of our bitterest enemies of mankind rather than their destruction. 70