Ps. 83 - Yahweh defend Your People

Background

We aren’t sure of the historical background for this psalm. A popular choice for commentators is 2 Chr. 20:1-30 with describes multiple nations coming about Judah under the reign of king Jehoshaphat. The problem is that passage only mentions three nations whereas our passage has ten nations. There was never a coalition of nations like the one described here. What is true is that Israel often faced dangers from her enemies and needed her God to come to her aid. The battle with Jehoshaphat demonstrates that God will come to the aid of His people in response to earnest prayer. We can break this psalm into 6 parts:

A plea for God to rise and act (v. 1)

A conspiracy against Israel (vs. 2 - 4)

The forces against Israel (vs. 5 - 8)

A history of God’s prior deliverances (vs. 9 - 12)

A plea for God’s shaming (13 - 16)

A plea for God exaltation (vs. 17 - 18)

Exposition

Verse 1: The psalmist begins with an earnest plea for God to speak and act on behalf of His people. Judah is in grave danger and it seems as if Yahweh is dormant and not paying attention. The people need the LORD’s guidance on what to say and do. Most importantly, they need the LORD to finally act. It’s like the LORD is dormant. We know this isn’t the case. We know that Yahweh neither slumbers nor sleeps (Ps. 121:3-4). When we are in the midst of the storm, when trouble comes to our doorstep, we are to cry out to the LORD of heaven and hosts. He will hear and answer.

Verses 2 -4: The psalmist details the nature of the threat. The enemies of Judah have become bold and are proudly coming against the people. They aren’t trying to hide their intent any longer or keep secret their hatred of God’s people. They are opening plotting an annihilation . Several of the nations have come together for the express purpose of destroying God’s people.

Verses 5 - 8: As indicated in the background, the psalmist is describing a coalition unseen in Israel’s history. These ten nations never had such as alliance. The psalmist seems to making the point that Israel faces dangers from every side, regardless of where they look. More than that, it was the world against Yahweh Himself. They are teaming up against the God of Israel via the planned destruction of His people. The mention of Assyria is one reason why this psalm is dated by some as between the mid-eighth and seventh centuries.

Verses 9 - 12: In crying out for the LORD’s help the psalmist recalls who Yahweh is moved in the past to defend his people. Two historical events are highlighted here: The victory of Deborah and Barak over the Canaanites (Jdg 4 -5) and the Gideon’s victory of the Midianites (Jdg 6 - 8). Notice again these cries for Yahweh to act aren’t based on personal vengeance. They are based on Judah’s status as God’s people. It was Yawheh who created this nation for His glory and the fame on His name. The people collectively were to be light to the gentiles. This was their purpose and was to be their cause. Those who come against them are really coming against the plan of God on the earth. This reality makes the psalmist call for God’s judgment perfectly appropriate. He is asking the LORD to defend HIS interest by coming to the aid of His people. It is perfectly appropriate to join the psalmist in this prayer.

Verses 13 - 16: The psalmist is calling for the total destruction and shaming of Yahweh’s and Israel’s enemies. He is asking the LORD to turn his enemies, those who refuse to repent under any circumstances, into dust and chaff, worthless debris that is done away with. He them moves to a metaphor of fire, asking for the wrath to destroy them like a flame destroys a fire. He desires Yahweh to bring terror into the hearts of His enemies, bringing them to shame with no choice but to acknowledge Yawheh alone as God. He wants the LORD to public embarrass Israel’s enemies so that they must cry out to Yahweh. The ultimate purpose of God’s actions is to be the worship of God on the earth. This is still true today. Our desire for the LORD to act should be based on a desire to see the name of Christ exalted on the earth. Any other focus in the wrong one.

Verses 17 - 18: Whereas the enemies of God wanted to wipe out Israel, the psalmist prays for their sadness and shame. He again acts for their public shame and destruction with the result that those who remain may come to acknowledge Yahweh alone as God who is to be worshipped in all the earth.