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A Psalm of Asaph. A song.
(83-2) O God, keep not silence; hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God!
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(83-3) For, lo, Thine enemies make a tumult, and they that hate Thee lift up the head.
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(83-4) They take crafty counsel against Thy people, and consult together against Thy hidden ones.
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(83-5) They say, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
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(83-6) For they have consulted together with one consent; they are confederate against Thee:
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(83-7) The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites;
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(83-8) Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
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(83-9) Assyria also is joined with them; they have become a help to the children of Lot. Selah.
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(83-10) Do unto them as unto Midian; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook Kishon;
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(83-11) who were destroyed at En-dor, who became as dung for the earth.
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(83-12) Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, yea, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
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(83-13) who said, “Let us take to ourselves the pastures of God.”
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(83-14) O my God, make them like the whirling dust, like stubble before the wind.
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(83-15) As the fire that burneth the forest, and as the flame that setteth the mountains on fire,
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(83-16) so pursue them with Thy tempest, and terrify them with Thy storm.
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(83-17) Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Thy name, O LORD.
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(83-18) Let them be ashamed and dismayed for ever; yea, let them be confounded and perish,
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(83-19) that they may know that Thou alone, whose name is the LORD, art Most High over all the earth.
🕊️🙏📖 Summary of Psalm 83 – “A Prayer for Justice Against the Enemies of God’s People”
Psalm 83 is a psalm of battle cry and plea for justice, written by Asaph.
The psalmist asks the Lord not to remain silent in the face of the nations’ conspiracy that seeks to destroy Israel and the name of God from the earth.
He names one by one the enemies who have joined together against Israel, and prays that God would overthrow them as He did in former days (Midian, Sisera, Oreb).
This psalm is a prayer of spiritual resistance, not only against military threat, but against the intent to erase God’s presence from the world.
📌 1. A Plea That God Would Not Be Silent (verses 1–4)
➡️ “O God, keep not silence…”
➡️ The enemy plots craftily: “Come, and let us destroy them as a nation…”
🎯 When truth and faith are surrounded, prayer becomes the strongest weapon.
📌 2. The List of Enemies and Their Evil Alliance (verses 5–8)
➡️ The nations unite: Edom, Ishmael, Moab, Philistia, Amalek, and others.
➡️ They form an alliance against Israel and against God Himself.
🎯 An attack on God’s people is part of rebellion against God Himself.
📌 3. A Prayer That God Would Act (verses 9–12)
➡️ “Do unto them as unto Midian, Sisera, and Jabin…”
➡️ This refers to the mighty victories God gave in former times.
🎯 Faith remembers history to strengthen hope for help in the present.
📌 4. A Prayer That the Enemy May Know God’s Name (verses 13–18)
➡️ Asaph prays that the enemy be made like dust, burned like fire.
➡️ But the purpose is not revenge, but rather:
“That they may seek Thy name, O LORD… that they may know that Thou alone art Most High over all the earth.”
🎯 The final purpose of judgment is the acknowledgment of God’s glory.
📖 Main Lessons
- The world may unite against God’s people, but God remains King over all nations
- An attack on God’s people is part of a plan to erase His name
- Prayer is a form of faithful resistance against evil powers
- We may cry out to God in fear and anger — so long as the aim is His glory
- God’s judgment can bring repentance to enemies, not only destruction
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Ephesians 6:12
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…”
➡️ Psalm 83 portrays spiritual warfare — as Paul later emphasizes.
📖 Romans 12:19
“Vengeance is Mine, saith the Lord.”
➡️ This psalm is not about personal revenge, but a cry for God to act.
📖 Matthew 5:44
“Love your enemies, and pray for them…”
➡️ In the light of Christ, this psalm’s cry becomes a prayer that enemies may know God.
📖 Philippians 2:10–11
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth…”
➡️ Psalm 83’s hope that all nations acknowledge God is fulfilled in Jesus.
🕊️ “O God, keep not silence, hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God.” – Psalm 83:1
🕊️ “They have consulted together with one consent; they are confederate against Thee.” – Psalm 83:5
🕊️ “Do unto them as unto Midian.” – Psalm 83:9
🕊️ “That they may know that Thou alone, whose name is the LORD, art Most High over all the earth.” – Psalm 83:18
