Psalm 83 Meaning Explained

A prayer for God to break His silence against a conspiratorial alliance. Neighboring nations have made a covenant to 'wipe out Israel as a nation.' The psalmist does not ask for Israel’s army to act, but for God to pursue them with tempest and terror, to make them like 'whirling dust' and 'chaff,' so that they will seek His name. It lists enemy nations like a map of menace, appealing to God’s historical victories as precedent.

A clear explanation of Psalm 83, its meaning, context, and message for believers today

Psalms Chapter 83 | KJV

1. A Song or Psalm of Asaph. 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.

Historical Context

Psalm 83, attributed to Asaph, lists enemies of Israel and appeals to God for intervention and preservation of His covenant people.