Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Psalms 83
Psalms 83:1O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
This opening verse sets the tone of urgency, as the psalmist begs God to break His silence and intervene in a desperate situation.Psalms 83:4They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
Here, the psalmist reveals the enemies' primary goal: to completely erase Israel's existence and memory, making the threat existential, rather than merely defeating it.Psalms 83:18that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Conspiracy of Nations
The scene opens with a sense of immediate crisis. The psalmist, speaking on behalf of the nation, perceives God as being silent and still in the face of a gathering storm. An alliance of at least ten neighboring nations has formed, united by a common hatred for Israel. Their goal is total annihilation - to 'wipe them out as a nation' so that their name is forgotten forever, not merely conquest. This is an attack on God's chosen people, His 'treasured ones.' It is not merely a political or military threat.
Remembering Past Victories
Faced with this overwhelming threat, the psalmist turns to history as a source of hope and a basis for his prayer. He specifically recalls God's mighty acts of deliverance in the past. He does not merely ask for a generic victory. He points to the defeat of Midian at the hands of Gideon and the destruction of Sisera and Jabin through Deborah and Barak. By reminding God of these past triumphs, he is essentially saying, 'You've done it before, Lord. Do it again!' This appeal anchors the desperate plea in the solid ground of God's proven character and power.
A Desperate Plea for Divine Justice
Psalm 83 is a national lament, a community prayer offered in a time of extreme danger. The psalmist, Asaph, sees a formidable coalition of enemies gathering to destroy Israel. His prayer is a passionate appeal for God to abandon His silence, remember His people, and act decisively to defend His own name and honor.
The Cry for God to Act (Psalms 83:1-4)
1 O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads.
3 They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.
4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
Commentary:
The psalmist begs God to stop being silent and intervene as enemies plot to annihilate Israel.
The Alliance Against God (Psalms 83:5-8)
5 For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant -
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.
Commentary:
A detailed list reveals a broad coalition of nations has united to fight against God's people.
A Prayer for Historical Justice (Psalms 83:9-12)
9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10 who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Let us take possession of the pastures of God.”
Commentary:
The psalmist asks God to defeat the current enemies, mirroring His miraculous past victories over Israel's foes.
So That They May Know You (Psalms 83:13-18)
13 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane!
16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O Lord.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace,
18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.
Commentary:
The prayer calls for a devastating defeat so that the enemies will be humbled and recognize that the Lord alone is God.
God's Sovereignty and Justice on Display
God's Sovereignty Over Nations
This psalm powerfully affirms that God is not a local deity but the ruler over all nations. The psalmist's confidence rests in the belief that no human alliance, no matter how powerful, can stand against God's will. The prayer is a declaration of dependence on the One who holds the fate of empires in His hands.
The Cry for Divine Justice
Psalm 83 gives voice to the deep human cry for justice in the face of evil and oppression. It shows that it is appropriate to bring our anger, fear, and desire for vindication before God. The prayer is not for personal revenge but for God to act as the righteous Judge of the earth and set things right.
God's Glory as the Ultimate Goal
While the psalm is a plea for Israel's survival, its final verses reveal a much larger purpose. The reason for the judgment is so 'that they may know that you alone... are the Most High.' The deliverance of God's people is ultimately a means to a greater end: the revelation of God's supreme and unrivaled glory to the entire world.
Bringing Our Battles to God
Psalm 83 teaches you to be honest and specific in your prayers. Like the psalmist, you can name your fears and the sources of your opposition (vv. 3-8). It also encourages you to base your appeal on God's character and His past faithfulness (vv. 9-11), reminding yourself and God of His power to deliver.
While we don't pray for our personal enemies to become 'dung for the ground' (v. 10), the principle is about asking God to decisively stop evil and injustice. You can apply this by praying for God to dismantle systems of oppression, to bring an end to harmful situations, and to humble those who proudly oppose His will, so that His justice and truth will prevail.
It means shifting your focus from wanting your problems solved to wanting God to be seen as great through the solution. Like in verse 18, you can pray, 'Lord, resolve this situation in such a way that You are honored, and others see Your power and goodness.' This transforms your prayers from being self-centered to being God-centered, trusting that His glory and your ultimate good are connected.
God's Action Reveals His Name
Psalm 83 is a bold declaration that God's silence in the face of evil is not His final word. It models a faith that confronts God with the harsh realities of the world, pleading with Him to act in accordance with His character. The message is that our cries for justice are heard, and God's intervention is for His revelation, not solely for our relief. Through His powerful defense of His people, God makes His name and His authority known to a watching world.
What This Means for Us Today
Psalm 83 invites us to bring the 'impossible' coalitions we face - whether in our personal lives, communities, or the world - before God without hesitation. It gives us permission to pray bold, honest prayers for God to intervene. We are called to trust that His justice will ultimately prevail for the sake of His great name.
- What 'enemy coalition' or overwhelming situation do you need to specifically name before God today?
- How can remembering God's past faithfulness in your life give you courage to pray about your present challenges?
- In what area of your life do you need to pray for God's glory to be revealed, even more than for your own comfort?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
This chapter details King Jehoshaphat facing a similar coalition of enemies (Moab, Ammon, and others) and crying out to God in a prayer that echoes the themes of Psalm 83.
This passage provides the historical account of Gideon's victory over the Midianites, an event the psalmist specifically references as a model for the deliverance he seeks.
This is the story of Deborah, Barak, and Jael defeating the Canaanite army led by Jabin and Sisera, another key historical victory mentioned in Psalm 83.
Discussion Questions
- When you feel that God is silent in a difficult situation, how do you typically respond? How does the psalmist's approach in verses 1-2 challenge or encourage you?
- Psalm 83 asks God to bring shame and disgrace upon His enemies. How do we reconcile these kinds of prayers (sometimes called 'imprecatory psalms') with the New Testament command to love our enemies?
- The psalmist's ultimate hope is that God's enemies would 'seek your name' and 'know that you alone are the Lord' (vv. 16, 18). How does this change our perspective when we pray about injustice or opposition in the world today?
Glossary
places
Edom
A nation southeast of Israel, descended from Esau, Jacob's brother; they were often in conflict with Israel.
Moab
A nation east of the Dead Sea, descended from Lot, Abraham's nephew.
Gebal
An ancient Phoenician port city north of Israel, known today as Byblos in Lebanon.
Ammon
A nation east of the Jordan River, also descended from Lot and frequently an enemy of Israel.
Philistia
A coastal region southwest of Israel inhabited by the Philistines, one of Israel's most persistent enemies.
Tyre
A major Phoenician port city on the Mediterranean coast, known for its wealth and power.
Asshur
Assyria, a major Mesopotamian empire that eventually conquered the northern kingdom of Israel.
River Kishon
A river in the Jezreel Valley where the Canaanite general Sisera was defeated.
En-dor
A location near the battle against Sisera where the bodies of the defeated were left.
figures
Asaph
A prominent Levite musician and seer appointed by King David; several psalms are attributed to him.
Children of Lot
A reference to the nations of Moab and Ammon, who were descended from Abraham's nephew, Lot.
Sisera
The commander of the Canaanite army who was defeated by Israel under the leadership of Deborah and Barak.
Jabin
The Canaanite king who oppressed Israel and whose army was commanded by Sisera.
Oreb and Zeeb
Two Midianite princes who were defeated and killed during Gideon's campaign.
Zebah and Zalmunna
The two kings of Midian who were pursued and executed by Gideon.