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Psalms 83

Psalms83

American Standard Version · Public Domain

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1 O God, keep not thou silence: Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult; And they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

3 They take crafty counsel against thy people, And consult together against thy hidden ones.

4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

5 For they have consulted together with one consent; Against thee do they make a covenant:

6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagarenes;

7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre:

8 Assyria also is joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah

9 Do thou unto them as unto Midian, As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;

10 Who perished at Endor, Who became as dung for the earth.

11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; Yea, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna;

12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves in possession The habitations of God.

13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust; As stubble before the wind.

14 As the fire that burneth the forest, And as the flame that setteth the mountains on fire,

15 So pursue them with thy tempest, And terrify them with thy storm.

16 Fill their faces with confusion, That they may seek thy name, O Jehovah.

17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; Yea, let them be confounded and perish;

18 That they may know that thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, Art the Most High over all the earth.

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Psalms 83

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 83. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The designs of the enemies of Israel. (1–8). Earnest prayer for their defeat. (9–18).

vv1-8

Sometimes God seems not to be concerned at the unjust treatment of his people. But then we may call upon him, as the psalmist here. All wicked people are God's enemies, especially wicked persecutors. The Lord's people are his hidden one; the world knows them not. He takes them under his special protection. Do the enemies of the church act with one consent to destroy it, and shall not the friends of the church be united? Wicked men wish that there might be no religion among mankind. They would gladly see all its restraints shaken off, and all that preach, profess, or practise it, cut off. This they would bring to pass if it were in their power. The enemies of God's church have always been many: this magnifies the power of the Lord in preserving to himself a church in the world.

vv9-18

All who oppose the kingdom of Christ may here read their doom. God is the same still that ever he was; the same to his people, and the same against his and their enemies. God would make their enemies like a wheel; unsettled in all their counsels and resolves. Not only let them be driven away as stubble, but burnt as stubble. And this will be the end of wicked men. Let them be made to fear thy name, and perhaps that will bring them to seek thy name. We should desire no confusion to our enemies and persecutors but what may forward their conversion. The stormy tempest of Divine vengeance will overtake them, unless they repent and seek the pardoning mercy of their offended Lord. God's triumphs over his enemies, clearly prove that he is, according to his name JEHOVAH, an almighty Being, who has all power and perfection in himself. May we fear his wrath, and yield ourselves to be his willing servants. And let us seek deliverance by the destruction of our fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

Cross References

Psalms 83

The primary historical setting associated with this multi-nation confederacy against Judah.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v11Judges 7:25allusion

Direct historical reference to the defeat of Midianite princes Oreb and Zeeb.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v11Judges 8:12-21allusion

Direct historical reference to the pursuit and execution of Zebah and Zalmunna.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Psalms 27:5thematic

Illuminates 'hidden ones' as those hidden safely in God's protective pavilion.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Parallels the invaders' motive to drive Israel out of God's possession.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v3Colossians 3:3thematic

Theological parallel of believers as God's 'hidden ones' whose life is hid.

Supported by John Calvin

v9Judges 4:15-24allusion

The defeat of Jabin and Sisera at the brook Kishon.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v102 Kings 9:37thematic

Echoes the gruesome phrase of dead bodies becoming 'as dung on the earth'.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v10Jeremiah 8:2thematic

Prophetic parallel of the unburied wicked left as dung on the ground.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Isaiah 17:13thematic

Verbal parallel to 'like a wheel' or rolling thing, and stubble before wind.

Supported by JFB

v1Psalms 35:22thematic

Parallel plea for God not to keep silence or stand far off.

Supported by JFB

v2Psalms 74:23thematic

Parallels the rising voice and tumult of God's enemies.

Supported by JFB

v3Exodus 19:5thematic

Connects 'hidden ones' to Israel as God's peculiar treasure.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v10Joshua 17:11thematic

Geographical confirmation showing Endor was near the battlefield of Megiddo.

Supported by Matthew Poole