The prayer of the Hidden Ones against the crafty counsel of Messiah’s foes

The psalm depicts a confederacy or league of nations that conspired to overthrow Israel. Indeed, they were bent on such destruction that it would eradicate and eliminate the Jews as a nation. The enemies are listed, but also calls for their judgment are likened to the defeat of God’s enemies of the past.

Terrible imprecations are made, and the wrath of God demanded upon these adversaries. But they are not made out of a motive of personal revenge, but that men may know that they, through attacking God’s people, are really manifesting their hatred of Jehovah. As the risen, ascended Lord said to Saul of Tarsus, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”

Pastor Jeff O’ Neil

Recommended Tune: Evan, Coleshill

Psalm 83

¹Keep not, O God, we thee entreat,
O keep not silence now:
Do thou not hold thy peace, O God,
And still no more be thou.

²For, lo, thine enemies a noise
Tumultuously have made;
And they that haters are of thee
Have lifted up the head.

³Against thy chosen people they
Do crafty counsel take;
And they against thy hidden ones
Do consultations make.

⁴Come, let us cut them off, said they,
From being a nation,
That of the name of Isr’el may
No more be mention.

⁵For with joint heart they plot, in league
Against thee they combine.
⁶The tents of Edom, Ishm’elites,
Moab’s and Hagar’s line;

⁷Gebal, and Ammon, Amalek,
Philistines, those of Tyre;
⁸And Assur join’d with them, to help
Lot’s children they conspire.

⁹Do to them as to Midian,
Jabin at Kison strand;
¹⁰And Sis’ra, which at En–dor fell,
As dung to fat the land.

¹¹Like Oreb and like Zeeb make
Their noble men to fall;
Like Zeba and Zalmunna like,
Make thou their princes all;

¹²Who said, For our possession
Let us God’s houses take.
¹³My God, them like a wheel, as chaff
Before the wind, them make.

¹⁴As fire consumes the wood, as flame
Doth mountains set on fire,
¹⁵Chase and affright them with the storm
And tempest of thine ire.

¹⁶Their faces fill with shame, O LORD,
That they may seek thy name.
¹⁷Let them confounded be, and vex’d,
And perish in their shame:

¹⁸That men may know that thou, to whom
Alone doth appertain
The name JEHOVAH, dost most high
O’er all the earth remain.