Psalms
Chapter 83
Lord, Do Not Be Silent!
Do not be silent, O God, hold not your peace; be not unmoved!
See, how your enemies are astir; those who hate you rear their heads.
Craftily, they plot against your people, they conspire against those you protect.
They say, “Let us finish them as a nation. Let the name of Israel be forgotten!”
With one heart they devise a scheme, and form an alliance against you:
the people of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the progeny of Hagar,
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
Those from Sur are in league with them, and lend support to Lot’s descendants.
Deal with them as you did with Midian, with Sisera and Jabin, at the river Kishon;
they perished at Endor, and became dung for the ground.
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their chiefs like Zebah and Zalmunna,
who said, “Let us seize the pasture lands of God.”
O my God, make them like leaves caught in a whirlwind, like chaff, helpless, before the wind.
As fire consumes the forest, as flames set the mountains ablaze,
drive them out with your tempest and terrify them with your storm.
Cover their faces with shame, O Lord, that they may seek your name.
Let them be dismayed and abashed forever; let them perish in disgrace.
Let them know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High, over all the world.
Commentaries
83
This reads like an ancient psalm indeed. One might date it as early as the eighth or even the tenth century, before Christ. There is an international conspiracy against Israel. This is not the first time that the ancient enemies mentioned in the books of Exodus and Judges (for example, Jdg 4 and 7) believed they could destroy people who belonged to God. But the Lord of creation has cosmic weapons at his disposal: ‘the stars in their courses fought against Sisera’ (Jdg 5:20) as ‘the sun has stood still’ for Joshua (Jos 10:12). The powers of evil are powerless against the people of God as long as they remember to use the right kind of sword, which is the sword of the Spirit.
How many men, women, older adults, and children are victims of international alliances today? Couldn’t we pray with this psalm?
God knows what to do and how to deal with everyone. Therefore, if we reflect on these tremendously powerful words of wisdom and follow Jesus’ instructions, we will live without fear and secure our place in heaven.