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PSALM 83 - Enemies of Church 24 Jan 2020

The Psalm speaks about the nation of God, Israel. They have enemies. The Catholic Church portrays itself as "People of God." Israel had many enemies. Today I am wondering what the enemies of the church are.

Enemies of People of God.

In my opinion the most important enemies of the church are not outside of the church. It is perhaps the passive attitude of the laymen.

Just observing myself:
a) My self-righteousness. As if I can live without God.
b) My unbelief in a vital community.
c) My love for the world.
d) My cold heart for my fellow believers (and unbelievers)
e) My fears and shame which I show to the world.
f) My unwillingness to die in the arms of Christ

Deep in my heart, however I desire community with all and with God, and that now and just here where I live. I desire a world with love and care for one-another. A heaven on earth.

Psalm 83

1 [Song. Psalm Of Asaph]
God, do not remain silent,
do not stay quiet or unmoved, God!
2 See how your enemies are in uproar,
how those who hate you are rearing their heads.
3 They are laying plans against your people,
conspiring against those you cherish;
4 they say,
'Come, let us annihilate them as a nation,
the name of Israel shall be remembered no more!'
5 They conspire with a single mind,
they conclude an alliance against you,
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal, Ammon, Amalek,
Philistia and the Tyrians;
8 even Assyria has joined them
to reinforce the children of Lot. Pause
9 Treat them like Midian and Sisera,
like Jabin at the river Kishon;
10 wiped out at En-Dor,
they served to manure the ground.
11 Treat their leaders like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their commanders like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 for they said,
'Let us take for ourselves God's settlements.'
13 My God, treat them like thistledown,
like chaff at the mercy of the wind.
14 As fire devours a forest,
as a flame sets mountains ablaze,
15 so drive them away with your tempest,
by your whirlwind fill them with terror.
16 Shame written all over their faces,
let them seek your name, Yahweh!
17 Dishonour and terror be always theirs,
death also and destruction.
18 Let them know that you alone bear the name of Yahweh,
Most High over all the earth.

Excerpt from THE NEW JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1985 by
Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division
of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.

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People of God

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