The Treasury of David

brucesbiblepage

Dec 28

Psalm 83

Exposition
Explanatory Notes and Quaint Sayings
Hints to the Village Preacher
Other Works

TITLE. A Psalm or Song of Asaph. This is the last occasion upon which we shall meet with this eloquent writer. The patriotic poet sings again of wars and dangers imminent, but it is no godless song of a thoughtless nation entering upon war with a light heart. Asaph the seer is well aware of the serious dangers arising from the powerful confederate nations, but his soul in faith stays itself upon Jehovah, while as a poet preacher, he excites his countrymen to prayer through this sacred lyric. The Asaph who penned this song was in all probability the person referred to in 2Ch 20:14, for the internal evidence referring the subject of the Psalm to the times of Jehoshaphat is overwhelming. The division in the camp of the Confederate peoples in the wilderness of Tekoa not only broke up their league but led to a mutual slaughter, which crippled the power of some of the nations for many years after. They thought to destroy Israel and destroy each other.

DIVISION. An appeal to God in a general manner fills Ps 83:1-4, and then the psalmist enters into details of the league, Ps 83:5-8. This leads to an earnest entreaty for the overthrow of the enemy, Ps 83:9-15, with an expression of desire that God's glory may be promoted thereby.

Verse 10. Which perished at Endor. There was the center of the carnage, where the heaps of the slain lay thickest. They became dung for the earth, manuring it with man; making the earth, like Saturn, feed on its children. War is cruel, butt in this case its avengements were most just,—those who would not give Israel a place above ground are themselves denied a hiding place under the ground; they counted God's people to be as dung, and they became dung themselves. Asaph would have the same fate befell other enemies of Israel; and his prayer was a prophecy, for so it happened to them.