June 20, 2018 Wednesday)
In 1967, modern Israel fought “The Six Day War,” and defeated a group of Arab nations which had banded together to attack Israel and put an end to her existence. This psalm describes another time in her history when nations got together with the intention of destroying Israel. Scholars suggest such an attack in the Macabbean Period and some think it was during Jehosophat’s reign. Both periods of time saw Israel being attacked by a unified group of their enemines. According to the Psalmist, their enmity against Israel was enmity against God.
PSALM 83
New International Version (NIV)
A song. A psalm of Asaph.
I. PRAYER THAT GOD WILL RESCUE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR ENEMIES (1-8)
1 O God, do not remain silent;
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,
how your foes rear their heads.
3 With cunning they conspire against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”
(IDENTIFICATION OF THE ENEMIES)
5 With one mind they plot together;
they form an alliance against you–
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Byblos, Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
8 Even Assyria has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants.
II. PRAYER FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR ENEMIES (9-12)
9 Do to them as you did to Midian,
as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10 who perished at Endor
and became like dung on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Let us take possession
of the pasturelands of God.”
III PRAYER FOR THE CONVERSION OF THEIR ENEMIES (13-18)
13 Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest
or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your storm.
16 Cover their faces with shame, Lord,
so that they will seek your name.
17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;
may they perish in disgrace.
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord–
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
Compare three translations side by side. Click here.
New International Version (NIV)
A song. A psalm of Asaph.
I. PRAYER THAT GOD WILL RESCUE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR ENEMIES (1-8)
1 O God, do not remain silent;
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,
how your foes rear their heads.
3 With cunning they conspire against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”
(IDENTIFICATION OF THE ENEMIES)
5 With one mind they plot together;
they form an alliance against you–
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Byblos, Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
8 Even Assyria has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants.
II. PRAYER FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR ENEMIES (9-12)
9 Do to them as you did to Midian,
as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10 who perished at Endor
and became like dung on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Let us take possession
of the pasturelands of God.”
III PRAYER FOR THE CONVERSION OF THEIR ENEMIES (13-18)
13 Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest
or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your storm.
16 Cover their faces with shame, Lord,
so that they will seek your name.
17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;
may they perish in disgrace.
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord–
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.