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Psalm 83:1-8  
A song. A psalm of Asaph. 

O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God. See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, Byblos, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them to reinforce Lot’s descendants.

I love the honesty that God allows His servants. The Creator who spoke the world into existence desires a personal relationship with us. As part of that relationship He gives us permission to say what’s on our hearts.

The psalmist is not disrespectful in his plea. Enemies surround Israel. Like monstrous beasts they “growl” and “rear their heads.” They are intent on destruction “so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” The psalmist is not questioning God’s love. He is simply asking that God get involved in the situation.

We learn to pray in the psalms. Sometimes we praise, sometimes we plead. We share our hearts without pretense. Prayer is not a religious gesture to a deity. It is a heart cry from children to their Father. Prayer is unpretentious communication to the One who loves us so much that He sent His Son to die on our behalf.

Father, You are my Father. You bought me from slavery at an unbelievable price—the death of Your Son. (Now tell God all that is on your heart.) In Jesus’ name. Amen.