Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The Battle Hard Won


Psalms 83:16 KJV
Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.

Barnes Notes:
"This explains the drift and design of the whole prayer in the psalm. It is not a malignant prayer for the destruction of their enemies; it is not a wish that they might be made to suffer; but it is a prayer that the divine dealing might be such as to lead them to the acknowledgment of the true God. "

"Anything that leads people to an acquaintance with God, and results in securing his friendship and favor, is a gain, and will be cause of thankfulness in the end."

This may be the New Testament way of viewing all of the imprecatory Psalms. No doubt the Christian is called upon to use even the hand of chastening, not as a means to get even, but as an attempt to bring restoration to the will of the Lord. There is little place in the New Testament for calling down fire unless it is that the one is away from God and the intent of the one who is more spiritual is to see them reconciled. God's plan is unity. It is a quality that must be fought for and when we finally possess it we will know that it was in a battle hard won. 

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