Psalms 83

tion again; and (hat, notwithstanding the amendment he had made in matters of the Divine worship, (2 Chron. xxx.xxxi.) and his resolutions and endeavours, no question to reform the abuses which were in their civil judicatures, (as I have expounded Psal. lxxv. 2, 3.) they continued still exceeding corrupt. Insomuch that Isaiah calls their judges, rulers of Sodom, (Isa. i. 10. when he finds no fault with their religious services, ver. 11, 12, &c.) and says, their princes were rebellious, companions •of thieves, loving gifts, and following after rewards, (ver. 23.) Where it is evident he describes the judges in the highest court of all; who arc called by the name of princes in several, places, particularly in Jeremiah: who being condemned by the priests, and prophets, and people, as a man worthy to die, (Jcr. xxvi. 8, 9.) was brought before the princes, (ver. 10, 11.) at whose bar he cleared himself so well, that they acquitted him, (ver. 16.) And as there they are called princes, with respect to their superiority over the people, so here in this Psalm they arc called Jfiohim, gods, in respect to the fountain of their power, which was from the Most High; who honoured them with his own name; which is so frequent for those of the supreme court, that some, not unreasonably, understand those words, (Judg. ix. 13.) which w r e render, Cheers the heart of God and man, in this manner; Wine alike cheers both princes and people, judges and clients, the meaner persons (called in this Psalm Adam, mail, ver. % 7.) as well as the greatest, who, in opposition to them, arc called gods. Whom Asaph (who lived in the time of Hczckiah, 2 Chron. xxix. 30. see Psal. lxxiii.) admonishes to be more careful in their duty; and to remember that God observed them, and would judge them. A Song or Psalm of Asaph.- ARGUMENT* It is the common opinion, that the combination of powerful enemies, against which they here implore the Divine assistance, was that mentioned in 2 Chron. xx. in the days of Jehoshaphat. 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 dow r n. in Judg. xi.) seem to have been the principal in this con*- fedcracy, and the other but assistants; as it is plain they were in that invasion, (2 Chron. xx. 1.) And then the author of this Psalm, must be either Jahazicl, one of Asaph’s posterity (upon -whom you read there, ver. 14. the Spirit of the Lord then’^amc), or some other in those days, whose proper name this was. Which is much more probable than their conjecture, who think the author was Asaph; in tho days of David; who subdued, indeed, the Moabites and Edomites, and other neighbouring nations: but we do not read of any confederacy they made against him; much less, that they sent as fara 1G7 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 Uzziab, over several people here mentioned, (2 Chron. xxvi. 6 — 8.) Or to the invasion made by Sennacherib king of Assyria: who did not join himself (as we read here, ver. 8.) with other na-. tions; 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 Jehoshaphat’s days, by several nations; the last of which was Assyria; whose king came to do thai which the rest had not been able to effect: and then the author 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 determine 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. only severally, but conjunctly; entering into consulta-.tion 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. [PSAI^M LXXX1V. swiftly as a ball down a hill; disperse all their forces like the chaff> when it is blown about with a furious wind.

Psalms 83:1

fjrOD standeth in tlie congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. Remember, O ye judges, whose ministers you are; (2 Chron. xix. 6.) and consider, that you arc not so powerful, but God, who hath put you in his place, and honoured you with his name, (Exod. xxii. 28.) is far greater: and, as he is present in your court to observe what you do, so will call you to a strict account, and severely punish you, if you judge amiss. J.EEP not thou silence, O God; hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.] 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, arc not to be compared with it; (2 Chron. xx. G.12.) \yho with oneword of thy mouth canst dissipate this great army; do not refuse now to answer onr prayers in this sore distress: O do not shut thy merciful cars to our cries, nor.quie.tly see us perish, most mighty God.

Psalms 83:2

How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. How dare you then pronounce an unrighteous sentence? Is it not time to leave off your partiality? and no longer to favour a bad cause, becausothc man is rich and great; and can cither giveyou a large bribe, if you will judge it for him; or do you a mischief, if you give sentence against him?. For,,lo, thine enemies make a tumult; and they tlxai hate thee have lifted up the head.] 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 dreadful 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. •

Psalms 83:3

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 1 Your duty is, to do equal justice to all men that come before you; and to take a particular care, that the poor and the fatherless do not suffer because they have no money to give, nor any friend to solicit, for the defence of a righteous cause: and that the men of low condition, and such as are reduced to very great want, be not condemned; when they are injuriously prosecuted, by those who are above them. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.] They have, with equal malice and subtilty, carried on a close, design against thy people;, and with great secrecy consulted how to destroy, not only us, whom thou hast hitherto wonderfully protected as thyjewels, but thy temple also; and the secret place wherein thou there dwellest.

Psalms 83:4

Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. See that you protect and deliver him -that is quite exhausted and miserably oppressed with poverty; let them not become a prey to violent men, who have no conscience; but put it out of their power to undo them. They Jutve said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.] 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 extirpation, (2 Chron. xx. 11.) that there may be no mention, hereafter in the world, of such a people as the commonwealth of Israel.

Psalms 83:5

Tliey know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. These arc the constant admonitions which the men of God givo the judges; but, alas! hitherto they have little prevailed. For they will not study the laws of God;, or.if they do, 4 will not think it their interest to be governed by them: but are blinded by bribes, or by their corrupt affections, to do any thing that they would have them; insomuch that the foundations of the kingdom, which are justice and truth,.are shaken; all things are in confusion, and in danger to come to utter ruin, (Isa. v. 23, 24, x. 1—3.) For they have consulted together with one con* sent; they are confederate against thee.] And accordingly ten several nations are combined heartily in this design; and how different soever their inclinations are upon other. t accounts, they have all entered into a solemn league, and made a covenant of mutual help, and of employing their joint endeavours, totally to subvert that government and religion which thou hast established.

Psalms 83:6

I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High. Hear therefore the sentence of God upon you (whose words these arc); I have put my majesty upon you; and, though you be no more than other men in yourselves, have by my constitution raised you to such a dignity on earth, as my celestial ministers have in heaven. The tabernacles ofEdom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes.] Those warlike nations, the Edomites and Ishmaelites, who dwell in tents, are en-. gaged in this enterprise: and so are the Moabites, and others descended from Hagar, the mother of Ishmael.

Psalms 83:7

But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Yet this shall not privilege you in. your unjust proceedings; but since you have no regard to me, nor to your office, I will have as little regard to you: for you shall perish like one of the common men, without any respect to your honour; and be thrown down from your seats, like the tyrants and cruel oppressors that have been before yon. Gebal, andAmmon, andAmalek; the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre.] With whom are united our neighbours the Gebalites, (Josh, xiii.5.) the Ammonites; our old enemies the Amalekites and Philistines; and they that dwell in and about the famous, city of Tyre..

Psalms 83:8

Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. Let us see this sentence fulfilled, God, the righteous judge; and do not suffer the insolent iniquity of these men any longer: but redress all those evils wherewith such men have filled not only this nation, but all the world; which belongs to thee, and thou wilt one day sure vindicate mankind, as the just owner of them, from the tyranny of those impious governors; who now abuse them, as if they had an absolute dominion over them..Assur also is joined with them; they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.] And, to add to their strength,.they have called the.powerful nation of the Assyrians into their association: on whose assistance the Moabites and Ammonites (the authors of this war) do principally rely.

Psalms 83:9

Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as Jo Jabin, at the brook ofKishon. The greater need we have of thy assistance, and with the greater earnestness’ we beseech thee to make them an example of human weakness: by defeating them, as thou didst that vast army of the Midianites and their confederates, (Judg. vi, 5. vii.12.) whom Gideon overthrew with no greater power than three hundred men; (Judg. vii. 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, Judg. iv. 21.) and to Jabin his king: who, together with his army, was swept away in the brook of Kishon, (Judg. iv. 2]. 24. v.21.).. -Ver. 10. Which perished at En-dor: they became as dung for the earth.] A great slaughter there was of them near En-dor, (compare Judg. v. 19. with Josh. xvii. 11.) where, their carcasses lay and rotted; and served instead of dung, to fatten and enrich the earth.

Psalms 83:11

Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb; yea, all their. princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna. Let their princes and commanders fall like Oreb and Zeeb:- (Judg. vii. 25.) and their kings not be able to save themselves by flight; but be taken and slain, like Zebah and Zalmunna, (Judg. viii. 12.21.)

Psalms 83:12

Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. Who came with a design, (Judg. vi. 3 — 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.

Psalms 83:13

O my God, make them like a wheel: as the stubble before the wind. 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

Psalms 83:14

As tfie fire burnetii the wootU and as the flame setteth the’mountains on fire. Blast and consume them utterly; as the lightning, or the scorching rays of the sun in a long drought do the leaves of the forest trees, or the grass upon the mountains, (Joel i. 19.)

Psalms 83:15

So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid tuith thy storm. Raise a dreadful tempest to affright them; and pursue them so with thy vengeance, that they may be shattered and driven away instantly, as in a whirlwind: put them into such a panic feiar that they may not know which way to turn, but clash against one another in a terrible confusion, (2 Chron. xx. 22, &c.) Yen 1G. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord.] And make those that escape so ashamed at this disgraceful disappointment, that they may not.be able to hold up their heads, nor deny thy power to be superior to theirs, but humbly seek thy favour.

Psalms 83:17

Let m them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let theni.be put to shame, andperish. This.is the worst \ve 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 >vitb their credit and their courage, quite lose their pow r er to give us any farther trouble. „

Psalms 83:18

That men may m know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth. And thereby be convinced,.which they would not believe before, that thou art what thou art called, the true and only God, who givest being to all things;, and art the supreme governor, n.ot only of us, but of all the nations upon earth.