Psalms Chapter 83

“Keep not thou silence, O God, etc.] Which he is thought and said to do, when he does not answer the prayers of his people, nor plead their cause, nor rebuke their enemies; when he does not speak a good word to them, or one for them, or one against those that hate and persecute them; hold not thy peace; or “be not deaf” f1187 to the cries and tears of his people, and to the reproaches, menaces, and blasphemies of wicked men: and be not still, O God; or “quiet” f1188, at rest and ease, inactive and unconcerned, as if he cared not how things went; the reason follows.”

“(See on Psa 8:1, title, and Psa 42:1, title). The writer describes the desirableness of God's worship and prays for a restoration to its privileges. (Psa 84:1-12) amiable--not lovely, but beloved. tabernacles-- (Psa 43:3).”

“Keep not thou silence, O God - See the notes at Psalms 28:1. The prayer here is that in the existing emergency God would not seem to be indifferent to the needs and dangers of his people, and to the purposes of their enemies, but that he would speak with a voice of command, and break up their designs. Hold not thy peace - That is, Speak. Give commaud. Disperse them by thine own authority. And be not still, O God - Awake; arouse; be not indifferent to the needs and dangers of thy people. All this is the language of petition; not of command. Its rapidity, its repetition, its tone, all denote that the danger was…”

“Hidden ones - Thy people of Israel, who are called God's hidden or secret ones, to intimate the respect which God has to them, as to his peculiar treasure. Psalms 83:6”

“Ps 83 This community lament asks God for rescue and victory. The terse poetry suggests difficult times. A powerful coalition desires to destroy Israel (83:1-4) and allies itself against God (83:5-8). Recalling the fate of others who came against Israel (83:9-12), the psalmist prays that the same will happen to these enemies (83:13-16) so that God will receive honor among them (83:17-18). It is unclear whether this psalm arose out of a specific historical instance of opposition by these nations, or if it is a poetic collage of nations representing Israel’s enemies. 83:1-4 The enemy has successfully intimidated…”

“of Asaph: or, for Asaph Keep: Psa 28:1, Psa 35:22, Psa 44:23, Psa 50:3, Psa 109:1, Psa 109:2 be not: Isa 42:14 Psalms 83:2”

“The poet prays, may God not remain an inactive looker-on in connection with the danger of destruction that threatens His people. דּמי (with which יהי is to be supplied) is the opposite of alertness; חרשׁ the opposite of speaking (in connection with which it is assumed that God's word is at the same time deed); שׁקט the opposite of being agitated and activity. The energetic future jehemajûn gives outward emphasis to the confirmation of the petition, and the fact that Israel's foes are the foes of God gives inward emphasis to it. On נשׂא ראשׁ, cf. Psa 110:7. סוד is here a secret agreement; and יערימוּ, elsewhere…”