Psalm Category: Lament

Central Thought: God is able to deliver us in the deepest of troubles and to save those who give us the most trouble.

Psalm 83

Conspiracies are exciting—thrill rides for the mind—as long as they don’t get too serious. They are grist to the politicians’ mills. In one of those slanders too characteristic of politicians, then-senator Hillary Clinton charged that “a vast right-wing conspiracy” was working to take over the U.S.!

To be sure, terrorists, criminals and enemies conspire. Paranoia and political jibes aside, we would be foolish to ignore the reality that our world abounds in conspiracies. “The kings of the earth rise up” (Ps. 2:2). Spiritual warfare is waged all around us—even within us (Eph. 6:12). It is this theme of real conspiratorial threat that is addressed in this psalm.

See our great danger! (vv. 1-8). The back story of this seems to be the war toward the end of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, around 850 B.C. Ammon, Moab and Edom, supported by others, have crossed the Dead Sea and are poised to descend upon Judah. Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast and calls God’s people together to seek the Lord (2 Chron. 20:3-4). Asaph, as prophet-laureate of Judah, likely penned this prayer for that gathering.

The opening phrase, “Do not keep silent, God” (v. 1), not only speaks to threat of invasion, but implies a greater peril, namely, “that God will remain a silent onlooker in this time of danger and distress” (A.M. Harman, Psalms, p. 286). “If You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit” (Ps. 28:1).

Four reasons are next advanced for urgent help from God: “Your enemies” are taking steps (v. 2a); “those who hate You” are confident of success (v. 2b); they have “taken crafty counsel” (v. 3); and have decided to “cut them off” (v. 4).

Supporting evidence is presented to show the extent of the conspiracy (vv. 5-8). You can understand how Christian minorities in many places today must view their situation. It recalls the cry of the martyrs for Christ, “How long, O Lord, Holy and True, until you avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Rev. 6:9-10). It is life or death for God’s people.

• Strike a blow for justice* (vv. 9-15). The psalmist first appeals to how God helped Israel in the past (vv. 9-12). God defeated large armies such as those of Midian and the Canaanites of Sisera and Jabin, who “became as refuse upon the earth” (Judg. 4; 7–8). He brought down powerful leaders—Oreb and Zeeb and Zebah and Zalmunna (7:25; 8:21).

  He prays that God will likewise help His people in the present and utterly defeat their enemies (vv. 13-15). “Make them like whirling dust…chaff before the wind…fire [in the] woods…flame [on] the mountains…tempest [and] storm.” It is gutsy and realistic. We need not apologize for such an energetic prayer. Did David the shepherd use pepper spray against the lion, or a stun gun against Goliath? Is the Lord our shepherd? Will He ask the wolves nicely to keep away from His sheep? On the Great Day, will Jesus come with gentle persuasion or force majeure? God’s war with His enemies is a real war!

Save us and even our enemies (vv. 16-18). Jesus tells us, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). Here is an Old Testament instance of this, in which the psalmist prays for two great goals.

The first is that “they may seek Your name, O Lord” (v. 16). Notice the connection: fear—shame—seek the Lord. No one comes to Christ without a sense of shame. No judgment should be sought from God without a prayer for mercy for the sinners, that they might be ashamed and come to the Savior. The unconverted are in great danger of a lost eternity!

The second goal is that, whatever may happen, people may know “that You…are the Most High over all the earth” (vv. 17-18). If you will not believe, you will certainly bow. God will be glorified, whether you follow Him or flee from Him. God wins both ways! But God’s pleasure is to save sinners to Himself!

This brings us full circle to the greatest danger of all: the silence of God. Believers accordingly pray that the Lord will arise and not be silent, hold His peace, or be still (v. 1). The lost tend to want the opposite: that God would shut up and leave them alone. But the silence of God is a judgment in itself, for God says to those who ignore Him and go their own way, “I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze” (Lev. 26:19). Therefore, cry out to God in and through Christ the Savior. Come to Him—and live now and forever!

—Gordon J. Keddie