O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.
Do to them as you did to Midian,
as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
who were destroyed at En-dor,
who became dung for the ground.
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves
of the pastures of God.”
Psalm 83 is a prayer asking for God’s intervention into the oppression Israel feels from her enemies. Although specific nations are mentioned we have no real indication of any specific date or attack. The above nations are all nations who have been part of the oppression of Israel, throughout its existence. Asaph, the writer, is simply calling on God to continue in His sovereign protection of the nation. The first couple of verses of the text indicate that God is engaged in these moments in Israel’s history when they are oppressed and/or attacked. Interestingly, at times, God was the one who brought these enemies to attack Israel because of Israel’s disobedience to His word. The point of the text, however, is that God is knowledgeable and engaged in Israel’s struggles as a nation. Although the names of the nations that fight against Israel change from generation to generation, they never stop coming at her. As God’s chosen people, the enemies of God continue to use Israel as their whipping post. Yes, Israel disobeys her God and that calls from discipline from God. But there are also those who simply are enemies of God and attacking Israel is their way to express their anger with the living God.
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