Bible Commentaries
Psalms 83

Verses 1-18

Psalms 83

A Confederate of Foes Scripture v. 1-18:

Verse 1 Is an Asaph appeal for the Lord to "keep not silence, still, or hold his peace," from the words of this prayer-psalm, Psalms 62:6-7; Psalms 28:1. For their case in Israel would be desperate, should God be silent, when His enemies made a "tumult."

Verse 2, 3 relate "for, lo, (observe) thine enemies make a tumult, and they that hate thee (take thee flippantly) have lifted up the head," with haughty pride, as illustrated Judges 8:28; Psalms 2:1; Psalms 81:15; Matthew 27:24; Acts 4:25. It is added that God’s enemies had taken crafty counsel, and collusion for violence against God’s hidden ones, Israel’s remnant treasure in times of trouble, Malachi 3:17; Psalms 27:5; Psalms 31:20; Colossians 3:3.

Verse 4, 5 add that they (the enemies) had said, "come, let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance," 2 Samuel 10:5; 2 Chronicles 20:1.
Verse 5 adds "they have consulted together, with one consent (with the heart unanimously), they are confederate against thee," Psalms 64:5-6.

Verses 6-8 indicts those who helped the children of Lot against Israel, as the Edomites, Ishmaelites, Moabites, Hagarenes, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, the Philistines, inhabitants of Tyre, and Assur, ten heathen nations. They were descendants of Lot, akin to the Arabs, as descendants of Abraham, Genesis 25:3; Genesis 25:18. These latter were the prime instigators of conspiracy against Israel.

Verse 9, 10 call on God to judge these 10 nations, op. cit., much like He had the Midianites,as related, Numbers 31:7; Judges 7:22; And as He did Sisera, as to Jabin at En-dor, becoming as dung for the earth," Joshua 17:11; Judges 5:19.

Verse 11, 12 petition the Lord to make the nobles and princes of these 10 nations that oppressed Israel to be brought low like Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna, a quartet who had said, "let us take to ourselves (usurp) the houses of God in possession," as related Judges 7:25; Judges 8:5; Judges 8:10; Judges 8:12; Judges 8:21; 2 Chronicles 20:11.

Verse 13, 14 relate Asaph’s cry to god to make Israel’s enemies like a wheel; as stubble before the wind," make them unstable as a whirlwind, Psalms 77:18; Isaiah 17:13. He too asked the Lord to make them like a flame of fire that burns wood and sets the mountains on fire, to be burned as stubble before a wind-swept fire, Job 21:18; Psalms 35:5; Psalms 68:1; Isaiah 40:24; Isaiah 41:2; Matthew 3:12.

Verses 15, 16 add "so persecute them with thy tempest and make them afraid with thy storm," of judgment indignation. He continued, "fill their faces with shame ... that they may seek thy name, O Lord," Psalms 59:13.

Verses 17, 18 plead further for the Lord to cause the ten enemy gentile nations aligned against Israel to be confounded, troubled, put to shame, and perish in consternation; In order that men might know or recognize that the living, covenant, most High over all the earth, whose name was Jehovah, was the true God, who judged sin and rewarded righteousness, Isaiah 41:21; Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 41:16; See also Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 37:20; 1 Samuel 17:46.