831 A Song; a Psalm of Asaph. O God, keep not silence; hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God: 2 For behold, thine enemies make a tumult; and they that hate thee lift up the head. 3 They take crafty counsel against thy people, and consult against thy hidden ones: 4 They say, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, and let the name of Israel be mentioned no more. 5 For they have consulted together with one heart: they have made an alliance together against thee. 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagarites; 7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia, with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Asshur also is joined with them: they are an arm to the sons of Lot. Selah.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 83:1-8
Commentary on Psalm 83:1-8
(Read Psalm 83:1-8)
Sometimes God seems not to be concerned at the unjust treatment of his people. But then we may call upon him, as the psalmist here. All wicked people are God's enemies, especially wicked persecutors. The Lord's people are his hidden one; the world knows them not. He takes them under his special protection. Do the enemies of the church act with one consent to destroy it, and shall not the friends of the church be united? Wicked men wish that there might be no religion among mankind. They would gladly see all its restraints shaken off, and all that preach, profess, or practise it, cut off. This they would bring to pass if it were in their power. The enemies of God's church have always been many: this magnifies the power of the Lord in preserving to himself a church in the world.