Psalms 83
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Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth.
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Commentary
“Do not keep silent, O God!” Do not hold Your peace!”
As a life-long lover of the songbook of Israel, #83 has never made my top ten list. Instead I have sought comfort in 23, 91, 103 and others. I was challenged to know what to write, until God’s perfect timing unfolded ...
“Your enemies make a tumult …. those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel … they have formed a confederacy against You …”
We know those who love God are object of the enemy of souls’ supreme contempt, and he has one desire – destruction of God’s church and people. We can sense the rage of the caged lion as events unprecedented in my lifetime unfold right now …. a world-wide viral pandemic, health-care systems in distress, loss of life, business closures, loss of jobs, inevitable economic upset/world-wide recession. Restrictions increase daily.
We know sometimes God cuts people off from all material aid that they may learn to rely on Him alone. It seems the great showdown is near. May current events lead people to a knowledge of and turning toward our great God. That is my prayer and the prayer of this psalm.
Kami Borg
Church elder, youth Sabbath school teacher, assistant treasurer
Forest Park Seventh-day Adventist Church
Everett, Washington USA
