Psalms 83
Psalm 83 begins with the psalmist’s prayer to God in the midst of a crisis facing the community. In the face of threats from multiple nations that have banded together against Israel, the psalmist earnestly asks for God’s help. Overall, this psalm addresses the plots of the enemies, their alliance, and the judgment and deliverance that the psalmist hopes God will bring.
1verseA song. A Psalm by Asaph. God, don’t keep silent. Don’t keep silent, and don’t be still, God.
2verseFor, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads.
3verseThey conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
4verse“Come,” they say, “let’s destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
5verseFor they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you.
6verseThe tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;
7verseGebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8verseAssyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
9verseDo to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;
10versewho perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth.
11verseMake their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12versewho said, “Let’s take possession of God’s pasture lands.”
13verseMy God, make them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind.
14verseAs the fire that burns the forest, as the flame that sets the mountains on fire,
15verseso pursue them with your tempest, and terrify them with your storm.
16verseFill their faces with confusion, that they may seek your name, LORD.
17verseLet them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish;
18versethat they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.
Structure and Flow
- Verses 1-4: The psalmist begins by asking for help, not letting God remain silent. The enemies carry out schemes to destroy Israel arrogantly.
- Verses 5-8: The psalmist mentions in detail how Gentile nations unite to stand against Israel. They are represented by Israel’s ancient enemies such as the Amalekites and the Philistines.
- Verses 9-12: Recalling the history of the judgments God once carried out for Israel, the psalmist pleads for the same kind of deliverance once again.
- Verses 13-18: The psalmist hopes that when God scatters the enemies, as a result all peoples will come to know God’s name. This is not merely a desire for retaliation, but a longing for God’s glory to be revealed.
Meditation on the Whole Meaning
Despite serious threats from outside, this psalm demonstrates a posture of urgently seeking God’s intervention more than human protection. Rather than being afraid in the face of crisis, the psalmist remembers God’s help given in the past and expects that the community will experience again the history of salvation. At the same time, the psalmist prays that the battle with these enemies will not end only in revenge or victory, but ultimately lead to a spiritual outcome in which all nations come to know God’s rule.
Points to Ponder
- When I am faced with a crisis, whom do I seek first? I can learn an attitude of trust that cries out to God like the psalmist.
- I can also reflect on whether my prayers are moving toward a plea for God’s glory—or whether they remain only focused on solving my own needs.
Try Applying It to My Life
- When fear and difficulties come into my life, let us remember the help from God we have experienced in the past and carry a heart that trusts Him even now.
- Not only should we plead for God to resolve problems for individuals and the community, but let us also pray that through my life God’s name and His greatness will be revealed.
