The Book of Psalms Paraphrased, Book 3 · Psalm 83
PSALM LXXXIII.
A Song or Pſalm of Aſaph.
ARGUMENT.
It is the common opinion, that the combination of powerfull enemies, againſt which they here implore the Divine aſſiſtance, was that mentioned in the 2 Chron. XX. in the days of Jehoſaphat. The reaſon is becauſe the Children of Lot (Ver. 8.) viz. the Moabites and Ammonites (the ground of whoſe quarrel with the Jews is ſet down in XI. Judg.) ſeem to have been the principal in this Confederacy; and the other but aſſiſtants; as it is plain they were in that Invaſion 2 Chr. XX. 1. And then the Authour of this Pſalm, muſt be either Jehaziel one of Aſaph's poſterity (upon whom you reade there, Ver. 14. the ſpirit of the Lord then came) or ſome other in thoſe days, whoſe proper name this was. Which is much more probable then their conjecture, who think the Authour was Aſaph in the days of David; who ſubdued indeed the Moabites and Edomites and other neighbouring Nations: but we do not reade of any Confederacy they made againſt him; much leſs that they ſent as far as Aſſyria for help; or that they began the War as the people here mentioned did.
The ſame may be ſaid againſt the application of it, to the Conqueſts made in the days of Uzziah over ſeveral people here mentioned, 2 Chron. XXVI. 6, 7, 8. Or to the Invaſion made by Senacherib King of Aſſyria: who did not join himſelf (as we reade here, Ver. 8.) with other Nations; but by the forces of his own Kingdom alone, as far as appears, came up againſt them.
There are thoſe indeed that take in all the attempts made upon them, ſince that in Jehoſaphat's days; by ſeveral Nations: the laſt of which was Aſſyria; whoſe King came to doe that which the reſt had not been able to effect. And then the Authour is eaſily found to be the ſame, that I have named; in the Argument of the foregoing, and many other Pſalms. And which way ſoever we are pleaſed to determin the matter, it is plain, in general, that many Nations both near and remote, who had a hatred to the Jews, ſet themſelves together, when this Pſalm was penned, to deſtroy them: aſſaulting them not onelyonly ſeverally, but conjunctly; entring into conſultation alſo, and conſpiring together how to effect it. Which hatred continuing after their return to their own Land, from the Captivity of Babylon, gave occaſion to Theodoret to ſay (both in his Preface to this Pſalm, and upon the twelfth Verſe of it) that the Pſalmiſt here complains of the oppoſition, which ſeveral of their neighbours made to the rebuilding of the Temple, and of Jeruſalem.
But this ſeems more improbable than all the reſt, many of thoſe Countries, here named, being before that time deſtroyed: and the Aſſyrians themſelves (as he himſelf obſerves upon Ver. 8.) being not then extant. Though whenſoever this Confederacy happened, there was very great reaſon for that ſolicitous and vehement importunity wherewith this Pſalm begins.
Why it was called a Song-Pſalm ſee Pſalm LXVII.
1. KEep not thou ſilence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not ſtill, O God.
1. O God, the ſupreme Judge of the World, whoſe power is ſo great that the united forces of all men on earth, or Angels in heaven, are not to be compared with it, (2 Chr. XX. 6, 12.) who with one word of thy mouth canſt diſſipate this great Army; do not refuſe now to anſwer our prayers in this ſore diſtreſs: O do not ſhut thy mercifull ears to our cries; nor quietly ſee us periſh, moſt mighty God.
2. For lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lift up the head.
2. For we are ſurpriſed with a ſudden Invaſion of numerous Enemies (haters of Thee, and thy Worſhip, as much as of our Nation) who make a dreadfull noiſe, like the waves of the Sea (2 Chron. XX. 2.) and proudly promiſing themſelves a Victory, inſult as if they had already won it.
3. They have taken crafty counſel againſt thy people, and conſulted againſt thy hidden ones.
3. They have with equal malice and ſubtilty, carried on a cloſe deſign againſt thy people: and with great ſecreſie conſulted how to deſtroy, not onelyonly us, whom Thou haſt hitherto wonderfully protected as thy Jewels; but thy Temple alſo, and the ſecret place wherein Thou there dwelleſt.
4. They have ſaid, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation: that the name of Iſrael may be no more in remembrance.
4. Come, ſay they one to another, Let us agree and join all the power we have together; not merely to make a Conqueſt of them, but for their utter exſtirpation, (2 Chron. XX. 11.) that there may be no mention hereafter in the world, of ſuch a people as the Commonwealth of Iſrael.
5. For they have conſulted together with one conſent: they are confederate againſt thee.
5. And accordingly, Ten ſeveral Nations are combined heartily in this deſign; and how different ſoever their inclinations are upon other accounts, they have all entred into a ſolemn league, and made a covenant of mutual help, and of imploying their joint indeavours, totally to ſubvert that Government and Religion, which Thou haſt eſtabliſhed.
6. The Tabernacles of Edom, and the Iſhmaelites: of Moah, and the Hagarens.
6. Thoſe warlike Nations the Edomites, and Iſhmaelites, who dwell in Tents, are ingaged in this enterpriſe: and ſo are the Moabites, and others deſcended from Hagar, the Mother of Iſhmael.
7. Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek: the Philiſtines, with the inhabitants of Tyre.
7. With whom are united our neighbours the Giblites, (XIII. Joſh. 5.) the Ammonites; our old enemies the Amalekites and Philiſtines; and they that dwell in and about the famous City of Tyre.
8. Aſſur alſo is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
8. And to add to their ſtrength they have called the powerfull Nation of the Aſſyrians, into their aſſociation: on whoſe aſſiſtance, the Moabites and Ammonites (the Authours of this War) do principally rely.
9. Doe unto them as unto the Midianites: as to Siſera: as to Jabin, at the brook of Kiſon:
9. The greater need we have of thy aſſiſtance, and with the greater earneſtneſs we beſeech Thee to make them an example of humane weakneſs: by defeating them as Thou didſt that vaſt Army of the Midianites and their Confederates, (VI. Judg. 5. VII. 12.) whom Gideon overthrew with no greater power then three hundred men, (VII. Judg. 21, 22. compared with 2 Chron. XX. 23.) and as Thou didſt in former times to that famous Captain Siſera (who fell by the hand of a Woman, IV. Judg. 21.) and to Jabin his King: who, together with his Army, was ſwept away in the brook of Kiſhon, IV. Judg. 21, 24. V. 21.
10. Which periſhed at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
10. A great ſlaughter there was of them near Endor (compare V. Judg. 19. with XVII. Joſh. 11.) where their carkaſes lay, and rotted; and ſerved inſtead of dung, to fatten and inrich the earth.
11. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their Princes as Zebah and as Zalmunna:
11. Let their Princes and Commanders fall like Oreb and Zeeb: (VII. Judg. 25.) and their Kings not be able to ſave themſelves by flight; but be taken and ſlain, like Zebah, and Zalmunna, VIII. Judg. 12, 21.
12. Who ſaid, Let us take to our ſelves the houſes of God in poſſeſſion.
12. Who came with a deſign (VI. Judg. 3, 4, 5.) as theſe Nations do now (2 Chron. XX. 10, 11.) to poſſeſs themſelves of that pleaſant Land, wherein Thou dwelleſt among us, in thy holy habitation.
13. O my God, make them like a wheel: as the ſtubble before the wind.
13. O my God, whoſe goodneſs hath never failed us, in diſtreſs, let them not be able to ſtand their ground: but put them to flight, and make them run as ſwiftly, as a ball down a hill; diſperſe all their forces like the chaffe, when it is blown about with a furious wind.
14. As the fire burneth the wood, and as the flame ſetteth the mountains on fire;
14. Blaſt and conſume them utterly; as the lightning, or the ſcorching rays of the Sun in a long drought do the leaves of the forreſt trees, or the graſs upon the mountains, (I. Joel 19.)
15. So perſecute them with thy tempeſt, and make them afraid with thy ſtorm.
15. Raiſe a dreadfull tempeſt to affright them; and purſue them ſo with thy vengeance, that they may be ſhattered and driven away uncertainly, as in a whirlwind: put them into ſuch a pannick fear, that they may not know which way to turn, but claſh againſt one another, in a terrible confuſion, 2 Chron. XX. 22, &c.
16. Fill their faces with ſhame: that they may ſeek thy name, O Lord.
16. And make thoſe that eſcape ſo aſhamed, at this diſgracefull diſappointment; that they may not be able to hold up their heads, nor deny thy Power to be ſuperiour to theirs: but humbly ſeek thy favour.
17. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever: yea, let them be put to ſhame and periſh:
17. This is the worſt we wiſh them, notwithſtanding their enmity to us; that they may be ſo aſtoniſhed and confounded at their defeat, as never to recover any courage to aſſault us: nay, together with their credit and their courage, quite loſe their power to give us any further trouble.
18. That men may know that thou whoſe name alone is JEHOVAH, art the moſt high over all the earth.
18. And thereby be convinced, which they would not believe before, that Thou art what Thou art called, the True and OnelyOnly God: who giveſt Being to all things; and art the ſupreme Governour, not onelyonly of us but, of all the Nations upon earth.