Verses 1-15
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Here Asaph pleads for God to deliver his people from the plots of their enemies and to destroy their enemies, just as God had done so in previous generations.
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He particularly recalls victories that took place in the time of the Judges (read Judges 4-8 for context).
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Verse 3. Even though the world and the enemy are against believers, take comfort in knowing that we are God's sheltered ones. We have shelter in God's presence (Psalm 27:5, 31:20).
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Remember this in times of trouble, and know that God will never abandon you to the enemy.
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Verses 16-18
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Here Asaph prays for enemies to be put to shame, confused, and fearful, and eventually to perish.
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Notice, in verse 16, that enemies being put to shame will move them to seek the Lord. Asaph does not merely seek the utter destruction of his enemies. He really seeks for his enemies to come to know and seek God through the judgment that befalls them. We should have the same motive.
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Don't desire for unbelievers to all perish (2 Peter 3:9). Instead, desire for them to come to know God, and pray accordingly.
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Some unbelievers are moved to repentance through fear—namely, a fear of God's judgment (Jude 1:23). So, do pray for unbelievers to come to repentance (2 Timothy 2:25-26), to experience a fear of God, and/or for a confusion from their sins that will help to make them want to repent and seek God.
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