Bible Study Psalms 83
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Psalms 83 · WEB

Do Not Keep Silence, God

Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.

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God, don't keep silent. Don't keep silent, and don't be still, God.
2For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads.
3They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
4"Come," they say, "let's destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more."
5For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you:
6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
7Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.
8Assyria also has joined them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
9Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon,
10who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth.
11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12who said, "Let's take possession of God's pastures for ourselves."
13My God, make them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind.
14As the fire that burns the forest, as the flame that sets the mountains on fire,
15so pursue them with your tempest, and terrify them with your storm.
16Fill their faces with confusion, that they may seek your name, Yahweh.
17Let them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish,
18that they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth.
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Summary

Psalm 83 is the final Asaph psalm, an imprecatory prayer against a coalition of ten nations conspiring to destroy Israel entirely and erase its name from history. David calls on God to act as he did in the judges period — as against Midian, Sisera, Jabin — to scatter the enemies like chaff and tumbleweed. The surprising conclusion: the purpose is not merely Israel's survival but that the nations may know that Yahweh alone is the Most High over all the earth.

Themes

  • A coalition of nations aiming at Israel's total elimination
  • Appeals to specific historical acts of divine deliverance
  • The scattering images — tumbleweed, chaff, fire
  • The purpose of judgment: that the nations may know Yahweh
  • The universal claim: Yahweh alone is the Most High over all the earth

Key verses

  • Ps 83:13 — “My God, make them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind.”
  • Ps 83:18 — “That they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth.”
  • Ps 83:4 — “Let's destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”

Context & background

The ten-nation coalition (vv. 6-8) includes peoples from all directions: Edom (modern Jordan/southern Israel), Moab (modern Jordan), Ammon (modern Jordan), Philistia (modern Gaza), Tyre (modern Lebanon), Assyria (modern northern Iraq), and others. The historical antecedents invoked — Midian's destruction by Gideon (Judges 7-8), Sisera and Jabin defeated by Deborah and Barak (Judges 4-5) — were Israel's defining moments of national deliverance against overwhelming odds. The final verse (v. 18) is the theological payoff: even the imprecation serves a missionary purpose — the nations' defeat should lead to the knowledge that Yahweh is supreme.

Cross-references

  • Isaiah 17:13 — "the nations rush like the rushing of many waters... he rebukes them" — v. 13-15's imagery
  • Judges 4-5 — Deborah and Barak defeat Sisera — v. 9's precedent
  • Judges 7-8 — Gideon defeats Midian — v. 9's precedent
  • Revelation 17:14 — "the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords" — v. 18's ultimate fulfillment
  • Romans 10:13-14 — "everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved" — the missionary edge of v. 18

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  1. Observe

    What is the stated goal of the coalition (v. 4)?

  2. Observe

    What is the ultimate purpose of the judgment requested (v. 18)?

  3. Interpret

    How does judgment serve a missionary purpose?

  4. Interpret

    What is the value of praying from specific historical precedents?

  5. Apply

    How can one pray when opposition feels existential?

  6. Apply

    How does the goal of enemies coming to know God change prayer against opposition?

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