←Psalm 83→BSB

In This Chapter 11 people 12 places 9 terms

People

Hagri 3 Sisera 3 Israel 2 Lot 2 Jabin 2 Oreb 2 Zeeb 2 Zebah 2 Zalmunna 2 Jacob (Patriarch) Jeshurun (Israel)

Places

    Key Terms

    Take Possession 3 Be Crafty 2 Covenant 2 Crafty Craftiness Covenant (NT) Covenant of Salt Dispossess Inherit

    O God, Be Not Silent

    A song. A Psalm of Asaph.

    ⓘ This community lament asks God for rescue and...

    This community lament asks God for rescue and victory. The terse poetry suggests difficult times. A powerful coalition desires to destroy Israel (83:1–4) and allies itself against God (83:5–8). Recalling the fate of others who came against Israel (83:9–12), the psalmist prays that the same will happen to these enemies (83:13–16) so that God will receive honor among them (83:17–18). It is unclear whether this psalm arose out of a specific historical instance of opposition by these nations, or if it is a poetic collage of nations representing Israel’s enemies.
    ⓘ The enemy has successfully intimidated God’s people, so...

    The enemy has successfully intimidated God’s people, so the poet prays that the Lord will hear and act.
    1O God, be not silent; be not speechless;†be not still, O God.2See how Your enemies rage,how Your foes have reared their heads.3With cunning they scheme against Your peopleand conspire against those You cherish,4saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation;may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
    ⓘ signed a treaty: The allies agreed to fight...

    signed a treaty: The allies agreed to fight against God and his people. The nations that are named in the alliance were situated around Israel and Judah.
    5For with one mind they plot together;they form an alliance against You—
    ⓘ The Edomites, descendants of Esau, were located to...
    • The Edomites, descendants of Esau, were located to the southeast of Judah (see Gen 25:30; 32:3; 36:1–8).
    • Ishmaelites were desert-dwelling descendants of Hagar.
    • Moabites and Ammonites descended from Lot; both were located to the east of Israel and Judah.
    • The Hagrites were possibly located north of the Ammonites (1 Chr 5:10).
    6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,of Moab and the Hagrites,7of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,of Philistia with the people of Tyre.8Even Assyria has joined them,lending strength to the sons of Lot.Selah
    ⓘ The Midianites, ruled by Zebah and Zalmunna and...

    The Midianites, ruled by Zebah and Zalmunna and led by Oreb and Zeeb, were Israel’s enemy in the days of Gideon (Judg 7:1–8:5). Barak’s coalition defeated Sisera and Jabin (Judg 4).
    ⓘ The psalmist prays that God will miraculously destroy...

    The psalmist prays that God will miraculously destroy the new coalition as he did three other enemies; doing so would bring him glory.
    9Do to them as You did to Midian,as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon,10who perished at Endorand became like dung on the ground.11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,12who said, “Let us possess for ourselvesthe pastures of God.”
    13Make them like tumbleweed, O my God,like chaff before the wind.
    ⓘ fire... fierce storm... tempest: These are images of...

    fire . . . fierce storm . . . tempest: These are images of God’s manifestation in judgment (see Isa 29:6).
    14As fire consumes a forest,as a flame sets the mountains ablaze,15so pursue them with Your tempest,and terrify them with Your storm.16Cover their faces with shame,that they may seek Your name, O LORD.
    17May they be ever ashamed and terrified;may they perish in disgrace.18May they know that You alone,whose name is the LORD,are Most High over all the earth.