Psalm 83
Psalm 83 is a prayer of Asaph, calling upon God to defend Israel against its enemies. The psalm describes a coalition of nations plotting to destroy God’s people. Asaph petitions God to intervene and bring justice, recalling past victories over Israel's enemies. The psalm emphasizes the need for divine deliverance, as these enemies not only oppose Israel but also challenge God’s authority.
Psalm 83:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Do not keep silent, O God!
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God!
2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;
And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
The psalmist pleads for God to act, expressing urgency. He portrays Israel’s enemies as being not just against the nation but ultimately against God. The enemies conspire together to annihilate Israel, aiming to erase it from existence. This coalition views Israel as vulnerable and takes advantage of the situation to challenge God’s authority by seeking to destroy His people.
Psalm 83:5-8 (NKJV)
5 For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot. Selah
These verses detail the alliance of nations plotting Israel’s destruction. The coalition includes traditional enemies like Edom, Moab, and Ammon, along with others such as Assyria and the Philistines. The mention of these diverse groups emphasizes the breadth of opposition and highlights how these enemies share a unified goal to undermine Israel and, in doing so, oppose God Himself.
Psalm 83:9-12 (NKJV)
9 Deal with them as with Midian,
As with Sisera,
As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,
10 Who perished at En Dor,
Who became as refuse on the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb,
Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let us take for ourselves
The pastures of God for a possession.”
Asaph appeals to God by recalling past victories where Israel’s enemies were utterly defeated, such as the battles against Midian under Gideon and the defeat of Sisera and Jabin. These victories serve as reminders of God’s power to overthrow those who oppose Him. The enemies' desire to seize God’s land for themselves demonstrates their arrogance and disregard for God’s purposes.
Psalm 83:13-18 (NKJV)
13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
Like the chaff before the wind!
14 As the fire burns the woods,
And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
15 So pursue them with Your tempest,
And frighten them with Your storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame,
That they may seek Your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be confounded and dismayed forever;
Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord,
Are the Most High over all the earth.
Asaph concludes with a plea for God to defeat these enemies decisively. He asks God to scatter them like dust and overwhelm them with divine power, ensuring their plans fail. The prayer is not purely for revenge but also aims that the enemies recognize God’s sovereignty. Asaph desires that through their defeat, all nations would come to know that the Lord is supreme over the earth, acknowledging His authority and greatness.