Psalm 83 comments

 

Psalm 83:1 ¶  «A Song or Psalm of Asaph.» Keep not thou silence, O God: 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 have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted 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: they are confederate against thee: 6  The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 7  Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8  Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

 

Here is a heartfelt plea for God’s deliverance of Israel, beset all around, as it is today, by enemies who wish its destruction. The psalmist pleads for God to move as the enemies of Israel, God’s enemies have risen up and created a ruckus. They have used clever counsel against God’s people, hidden under His own protection. They want to eliminate Israel from the map and make them a forgotten figure of history. See Haman’s scheme.

 

Esther 3:8  And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. 9  If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.

 

They are confederate, allied, and all in agreement that Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth. Reasonably far away Assyria is willing to be in league with the children of Lot, the Moabites and the Ammonites, that seek Israel’s destruction.

 

Psalm 83:9 ¶  Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10  Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. 11  Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: 12  Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. 13  O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. 14  As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; 15  So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. 16  Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD. 17  Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18  That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

 

The Psalmist now makes mention of events detailed in Judges. So, this Psalm is a plea for the destruction of Israel’s enemies, and God’s enemies. They surround Israel and threaten them on almost every side and the Psalmist wants them utterly destroyed. I would suggest to you that a Christian’s sentiment should be for salvation and a change of heart for our enemies who surround us. It is not easy to justify a Christian whose prayer is for death and Hell to reign down on those he or she opposes. We are to pray for our enemies. However, this is a national thing with Israel and nations in this world are either the bug or the windshield. A nation that cannot or will not defend itself cannot protect its citizens. Nation-states today are not Christian but they are entities that are entitled to defend themselves and their people from destruction. Be careful of the comparisons you make and pray for your enemies, that God would change their hearts and lead them to Christ.

 

Matthew 5:43 ¶  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46  For if ye love them which

love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.