The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Remembrance” it comes from the Hebrew Word “zeker” which means “remembrance, memory.”
Asaph names a coalition of enemies conspiring against Israel and pleads for God’s decisive intervention. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is Psalm 83.
Asaph pleads with God not to keep silence, nor hold His peace, nor be still, since His enemies make a tumult, and those who hate Him have lifted up their head, taking crafty counsel against His people, and consulting against His hidden ones, saying, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in “remembrance,” “zeker” in Hebrew.
Asaph names an extensive coalition of enemies who have consulted together with one consent, forming a confederacy against God, the tabernacles of Edom, the Ishmaelites, Moab, the Hagarenes, Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, the Philistines, the inhabitants of Tyre, Assyria also joining them, helping the children of Lot, an alarming, comprehensive list of surrounding nations united specifically against Israel’s continued survival.
Asaph pleads that God would do to them as He did to Midian, to Sisera, and to Jabin at the brook of Kison, who perished at Endor, becoming as dung for the earth, praying their nobles be made like Oreb and like Zeeb, their princes like Zebah and like Zalmunna, since they said they would take the houses of God in possession for themselves, asking God to persecute them with His tempest, and make them afraid with His storm, filling their faces with shame, that they may seek His name, closing with a purpose behind this entire prayer, that they may know that God alone, whose name is Jehovah, is the most high over all the earth.
Asaph’s detailed naming of this alarming coalition of enemies gives concrete, historical specificity to what could otherwise remain vague, abstract complaint about opposition, grounding this prayer in genuine, real political danger. This psalm’s ultimate purpose, that enemies would come to know God alone as most high over all the earth, reveals that even prayers for judgment can be motivated by hoping opponents will eventually recognize and turn toward genuine truth.
Visit Us At: www.youtube.com/@BibleLifeBasics
Support Us On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BibleLifeBasics