Psalms 83
Big idea: A coalition psalm. Ten nations are named, and their stated goal is quoted: let's destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more. The response asks God to do what he did to Midian and Sisera — old battles, cited as precedent. And then the psalm ends somewhere the reader may not expect. The last two verses ask for confusion and shame, but the purpose clause is evangelistic: that they may seek your name, Yahweh; that they may know that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
Psalm 83 asks the nations to learn God's name. Psalm 84 wants nothing but to be in the house where it is honoured.
83:1–8 — They have conspired together with one mind
The complaint is silence, said three ways in one verse, and what follows is a list — ten peoples named, from Edom round to Assyria, which is a fuller coalition than any single moment in Israel's history records. Whether it is a real alliance or a composite, the psalm's point is in verse 4: the goal quoted is not conquest but erasure, that the NAME be remembered no more.
1 A song. A Psalm by Asaph. God, don’t keep silent. Don’t keep silent, and don’t be still, God. 2 For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads. 3 They 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.” 5 For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you. 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
83:9–18 — That they may seek your name
The imprecation is built from history — Midian, Sisera, Oreb and Zeeb, all from Judges — so what is being asked for is a repeat rather than something new. And then the movement does something almost no imprecatory psalm does: it states the purpose twice, and both times the purpose is that the enemies should know. Confusion so THAT they may seek your name.
9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon; 10 who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, 12 who said, “Let’s take possession of God’s pasture lands.” 13 My God, make them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind. 14 As the fire that burns the forest, as the flame that sets the mountains on fire, 15 so pursue them with your tempest, and terrify them with your storm. 16 Fill their faces with confusion, that they may seek your name, Yahweh. 17 Let them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish; 18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).