The Book of Psalms
Psalm 83
Psalm LXXXIII · Vol. II, p. 1041
1 A complaint to God of the enemies' conspiracies. 9 A prayer against them that oppress the church.
A song or psalm of Asaph.1
4 They have said, eCome, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 Forg they have consulted together with one 3consent;4 they are confederate against thee:
g Ps.2.2. Re.17.13; 19.19. Ac.9.4.
3 Heb. heart.
4 There is no more certain mark of evil designs than the combination of men of opposite opinions and interests. Here the most jarring elements unite into one compact body, the sole object of which is the extirpation of Israel.—Note, To divide good men is one of Satan's great devices; and so he attempted to divide Paul and Barnabas, Ac.15.39. But to unite bad men is another of his favourite schemes—so Herod and Pilate were reconciled on occasion of the crucifixion of our Lord, Lu.23.12.—C.
6 Theh tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;5
h 2 Ch.20.1,10,11. Ge.36.1-43; 25.12-18; 19.31-38. 1 Ch.5.10,19,20.
5 Some of the tribes descended from Ishmael took the name of their mother Hagar, and were known as Hagarenes.—P.
8 Assurj also is joined with them: they have holpen6 the children of Lot.7 Selah.8
6 Heb. been an arm to, Ge.19.37,38.
7 The children or descendants of Lot were the Moabites and Ammonites, whose possessions lay on the east of the Dead Sea, and consequently beside the descendants of Ishmael.—P.
8 See note on Ps.3.2.—C.
9 Do unto them as unto the kMidianites; as to lSisera, as to Jabin at the brook of Kison;
k Ju.7.22. Nu.31.1-12. Is.9.4; 10.26.
l Ju.4.15,24; 5.19,21.
11 Make their nobles like oOreb, and like Zeeb; yea, all their princes as pZebah, and as Zalmunna:
o Ju.7.25.
p Ju.8.12-21.
12 Who said, qLet us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
q 2 Ch.20.11. ver.4.
13 Or my God, make them like a wheel;9 as the stubble before the wind.
r Ps.44.4; 74.11,12; 68.1,2. Is.17.12-14. Mat.3.12.
9 A wheel. 'Whirling chaff.'—Boothroyd.
15 Sot persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
t Ps.11.6; 50.3. Job 27.20-23. Is.28.17; 30.30. Eze.38.22. Je.4.11,12.
Notes
Ver. 2. To hate the God of philosophical imagination may be deemed impossible; but to hate the God of truth, holiness, and grace, is the very constitution of every unrenewed heart. Ro. 8. 7. C.
Reflections.—To quicken his people's importunity in prayer the Lord sometimes appears for a time to disregard their distress. Whatever pretences men make for their opposition to God's people, the real cause is their enmity against God himself, whose holiness they cannot endure, and whose image they cannot but hate. But while saints are hid with Christ in God, no enemy can really hurt them. Wicked men, though diversified by nations, humours, or interests, strongly unite in opposing the cause of God and truth. Glad would they be if neither preacher nor professor of the true religion were left upon earth. But though craft be employed to seduce, threatenings to intimidate, and fury to extirpate, the foundation of God standeth sure. God knoweth them that believe, and they shall never be moved. At the worst they have their all-sufficient Lord to flee to, who can check the madness of the devourers. And past interpositions of God in favour of his people should encourage us to plead and hope for the like mercy. All opposition to God and his church is but rushing headlong into certain ruin. Even in this life, sinners' terrors of mind often make their life a burden, and are a presage of more dreadful misery in hell for ever. Men must know at last that the Lord omnipotent reigneth; and the execution of deserved judgment on the ungodly but shows the tendency of sin. Meanwhile we ought to long for the conviction and conversion of our bitterest enemies of mankind, rather than their destruction.