Psalms 83 · The Lantern

A Song, a Psalm of Asaph.

O G-d, keep not Thou silence; hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O G-d.

For behold, your enemies have made a noise. We can interpret this, according to the tropology, of the Church and of the heresies. But we can also interpret it, according to the letter, of the people of the Jews and of the other nations that were assailing Judaea round about. For behold, your enemies have made a noise.

"For lo Thine enemies have sounded, and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head" (ver. 2). He seems to me to signify the last days, when these things that are now repressed by fear are to break forth into free utterance, but quite irrational, so that it should rather be called a "sound," than speech or discourse.

When Leontius perceived this, he did not think it safe to try to prevent them, for he saw that the people were exceedingly well-disposed towards these excellent men. However, putting a colour of courtesy on his speech, he requested that they would perform this act of worship in the churches. They were perfectly well aware of his evil intent.

For, lo, Thine enemies are in an uproar; and they that hate Thee have lifted up the head.

They hold crafty converse against Thy people, and take counsel against Thy treasured ones.

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.'

For they have consulted together with one consent; against Thee do they make a covenant;

The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;

Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;

Assyria also is joined with them; they have been an arm to the children of Lot. Selah

Do Thou unto them as unto Midian; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook Kishon;

Who were destroyed at En-dor; they became as dung for the earth.

Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and like Zebah and Zalmunna all their princes;

Who said: 'Let us take to ourselves in possession the habitations of G-d.'

What does he mean by this? As I take it, that goodness can with difficulty gain a hold on human nature, like fire on green wood; while most people are ready and disposed to join in evil, like stubble, I mean, ready for a spark and a wind, which is easily kindled and consumed from its dryness.

O my God, make them as a wheel. See the clemency of the prophet: he does not pray against them, but for them. See what he says. O my God — you who are the God of all, but properly my God: O my God, make them as a wheel. Those who have, as it were, a foundation in malice, let them have no foundation, but let them totter, and not stand firm in malice.

But what follows? "My God, make them like a wheel" [Psalm 83:13]. This is fitly taken as meaning that they should be constant in nothing that they think; but I think it may also be rightly explained, make them like a wheel, because a wheel is lifted up on the part of what is behind, is thrown down on the part of what is in front; and so it happens to all the enemies of the peop…

O my G-d, make them like the whirling dust; as stubble before the wind.

As the fire that burneth the forest, and as the flame that setteth the mountains ablaze;

So pursue them with Thy tempest, and affright them with Thy storm.

Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek Thy name, O HaShem.

Let them be ashamed and affrighted for ever; yea, let them be abashed and perish;

That they may know that it is Thou alone whose name is HaShem, the Most High over all the earth.

Psalms83