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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Psalm Chapter 83

 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: David, Asaph, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses, and the Sons of Korah
Date Penned: (1440-586 BC)
Overview: Poetry for the Expression of Praise and Worship to God (c 1-150)
Theme: The Third Book of Psalms (c 73 - 89)
Message: Combating God's Enemies (v 1-18)

Psalms 83 Commentary

(83:5-8) Prophesied Victory - This alliance against God may refer to the gathering of certain kings to fight against Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah (2 Chronicles 20). The psalm's author is called Asaph, but this could mean Asaph or one of his descendants. A descendant of Asaph named Jahaziel prophesied victory for Judah in the battle against Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:13-17) and exclaimed, "The battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15). God is "the most high over all the earth" (Psalm 83:18), and the enemies of Israel were considered God's enemies

(83:6) The Hagarenes - The Hagarenes may have been the descendants of Hagar (Genesis 21:8-21). 

(83:8-11) Sisera - The children of Lot were the Moabites and Ammonites (Genesis 19:36-38). Sisera was the commander of the army of the oppressive Canaanite King Jabin. He was killed by a woman (see Judges 4 for the complete story). (For the story of Oreb and Zeeb, see Judges 7:25; for the story of Zebah and Zalmunna, see Judges 8:5-21) 

(83:13-18) Humbled by Adversity - Surrounding Judah were pagan nations that were seeking Judah's downfall. The psalm writer prayed that God would blow his hot breath of judgment upon them until they recognized that the Lord is supreme over all rulers of the earth. Sometimes we must be humbled by adversity before we will look up and see the Lord, sometimes we must be defeated before we can have the ultimate victory. Wouldn't it be better to seek the Lord in times of prosperity than to wait until his judgment is upon us to cry out to him?


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Overwhelming Evidence


Each day, we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text.  Today, we continue in the Book of Psalms with Chapter 83. In our text today, we see a theme of combating God's enemies through the prayers for God to show his power. In applying, we see that God is still in control and shows those who rebel against Him that He is Lord. Through the evidence of nature, creation, weather, history, Jesus, and the cross, we see the Power of God being witnessed in a lost and dying world. Add to that the testimony of us who have been redeemed as we allow Christ to live in and through us, and you see the overwhelming truth that sinners have to overlook to continue in their lost condition. How about you? Do you know the truth of the evidence that Jesus is Lord? Let us learn from our Psalm and text today to remember that God is in control and gives overwhelming evidence of His Power and Lordship.

 

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Psalm 83

Psalm 83

 1Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

 2For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.

 3They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.

 4They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

 5For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:

 6The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;

 7Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

 8Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

 9Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

 10Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.

 11Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:

 12Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

 13O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.

 14As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

 15So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.

 16Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.

 17Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:

 18That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.