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Commentary on Psalms 83 verses 1–8
The Israel of God were now in danger, and fear, and great distress, and yet their prayer is called, A song or psalm; for singing psalms is not unseasonable, no, not when the harps are hung upon the willow-trees.
I. The psalmist here begs of God to appear on the behalf of his injured threatened people (Psa 83:1): "Keep not thou silence, O God! but give judgment for us against those that do us an apparent wrong." Thus Jehoshaphat prayed upon occasion of that invasion (Ch2 20:11), Behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession. Sometimes God seems to connive at the unjust treatment which is given to his people; he keeps silence, as one that either did not observe it or did not concern himself in it; he holds his peace, as if he would observe an exact neutrality, and let them fight it out; he is still, and gives not the enemies of his people any disturbance or opposition, but seems to sit by as a man astonished, or as a mighty man that cannot save. Then he gives us leave to call upon him, as here, "Keep not thou silence, O God! Lord, speak to us by the prophets for our encouragement against our fears" (as he did in reference to that invasion, Ch2 20:14, etc.); "Lord, speak for us by the providence and speak against our enemies; speak deliverance to us and disappointment to them." God's speaking is his acting; for with him saying and doing are the same thing.
II. He here gives an account of the grand alliance of the neighbouring nations against Israel, which he begs of God to break, and blast the projects of. Now observe here,
1.Against whom this confederacy is formed; it is against the Israel of God, and so, in effect, against the God of Israel. Thus the psalmist takes care to interest God in their cause, not doubting but that, if it appeared that they were for God, God would make it to appear that he was for them, and then they might set all their enemies at defiance; for whom then could be against them? "Lord," says he, "they are thy enemies, and they hate thee." All wicked people are God's enemies (the carnal mind is enmity against God), but especially wicked persecutors; they hated the religious worshippers of God, because they hated God's holy religion and the worship of him. This was that which made God's people so zealous against them - that they fought against God: They are confederate against thee, Psa 83:5. Were our interest only concerned, we could the better bear it; but, when God himself is struck at, it is time to cry, Help, Lord. Keep not thou silence, O God! He proves that they are confederate against God, for they are so against the people of God, who are near and dear to him, his son, his first-born, his portion, and the lot of his inheritance; he may truly be said to fight against me that endeavours to destroy my children, to root out my family, and to ruin my estate. "Lord," says the psalmist, "they are thy enemies, for they consult against thy hidden ones." Note, God's people are his hidden ones, hidden, (1.) In respect of secresy. Their life is hid with Christ in God; the world knows them not; if they knew them, they would not hate them as they do. (2.) In respect of safety. God takes them under his special protection, hides them in the hollow of his hand; and yet, in defiance of God and his power and promise to secure his people, they will consult to ruin them and cast them down from their excellency (Psa 62:4), and to make a prey of those whom the Lord has set apart for himself, Psa 4:3. They resolve to destroy those whom God resolves to preserve.
2.How this confederacy is managed. The devil is at the bottom of it, and therefore it is carried on, (1.) With a great deal of heat and violence: Thy enemies make a tumult, Psa 83:2. The heathen rage, Psa 2:1. The nations are angry, Rev 11:18. They are noisy in their clamours against the people whom they hope to run down with their loud calumnies. This comes in as a reason why God should not keep silence: "The enemies talk big and talk much; Lord, let them not talk all, but do thou speak to them in thy wrath," Psa 2:5. (2.) With a great deal of pride and insolence: They have lifted up the head. In confidence of their success, they are so elevated as if they could over-top the Most High and overpower the Almighty. (3.) With a great deal of art and policy: They have taken crafty counsel, Psa 83:3. The subtlety of the old serpent appears in their management, and they contrive by all possible means, though ever so base, ever so bad, to gain their point. They areprofound to make slaughter (Hos 5:2), as if they could outwit Infinite Wisdom. (4.) With a great deal of unanimity. Whatever separate clashing interest they have among themselves, against the people of God they consult with one consent (Psa 83:5), nor is Satan's kingdom divided against itself. To push on this unholy war, they lay their heads together, and their horns, and their hearts too. Fas est et ab hoste doceri - Even an enemy may instruct. Do the enemies of the church act with one consent to destroy it? Are the kings of the earth of one mind to give their power and honour to the beast? And shall not the church's friends be unanimous in serving her interests? If Herod and Pilate are made friends, that they may join in crucifying Christ, surely Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Peter, will soon be made friends, that they may join in preaching Christ.
3.What it is that is aimed at in this confederacy. They consult not like the Gibeonites to make a league with Israel, that they might strengthen themselves by such a desirable alliance, which would have been their wisdom. They consult, not only to clip the wings of Israel, to recover their new conquests, and check the progress of their victorious arms, not only to keep the balance even between them and Israel, and to prevent their power from growing exorbitant; this will not serve. It is no less than the utter ruin and extirpation of Israel that they design (Psa 83:4): "Come, let us cut them off from being a nation, as they cut off the seven nations of Canaan; let us leave them neither root nor branch, but lay their country so perfectly waste that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance, no, not in history;" for with them they would destroy their Bibles and burn all their records. Such is the enmity of the serpent's seed against the seed of the woman. It is the secret wish of many wicked men that the church of God might not have a being in the world, that there might be no such thing as religion among mankind. Having banished the sense of it out of their own hearts, they would gladly see the whole earth as well rid of it, all its laws and ordinances abolished, all its restraints and obligations shaken off, and all that preach, profess, or practise it cut off. This they would bring it to if it were in their power; but he that sits in heaven shall laugh at them.
4.Who they are that are drawn into this confederacy. The nations that entered into this alliance are here mentioned (Psa 83:6-8); the Edomites and Ishmaelites, both descendants from Abraham, lead the van; for apostates from the church have been its most bitter and spiteful enemies, witness Julian. These were allied to Israel in blood and yet in alliance against Israel. There are no bonds of nature so strong but the spirit of persecution has broken through them. The brother shall betray the brother to death. Moab and Ammon were the children of righteous Lot; but, as an incestuous, so a degenerate race. The Philistines were long a thorn in Israel's side, and very vexatious. How the inhabitants of Tyre, who in David's time were Israel's firm allies, come in among their enemies, I know not; but that Assur (that is, the Assyrian) also is joined with them is not strange, or that (as the word is) they were an arm to the children of Lot. See how numerous the enemies of God's church have always been. Lord, how are those increased that trouble it! God's heritage was as a speckled bird; all the birds round about were against her (Jer 12:9), which highly magnifies the power of God in preserving to himself a church in the world, in spite of the combined force of earth and hell.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 83:8 is a critical verse within Asaph's urgent communal lament, revealing the formidable and widespread nature of the confederacy arrayed against Israel. It specifically names Assur (Assyria), a dominant regional power, as an active participant in this hostile alliance, particularly in lending its strength and support to the descendants of Lot (Moab and Ammon). The inclusion of such a powerful nation underscores the existential threat faced by God's people, prompting a desperate plea for divine intervention and the vindication of God's holy name.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 83:8, within the broader context of the psalm, employs several significant literary devices that amplify its impact. The most prominent is Enumeration, as the psalmist systematically lists the various nations forming the confederacy against Israel, building a cumulative sense of overwhelming opposition. The inclusion of "Assur" (Assyria) represents a powerful use of Climax or Escalation, as it introduces the most formidable and globally recognized power into the list, intensifying the sense of threat and desperation to an unprecedented level. The entire psalm is structured as a Lament, a form of prayer characterized by a direct cry for help, a detailed description of distress, and an appeal to God's character and past actions of deliverance. The use of "Selah" at the end of the verse functions as a Rhetorical Pause, a deliberate break in the flow designed to prompt contemplation and underscore the gravity of the preceding statement. This pause serves to highlight the overwhelming nature of the alliance and the urgent need for divine intervention, inviting the worshiper to internalize the weight of the situation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 83:8 powerfully articulates the persistent reality of spiritual opposition against God's people throughout history. The alliance described is not merely a geopolitical conflict but a manifestation of a deeper spiritual antagonism against God's purposes and His chosen nation. The psalmist's desperate plea for God to intervene speaks to the theological truth that ultimate victory belongs to God alone, and that His sovereignty extends over all human and geopolitical machinations. This verse, therefore, serves as a reminder that even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds and powerful alliances, believers are called to trust in God's faithfulness and His ultimate triumph over all who oppose His kingdom. It foreshadows the ongoing spiritual battle that believers face, where the forces of evil conspire against the church, God's new Israel, seeking to diminish or eradicate its witness.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 83:8, within its broader context, offers profound lessons for believers facing overwhelming opposition in their own lives and in the life of the church. Just as ancient Israel faced a formidable confederacy designed to "blot out their name," individuals and communities today may encounter powerful, coordinated challenges that seek to undermine faith, purpose, or the very existence of Christian witness. This verse encourages us not to minimize the reality of the threat, but to clearly identify the sources of opposition, whether spiritual, cultural, or systemic. However, the primary response modeled by the psalmist is not despair or self-reliance, but fervent, specific prayer that appeals to God's character and His past acts of deliverance. It calls us to remember that our ultimate security and victory do not lie in our own strength or strategies, but in the sovereign power of God, who is able to turn the tables on any adversary and make His name known through His decisive intervention. This psalm reminds us that even when the enemies seem overwhelming and their intentions are to erase God's people, our hope is firmly rooted in the God who reigns supreme over all nations and powers.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of "Selah" in Psalms 83:8?
Answer: "Selah" is a Hebrew term found frequently in the Psalms, typically interpreted as a musical or liturgical notation. While its exact meaning is debated, it generally indicates a pause for reflection, a musical interlude, or a moment for heightened contemplation. In Psalms 83:8, its placement after the mention of Assyria joining the formidable alliance against Israel underscores the gravity of the situation. It invites the reader or worshiper to pause and deeply consider the overwhelming nature of the threat and the profound implications of such a powerful coalition, thereby emphasizing the urgent need for divine intervention that the psalmist is pleading for throughout the psalm. It serves as a solemn underscore to the dire reality presented.
Why is the inclusion of "Assur" (Assyria) so important in this list of enemies?
Answer: The inclusion of "Assur" (Assyria) is critically important because it elevates the threat from a regional conflict to an imperial crisis. Many of the other nations listed in Psalms 83:6-7 were long-standing, but often smaller, adversaries of Israel (e.g., Moab, Ammon, Edom). Assyria, however, was a dominant superpower in the ancient Near East, known for its vast military might, brutal conquest, and imperial ambitions. Their active participation ("holpen the children of Lot," meaning lending their strength) signifies a widespread, coordinated, and overwhelmingly powerful conspiracy against Israel, making the threat existential. It highlights the desperate situation that prompts the psalmist's urgent prayer for God's decisive intervention, as no human power could withstand such a confederacy.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 83:8, with its depiction of a formidable, multi-national alliance against God's chosen people, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the ongoing spiritual battle between the kingdom of God and the forces of darkness. While ancient Israel faced physical enemies, the New Testament reveals that the true adversaries of God's new covenant people, the Church, are not "flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). Just as Assyria joined with the "children of Lot" to oppose Israel, so too do spiritual forces conspire against Christ and His body, the Church, seeking to undermine its mission and witness. However, the ultimate victory over this confederacy of evil has already been secured by Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection. He disarmed "principalities and powers" on the cross, making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2:15). The Church, though it faces ongoing opposition and persecution, is eternally secure in Christ, who has been given "all power in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). The psalmist's prayer for God to make His name known and to humble the nations is ultimately fulfilled in the universal reign of Christ, before whom "every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). Thus, Psalms 83:8 points us to the final, decisive victory of the Lamb of God over all His enemies and the eternal security of those who are in Him, awaiting His glorious return.