Psalms 83 · The Lantern

A song. A psalm of Asaph. God, do not keep silence for yourself; do not be deaf and do not be still, Mighty One.

O God, Be Not Silent

For see — your enemies are in turmoil, and those who hate you have lifted the head.

For behold, your enemies have made a din. The heretics speak out, and the men of the Church keep silent; they make a noise, and we are quiet; they blaspheme, and we do not bark back. For behold, your enemies have made a din. Beautifully did he say, they have made a din: for it is not speech adorned for building up, but only a disordered clamor for tearing down.

"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.

Against your people they craftily plot in secret, and they take counsel against your treasured ones.

They have said, “Come, let us wipe them out from being a nation, and let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”

For they have taken counsel with one heart together; against you they cut 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 has joined with them; they have become an arm for the sons of Lot. Selah.

Do to them as to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin at the torrent of Kishon,

who were destroyed at En-dor; they became dung for the ground.

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

who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.”

My God, make them like a whirling thing, like stubble before the wind.

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…

As fire burns a forest, and as a flame sets the mountains ablaze,

so pursue them with your storm, and terrify them with your whirlwind.

Fill their faces with dishonor, and let them seek your name, LORD.

Let them be ashamed and terrified forever; let them be disgraced and perish,

and let them know that you, whose name is the LORD, you alone are Most High over all the earth.

Psalms83

O God, Be Not Silent