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Asaph

Psalm 83

A Song or Psalm of Asaph.

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Scripture (KJV)

1Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

2For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

3They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

4They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

5For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

6The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;

7Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

8Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

9Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

10Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.

11Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

12Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

13O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

14As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

15So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

16Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.

17Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:

18That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Summary

Psalm 83 is an imprecatory psalm that pleads for God to act against a confederacy of nations plotting to destroy Israel. Asaph cries, "Keep not thou silence, O God," for enemies have made a tumult, taken crafty counsel against God’s people, and said, "Let us cut them off from being a nation." The psalm lists ten enemies: Edom, Ishmaelites, Moab, Hagarenes, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistines, Tyre, and Assur. Asaph asks God to do to them as He did to the Midianites, Sisera, and Jabin at the brook Kison, who perished at Endor and became dung for the earth. He prays that their nobles would be like Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna. The imagery of judgment intensifies: make them like a wheel, like stubble before the wind, like a fire burning a wood. Yet the purpose of judgment is redemptive: "Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD." The psalm closes with the ultimate goal: "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth."

The major themes are conspiracy, imprecation, divine judgment, the knowledge of God, and the name JEHOVAH. Practically, the psalm teaches that God’s people may appeal to Him when enemies conspire and that the goal of judgment is the knowledge of God. The great lesson is that the LORD whose name alone is JEHOVAH is the Most High over all the earth.

Key Themes

A Prayer from Psalm 83

Keep not silence, O God; hold not Your peace. Your enemies make a tumult and take crafty counsel against Your people. Do to them as You did to the Midianites, Sisera, and Jabin at the brook Kison. Make them like a wheel, like stubble before the wind. Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD. Let them be confounded and perish, that men may know that You, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, are the Most High over all the earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions

  1. 1How does this psalm handle the fear of national annihilation?
  2. 2What is the purpose of the imprecatory prayers in verses 13–17?
  3. 3How does verse 18 reveal the ultimate goal of all God’s judgments?
  4. 4Where do I need to trust that the LORD alone is JEHOVAH, Most High over all the earth?

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