Psalms 83:1

The Bible says in Psalms 83:1-2, “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.[2] For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.” These two verses are a prayer for help. Everyone needs help in this life. One of the many benefits of being a Christian is that we have the Lord Jesus as our resource. When we have enemies, we can turn them over to the Lord. Jesus knows what they need: we do not.

The Bible says in Psalms 83:3-5, “They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.[4] They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.[5] For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:” The ungodly are always plotting and planning what they are going to do next to oppose God’s plan and to oppose God’s will. It is interesting that verse four tells us the circumstance of three thousand years ago, and it is the same today. They wanted to cut off Israel “from being a nation.” Why would the ungodly have such a purpose? The answer is simple: God promised Abraham that Israel would be a great nation. Those who are not rightly related to God oppose God’s purpose sometimes without even knowing what they are doing. They do not have the Spirit. They do not have wisdom. They are not surrendered to the will of God. But one thing that they do have is a united front against Israel and against God. It says in verse five, “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee.” Their common opposition to God unites them in a world-wide confederacy.

The Bible says in Psalms 83:6-8, “The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;[7] Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;[8] Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.” Just in these two verses nine different nations are mentioned as being against Israel. There have been a lot more than that over the centuries. The hatred has been great against Israel and the Jews. It is the same type of hatred that is against Christians. The ultimate source of the hatred is the devil himself. It is the source of antisemitism. People are looking for a conspiracy in order to blame the Jews as being responsible for the ills of their nation. The real conspiracy is of the devil: a conspiracy to hate and destroy the Jewish people. This world-wide hatred for Jews will not end until Jesus comes back and destroys the antichrist and all who oppose the will of God.

The Bible says in Psalms 83:9-12, “Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
[10] Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.[11] Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:[12] Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.” The Psalmist is hoping for judgment upon the enemies of Israel. The judgment is coming, but sometimes we would like to see it as soon as possible. Everyone who is honest and truthful would like to see a just judgment. We have seen plenty of unjust judgments in this world because of the agendas of people in power and because some are corrupt. And so it will be a very welcome event when God brings His true judgment. We all know what happened to Sisera, the enemy of Israel: a tent peg was driven through his head. That was judgment. There will also be a severe and sudden judgment on the rest of the enemies of Israel as soon as God determines that it is time.

The Bible says in Psalms 83:13-16, “O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.[14] As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;[15] So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.[16] Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.” The Psalmist, moved by the Holy Spirit, is longing for God’s judgment to come. In verse thirteen the Psalmist mentions a wheel and stubble before the wind. These are things that quickly and easily roll away or are blown away. And then the Psalmist speaks of fire, and a flame, and a tempest, and a storm, and faces filled with shame. God can easily bring down any of the wicked. But notice in the end of verse sixteen why the Psalmist seeks such judgments from God: “that they may seek thy name, O LORD.” It might very well require drastic measures for some people to wake up and see their need to turn to the Lord Jesus. We need a revival. What will bring that revival? Will it be the message of the love of God, or will it be great upheavals and judgments falling upon people? It might very well require the latter. We do not ask that people be destroyed, but we ask that they be shaken and alarmed about their terrible spiritual estate so that they will seek the Lord Jesus.

The Bible says in Psalms 83:17-18, “Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:[18] That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” Sadly, if these people do not return to the Lord, they will have a very unfortunate eternal destiny. They will “perish.” But in eternity the unsaved will also glorify the name of the Lord. They will learn the hard way who God is. When they die and come to their judgment, they will learn the hard way that Jesus is “the most high over all the earth.”

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