Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

Psalm 83. This is a community lament, geared to a situation in which God's people are threatened by Gentile enemies (vv. 6-8) who aim to destroy them. The psalm prays that God will make such enemies fail miserably, being put to shame and perishing--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 would use this psalm not against "national enemies" (Christians transcend national boundaries) but in cases where their persecutors would destroy them and all traces of their faith. They use this prayer rightly when they ask God to thwart these plans in such a way that even the persecutors might come to seek God's name.

83:1-8 O God, Your Enemies Conspire against Israel. 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! The Gentiles, as to character, are your (i.e., God's) enemies and those who hate you (v. 2); then they are specific peoples from around Israel (vv. 6-7), with Asshur (probably Assyria, far off to the east, but possibly the tribe mentioned in Num. 24:22, 24, from the northern Sinai) joining them. The psalm is not limited to threats from these peoples alone, of course; prayer in this specific case is a guide to prayer in other cases like it. In such danger, the people urge God, do not keep silence (i.e., do not suspend or disguise your power and commitment to your people).