Psalms 83:18

Verse Psalms 83:18. That men may know] That they may acknowledge, and be converted to thee. Here is no malice; all is self-defence.

ANALYSIS OF THE EIGHTY-THIRD PSALM

This Psalm divides itself into four parts: -

I. A short ejaculation, Psalms 83:1.

II. A complaint against God's enemies, which is the reason of this prayer, Psalms 83:2.

III. A fearful imprecation against them, Psalms 83:12.

IV. The charitable ends proposed, Psalms 83:18.

I. The ejaculation or prayer: "Keep not thou silence - be not still." Thy enemies are loud in their threatenings, and active in their endeavours, to destroy thy people and thy worship: "Hold not thy peace!"

II. He complains - These are enemies, 1. To thy people, Psalms 83:2. 2. To God himself, Psalms 83:5. Then he describes them, Psalms 83:6.

1. They were banditti - spoilers: They "make a tumult," Psalms 83:2.

2. Proud and arrogant: "They have lifted up the head," Psalms 83:2.

3. They were subtle and crafty: "They have taken crafty counsel," Psalms 83:3.

4. They carried their cunning counsel into acts of aggression: "Come, and let us cut them off," c., Psalms 83:4.

5. They were conspirators, - 1. Against God. 2. Against his people. All the world against God and his Church! Not an uncommon case.

6. He gives us a catalogue of these conspirators, Psalms 83:6: Edom, c.

III. He prays to God against them. In which there are four particulars: 1. Their fall and ruin. 2. Their persecution. 3. Their terror. 4. Their disgrace.

These he illustrates by five similitudes: 1. Of a wheel that, running on, crushes all under it successively. 2. Of stubble or chaff, easily driven away by the wind, Psalms 83:13. 3. Of a wood or forest in a state of general conflagration, Psalms 83:14. 4. Of a flame that even consumes the mountains, Psalms 83:14.

Their fall and ruin he wished to be -

1. Speedy and perpetual: "Do unto them as unto the Midianites," c., Psalms 83:9.

2. Sudden and violent: "As fire," Psalms 83:13.

3. Terrible and shameful: "Fill their faces with shame," Psalms 83:15.

There are here three particulars of their punishment: 1. Flight. 2. Terror. 3. Shame and ignominy.

IV. The charitable ends proposed. These were two: -

1. That they might seek after God, be converted to him, Psalms 83:16.

2. That they might know him to be Jehovah, the only true God, that they might be saved from all idolatry, Psalms 83:18.

The spirit of this prayer is, 1. If they will not seek thee, and be converted, let them be confounded in their attempts against thy people. 2. If they will not acknowledge thee, let them be utterly routed and overthrown: "Let them be put to shame, and perish!"