At night a small dark hill village sits low in the frame, and all along the black ridges around it burns a far ring of tiny campfires under an empty black sky.

Lament · Asaph

Psalm 83

Surrounded, and God says nothing. Ten peoples want one name gone, and this is what you pray.

18 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressure
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom fallsPsalm 83
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

O God, Be Not Silent

A song. A Psalm of Asaph.

O God, be not silent; be not speechless;

be not still, O God.

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See how Your enemies rage,

how Your foes have reared their heads.

With cunning they scheme against Your people

and conspire against those You cherish,

saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation;

may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

All around

The next lines name ten peoples, and together they ring Israel on every side. The marks for the Ishmaelites, the Hagrites and Amalek are rough: these peoples moved.

For with one mind they plot together;

they form an alliance against You—

the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,

of Moab and the Hagrites,

of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,

of Philistia with the people of Tyre.

Even Assyria has joined them,

lending strength to the sons of Lot.

Selah

Under a dark, rain-heavy sky, the little Kishon burst from its reed banks across the flat clay plain in a wide brown flood, two empty two-wheeled chariots tilted and half sunk in it.

Do to them as You did to Midian,

as to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon,

who perished at Endor

and became like dung on the ground.

Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,

and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,

who said, “Let us possess for ourselves

the pastures of God.”

Reflect

Before anything else

Asaph can count his enemies by name, and he tells God all of it. Who or what are you afraid of right now? Write it down, and say it to God as plainly as he does.

Cover their faces with shame,

that they may seek Your name, O LORD.

Ridge after ridge of pale hills runs to the far horizon under a clearing storm, with one long break in the heavy cloud.

May they be ever ashamed and terrified;

may they perish in disgrace.

May they know that You alone,

whose name is the LORD,

are Most High over all the earth.

0:11

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Pray it

Most High God, You see what people plan, and You see what frightens me. Keep vengeance out of my hands. Turn those who can be turned, judge what must be judged, and let Your name be known over all the earth. Amen.

You’ve experienced

Psalm 83

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are Most High over all the earth.

Psalm 83:18

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