Psalm 83

Asaph prayed that God would destroy the enemies that threatened to overwhelm Israel as He had done in the past.

 1. The danger of destruction 83:1-8

The psalmist cried out to God to act for His people by expressing the alternatives negatively (v. 1). He described how Israel's enemies had conspired to oppose God by destroying His people. Asaph used a chiastic structure to connect God's interests with those of His nation (vv. 2-5). He then listed Israel's enemies (vv. 6-8). The Hagarites (Hagrites, NIV) or descendents of Hagar were the Ishmaelites. Gebal is another name for Byblos, a strong town in Lebanon. Lot's children were the Moabites and the Ammonites.

 2. The desire for deliverance 83:9-18

83:9-12 Asaph prayed that God would deliver His people as He had in the past during the judges' period. God had destroyed the Midianites with Gideon's small band of soldiers (Judg. 7-8). Oreb and Zeeb were the Midianite commanders (Judg. 7:25) and Zebah and Zalmunna were the Midianite kings (Judg. 8:5-6, 12, 18). God defeated the Canaanite coalition near the Kishon River and the town of Endor with Deborah and Barak (Judg. 4). Sisera was the Canaanite commander and Jabin the Canaanite king. These were both powerful victories that ended the domination of these enemies of Israel from then on.

83:13-16 The writer wanted God to drive Israel's present enemies away as He had driven the Midianites in Gideon's day. His reference to the mountains may recall that Barak gathered his army on Mt. Tabor at the east end of the Jezreel Valley. He saw them blowing away as tumbleweeds unstable and driven by the divine wind of God's judgment.

83:17-18 Asaph could legitimately ask God to shame Israel's enemies in view of God's promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:3). However his ultimate concern was God's reputation (v. 18).

Prayers based on God's reputation, His promises, and His past faithfulness are petitions that God will answer. However, He reserves the right to decide the correct time to act.