Psalms 83 Study Notes: A Prayer Against a Coalition of Enemies
Asaph asks God not to stay silent while a league of surrounding nations, backed by Assyria, plots to wipe out Israel. He asks God to defeat them as He defeated Midian and Sisera in the days of the judges, so that they are shamed and come to know the LORD alone rules the earth.
General
What do the images of 83:13-15 picture?
Answer: God's enemies scattered and driven off by His power
The psalmist piles up pictures of total defeat. He asks that the enemies become like whirling dry plants and like husks blown by the wind (83:13), and that God pursue them the way fire races through a forest and flames sweep over mountains, terrifying them with His storm (83:14-15). The images show God's enemies unable to stand against His power. Isaiah uses the same pictures for nations God rebukes (Isaiah 17:13), the first psalm pictures the wicked as chaff (Psalm 1:4), and Isaiah pictures Zion's foes as blowing chaff met by God's storm and fire (Isaiah 29:5-6).
- Psalm 83:13-15 (BSB)“Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes a forest, as a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with Your tempest, and terrify them with Your storm.”The psalmist asks God to scatter the enemies like windblown debris and pursue them like fire and storm.
- Isaiah 17:13 (BSB)“The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.”Isaiah uses the same pictures of chaff and tumbleweeds driven by the wind for raging nations God rebukes.
- Psalm 1:4 (BSB)“Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.”The first psalm also pictures the wicked as chaff blown away by the wind.
- Isaiah 29:5-6 (BSB)“But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant, you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire.”Isaiah pictures Zion's foes as blowing chaff and God coming against them with storm and fire.
Theological
What do the similes of 83:13-15 depict?
Answer: God's enemies scattered and driven off by His power
The similes depict the rout of God's enemies: whirling tumbleweed and wind-driven chaff (83:13), a forest fire and flames engulfing the mountains, and God's pursuing tempest and storm (83:14-15). The imagery portrays God's irresistible judgment on those who conspire against Him. Isaiah applies the same chaff and tumbleweed images to the raging nations (Isaiah 17:13), Psalm 1:4 uses chaff for the wicked, and Isaiah 29:5-6 joins chaff with the storm and fire of the LORD's visitation.
- Psalm 83:13-15 (BSB)“Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes a forest, as a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with Your tempest, and terrify them with Your storm.”The psalmist asks God to scatter the enemies like windblown debris and pursue them like fire and storm.
- Isaiah 17:13 (BSB)“The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.”Isaiah uses the same pictures of chaff and tumbleweeds driven by the wind for raging nations God rebukes.
- Psalm 1:4 (BSB)“Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.”The first psalm also pictures the wicked as chaff blown away by the wind.
- Isaiah 29:5-6 (BSB)“But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant, you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire.”Isaiah pictures Zion's foes as blowing chaff and God coming against them with storm and fire.
General
What does Asaph ask of God in the opening of Psalm 83?
Answer: That God would no longer stay quiet and inactive
Asaph begins with three urgent requests that God not keep quiet or stay still (83:1). The reason follows: God's enemies are in an uproar and those who hate Him have lifted up their heads in pride (83:2). To the psalmist, God's silence feels like inaction while danger grows, so he pleads for God to speak and act. David prays the same way, asking God, who has seen the wrong, not to be silent (Psalm 35:22), and he fears being lost if God stays quiet (Psalm 28:1).
- Psalm 83:1-2 (BSB)“A song. A Psalm of Asaph. O God, be not silent; be not speechless; be not still, O God. See how Your enemies rage, how Your foes have reared their heads.”Asaph begs God not to remain inactive, because His enemies are in an uproar.
- Psalm 35:22 (BSB)“O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me.”David makes the same request that God, who has seen the wrong, would not stay quiet.
- Psalm 28:1 (BSB)“Of David. To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit.”David fears that if God stays silent he will be lost, showing why the psalmist pleads for God to act.
Theological
What is the opening petition of Psalm 83?
Answer: That God would no longer stay quiet and inactive
The psalm opens with a threefold plea against divine silence and inactivity (83:1), grounded in the enemies' tumult and arrogance: they rage and lift their heads (83:2). The enemies are called God's own foes, so the plea appeals to His honor as well as to Israel's need. The same petition against God's silence appears in Psalm 35:22 and Psalm 28:1.
- Psalm 83:1-2 (BSB)“A song. A Psalm of Asaph. O God, be not silent; be not speechless; be not still, O God. See how Your enemies rage, how Your foes have reared their heads.”Asaph begs God not to remain inactive, because His enemies are in an uproar.
- Psalm 35:22 (BSB)“O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me.”David makes the same request that God, who has seen the wrong, would not stay quiet.
- Psalm 28:1 (BSB)“Of David. To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit.”David fears that if God stays silent he will be lost, showing why the psalmist pleads for God to act.
General
True or False: The psalm's closing goal is that the enemies would come to recognize that God alone rules supreme over the whole world.
Answer: True
This is true. The psalm's final request is honest and severe: that the enemies be put to shame and terror for good and perish in disgrace (83:17). But the goal is that they would recognize the LORD as the only God, highest over the whole world (83:18). The prayer is finally about God's name, not personal revenge. God raised up Pharaoh so that His name would be made known everywhere (Exodus 9:16), Solomon prayed that every people would recognize the LORD as the one true God (1 Kings 8:60), and God says His judgment on the nations will make them know that He is the LORD (Ezekiel 38:23).
- Psalm 83:17-18 (BSB)“May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace. May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are Most High over all the earth.”The psalm closes by asking for the enemies' lasting shame so that they will know the LORD alone rules over the whole earth.
- Exodus 9:16 (BSB)“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”God raised up Pharaoh so that His power would be displayed and His name proclaimed in all the earth.
- 1 Kings 8:60 (BSB)“so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God. There is no other!”Solomon prayed that all the peoples of the earth would know that the LORD is God and there is no other.
- Ezekiel 38:23 (BSB)“I will magnify and sanctify Myself, and I will reveal Myself in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”God says His judgment on the nations will reveal Him so that they know He is the LORD.
Theological
True or False: The imprecations of Psalm 83 culminate in the goal that the enemies acknowledge the LORD alone as supreme over the whole world.
Answer: True
This is true. The imprecation of 83:17 is stated without softening: lasting shame and dismay, and perishing in disgrace. Its end, however, is doxological: their recognition that the LORD alone is exalted over the whole world (83:18). The psalm subordinates judgment to the vindication of God's name, as in God's purpose with Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16), Solomon's prayer for universal knowledge of the LORD (1 Kings 8:60), and Ezekiel's recurring formula of recognition through judgment (Ezekiel 38:23).
- Psalm 83:17-18 (BSB)“May they be ever ashamed and terrified; may they perish in disgrace. May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are Most High over all the earth.”The psalm closes by asking for the enemies' lasting shame so that they will know the LORD alone rules over the whole earth.
- Exodus 9:16 (BSB)“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”God raised up Pharaoh so that His power would be displayed and His name proclaimed in all the earth.
- 1 Kings 8:60 (BSB)“so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God. There is no other!”Solomon prayed that all the peoples of the earth would know that the LORD is God and there is no other.
- Ezekiel 38:23 (BSB)“I will magnify and sanctify Myself, and I will reveal Myself in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”God says His judgment on the nations will reveal Him so that they know He is the LORD.
General
What is the goal of the enemies' plot in 83:3-5?
Answer: To wipe out Israel so that its name is forgotten
The enemies plot with cunning against God's people, the ones He treasures (83:3). Their goal is not simply to defeat Israel but to destroy it as a nation so that no one even remembers its name (83:4). They plot together with one purpose, and the psalm says their alliance is against God Himself (83:5). An attack on God's people is an attack on God. Psalm 2 describes kings and rulers setting themselves in opposition to the LORD and His Anointed (Psalm 2:2), God says that whoever harms His people harms what is most precious to Him (Zechariah 2:8), and Haman later tried to destroy all the Jews in Persia (Esther 3:6).
- Psalm 83:3-5 (BSB)“With cunning they scheme against Your people and conspire against those You cherish, saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.” For with one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against You—”The nations secretly plot to wipe out Israel as a people, making an alliance that is really against God.
- Psalm 2:2 (BSB)“The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:”Kings and rulers set themselves against the LORD and His Anointed, the same kind of alliance against God.
- Zechariah 2:8 (BSB)“For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—”God says that whoever touches His people touches the apple of His eye.
- Esther 3:6 (BSB)“And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.”Haman sought to destroy all of Mordecai's people, another plot to wipe out the Jews entirely.
Theological
What is the stated aim of the conspiracy in 83:3-5?
Answer: To wipe out Israel so that its name is forgotten
The conspirators take crafty counsel against God's treasured people (83:3) with a genocidal aim: to cut Israel off from being a nation so that its name is no longer remembered (83:4). Their pact is, in the psalm's own words, an alliance against God (83:5), since God identifies Himself with His covenant people. The same pattern appears in the nations' revolt in opposition to the LORD and His Anointed (Psalm 2:2), in God's claim that an assault on His people strikes what is most dear to Him (Zechariah 2:8), and in Haman's plan to destroy the Jews (Esther 3:6).
- Psalm 83:3-5 (BSB)“With cunning they scheme against Your people and conspire against those You cherish, saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.” For with one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against You—”The nations secretly plot to wipe out Israel as a people, making an alliance that is really against God.
- Psalm 2:2 (BSB)“The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:”Kings and rulers set themselves against the LORD and His Anointed, the same kind of alliance against God.
- Zechariah 2:8 (BSB)“For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—”God says that whoever touches His people touches the apple of His eye.
- Esther 3:6 (BSB)“And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.”Haman sought to destroy all of Mordecai's people, another plot to wipe out the Jews entirely.
General
What purpose does 83:16 give for asking God to cover the enemies' faces with shame?
Answer: That they might turn and seek the LORD's name
Psalm 83 is an imprecatory psalm, a prayer asking God to bring judgment on enemies. The psalmist asks God to cover the enemies' faces with shame, and he states the purpose: so that they will seek the LORD's name (83:16). Alongside his request for judgment he holds out hope that the humbled enemies would turn to God, who calls people everywhere on earth to turn to Him and be saved (Isaiah 45:22). The psalmist does not take revenge himself; he hands the matter to God's justice, as Paul later tells believers to leave vengeance to God (Romans 12:19). Jesus calls His followers to love those who oppose them and to pray for them (Matthew 5:44). Christians have understood how these prayers relate to Jesus' command in different ways, but both are held together in Scripture.
- Psalm 83:16 (BSB)“Cover their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD.”The psalmist asks for the enemies to be shamed, with the purpose that they would seek the LORD.
- Isaiah 45:22 (BSB)“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.”God calls all the ends of the earth to turn to Him and be saved.
- Romans 12:19 (BSB)“Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.””Paul tells believers to leave vengeance to God rather than take it themselves.
- Matthew 5:44 (BSB)“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”Jesus calls His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.
Theological
What purpose clause accompanies the imprecation of 83:16?
Answer: That they might turn and seek the LORD's name
The imprecation of 83:16 asks that the enemies' faces be covered with shame, with a stated purpose: that they would seek the LORD's name. Judgment is sought with a view to the enemies' acknowledgment of God, and even their turning, in keeping with God's summons to every nation to turn and be saved (Isaiah 45:22). The psalmist commits vengeance to God rather than taking it (Romans 12:19), while the Lord Jesus commands love and prayer for enemies (Matthew 5:44). Christians have related the imprecatory psalms to that command in different ways; Scripture itself holds both together.
- Psalm 83:16 (BSB)“Cover their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD.”The psalmist asks for the enemies to be shamed, with the purpose that they would seek the LORD.
- Isaiah 45:22 (BSB)“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.”God calls all the ends of the earth to turn to Him and be saved.
- Romans 12:19 (BSB)“Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.””Paul tells believers to leave vengeance to God rather than take it themselves.
- Matthew 5:44 (BSB)“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”Jesus calls His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.
General
In 83:8, which peoples descended from Lot did Assyria back?
Answer: Moab and Ammon, the peoples east of the Jordan
Psalm 83 names a wide circle of peoples surrounding Israel: Edom, the Ishmaelites, Moab, the Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia, and Tyre (83:6-7). Even Assyria, a great power, has backed Lot's descendants (83:8). Lot's sons here are Moab and Ammon, both named in the list. Genesis traces the Moabites and Ammonites back to Lot's two sons (Genesis 19:36-38), and Deuteronomy calls both peoples descendants of Lot (Deuteronomy 2:9, 19). The list shows Israel surrounded on every side.
- Psalm 83:6-8 (BSB)“the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot. Selah”The psalm lists the peoples in the alliance and says Assyria has given support to the sons of Lot.
- Genesis 19:36-38 (BSB)“Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites of today.”Lot's two sons were Moab and Ben-ammi, the fathers of the Moabites and the Ammonites.
- Deuteronomy 2:9 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.””God calls the Moabites descendants of Lot.
- Deuteronomy 2:19 (BSB)“But when you get close to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites. I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession.””God also calls the Ammonites descendants of Lot.
Theological
Who are the Lot-descended peoples whom Assyria reinforces in 83:8?
Answer: Moab and Ammon, the peoples east of the Jordan
The roster of 83:6-7 encircles Israel: Edom, Ishmaelites, Moab, Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia, and Tyre. Assyria reinforces Lot's descendants (83:8), that is, Moab and Ammon, whose descent from Lot is recorded in Genesis 19:36-38 and affirmed in Deuteronomy 2:9 and 2:19. The coalition portrays Israel hemmed in on every side, with a major empire backing the kin-nations on its eastern border.
- Psalm 83:6-8 (BSB)“the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot. Selah”The psalm lists the peoples in the alliance and says Assyria has given support to the sons of Lot.
- Genesis 19:36-38 (BSB)“Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites of today.”Lot's two sons were Moab and Ben-ammi, the fathers of the Moabites and the Ammonites.
- Deuteronomy 2:9 (BSB)“Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.””God calls the Moabites descendants of Lot.
- Deuteronomy 2:19 (BSB)“But when you get close to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites. I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession.””God also calls the Ammonites descendants of Lot.
General
Which earlier victories does the psalmist ask God to repeat in 83:9-12?
Answer: His defeats of Israel's foes in the days of the judges
The psalmist asks God to treat these enemies as He treated Israel's enemies in the time of the judges (83:9-12). He names Midian, defeated through Gideon, and Jabin's general Sisera at the Kishon, defeated through Deborah and Barak (83:9). God had promised to draw Sisera, Jabin's army chief, to the Kishon and give him into Israel's hand (Judges 4:7), and Deborah's song says the Kishon swept the enemy away (Judges 5:20-21). The psalm says they perished at Endor (83:10). It also names Oreb and Zeeb, princes of Midian (Judges 7:25), and Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian (Judges 8:12), who wanted to seize God's own land for themselves (83:11-12). Past rescues give the psalmist confidence to ask again.
- Psalm 83:9-12 (BSB)“Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon, who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, “Let us possess for ourselves the pastures of God.””The psalmist asks God to deal with the enemies as He did with Israel's foes in the days of the judges.
- Judges 4:7 (BSB)“And I will draw out Sisera the commander of Jabin’s army, his chariots, and his troops to the River Kishon, and I will deliver him into your hand.’””God promised Deborah and Barak to draw Sisera, Jabin's commander, to the River Kishon and hand him over.
- Judges 5:20-21 (BSB)“From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera. The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength!”Deborah's song celebrates the River Kishon sweeping away Sisera's forces.
- Judges 7:25 (BSB)“They also captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. So they pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.”Gideon's men captured and killed Oreb and Zeeb, the princes of Midian.
- Judges 8:12 (BSB)“When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, Gideon pursued and captured these two kings of Midian, routing their entire army.”Gideon pursued and captured Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian.
Theological
Which earlier victories does the psalmist appeal to in 83:9-12?
Answer: His defeats of Israel's foes in the days of the judges
The petition appeals to precedent from the period of the judges (83:9-12): Midian, routed under Gideon, and Jabin's general Sisera at the Kishon under Deborah and Barak (83:9). Judges records God's promise to draw Sisera to the Kishon (Judges 4:7) and Deborah's song of the river sweeping the enemy away (Judges 5:20-21). The psalm adds that they perished at Endor (83:10). The Midianite princes Oreb and Zeeb (Judges 7:25) and kings Zebah and Zalmunna (Judges 8:12) are named as those who sought to seize God's pastures (83:11-12). God's past acts of deliverance ground the present petition.
- Psalm 83:9-12 (BSB)“Do to them as You did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon, who perished at Endor and became like dung on the ground. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, “Let us possess for ourselves the pastures of God.””The psalmist asks God to deal with the enemies as He did with Israel's foes in the days of the judges.
- Judges 4:7 (BSB)“And I will draw out Sisera the commander of Jabin’s army, his chariots, and his troops to the River Kishon, and I will deliver him into your hand.’””God promised Deborah and Barak to draw Sisera, Jabin's commander, to the River Kishon and hand him over.
- Judges 5:20-21 (BSB)“From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera. The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength!”Deborah's song celebrates the River Kishon sweeping away Sisera's forces.
- Judges 7:25 (BSB)“They also captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian; and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. So they pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side of the Jordan.”Gideon's men captured and killed Oreb and Zeeb, the princes of Midian.
- Judges 8:12 (BSB)“When Zebah and Zalmunna fled, Gideon pursued and captured these two kings of Midian, routing their entire army.”Gideon pursued and captured Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian.