Psalm Ps. 83. This is a community lament, responding to a situation in which God’s people are threatened by Gentile enemies (vv. 6–8) who aim to destroy them. The psalm asks that God will make these enemies fail miserably, be put to shame, and perish—so that they might come to know the Lord. It is possible (see note on vv. 9–18) that the psalm assumes that Israel must defend themselves, and the prayer is for military victory. Christians use this psalm rightly when they ask God to defeat the enemies of their faith in such a way that even those enemies might come to seek God’s name.
Ps. 83:1–8 The first section describes the Gentile coalition and their evil, crafty plans: let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more! Facing this danger, the people urge God, do not keep silence.
Ps. 83:9–18 The basic request is that these enemies would utterly fail in their scheme. The ultimate reason for Israel’s existence is to serve God’s purpose of restoring true worship and authentic human life among all mankind. Therefore it is really for the good of these hostile Gentiles that they fail in their plan to destroy Israel.
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