Read A Psalm: Psalm 83

New International Version

Psalm 83

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

1O God, do not keep silent;

be not quiet, O God, be not still.

2See how your enemies are astir,

how your foes rear their heads.

3With cunning they conspire against your people;

they plot against those you cherish.

4“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,

that the name of Israel be remembered no more.”

5With one mind they plot together;

they form an alliance against you—

6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,

of Moab and the Hagrites,

7Gebal,^a Ammon and Amalek,

Philistia, with the people of Tyre.

8Even Assyria has joined them

to lend strength to the descendants of Lot.       Selah

9Do to them as you did to Midian,

as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,

10who perished at Endor

and became like refuse on the ground.

11Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,

all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

12who said, “Let us take possession

of the pasturelands of God.”

13Make them like tumbleweed, O my God,

like chaff before the wind.

14As fire consumes the forest

or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,

15so pursue them with your tempest

and terrify them with your storm.

16Cover their faces with shame

so that men will seek your name, O Lord.

17May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;

may they perish in disgrace.

18Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—

that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

---

Footnotes:
a 7 That is, Byblos

Outline/Stanza

1-8       Cry for God to move for Israel against their enemies

9-12     Plea that God would deal with their enemies like how He dealt with their enemies in the past

13-18   Plea that God would make Himself known to their enemies

Main Point: The purpose for God's salvation and redemption is so that all may know and recognize God.