Bible Commentaries
Psalms 83

Verses 1-18

PSALM 83

The judgment of the nations confederated against God and His people Israel.

Psalm 82 deals with the corrupt leaders within the circle of God's people. Psalm 83 deals in judgment with the confederated enemies of God's people who oppose them from without.

(v. 1) The psalm opens with an appeal to God that He would no longer keep silence, and refrain from acting in the presence of His enemies.

The silence of God and His non-intervention in the presence of the wickedness of men and the sufferings of His people, is a great test for faith. Nevertheless, faith knows that, in God's due time, when evil is ripe, God must intervene. Hence the appeal that God would no longer keep silence.

(vv. 2-4) The godly soul, looking on to the last great confederacy of the nations against God and His people, sees that wickedness calls for judgment. The enemies of God, taking occasion by His long suffering and silence, raise their voice against God and exalt themselves. This hatred of God is expressed against God's people - His hidden ones whom God has secretly sheltered, even if for a time He does not publicly intervene on their behalf (cp. Psa_31:20 ).

The intention of the enemy is to cut off Israel as a nation from the face of the earth, with the desire that their very memory may perish.

(vv. 5-8) In seeking to achieve this end the nations confer together, forming themselves into a confederacy against God. The nations immediately surrounding the land of Israel are enumerated. They are aided by the Assyrian from the north.

(vv. 9-17) The psalmist encouraged by the former interventions of God on behalf of His people, appeals to God to act against His enemies as in the days of old. He prays that they may be like the chaff before the wind; that the fire of judgment may consume them, and the storm of judgment fill them with terror. Thus may the enemies of the Lord be filled with shame and come to destruction.

(v. 18) The psalmist anticipates the result of God's intervention in judgment. The end will be that men will know that Jehovah - the God of Israel - is the Most High over all the earth.