Let them be confounded and troubled for ever ,.... As long as they are in this world, and to all eternity in another; a dreadful portion this: yea, let them be put to shame, and perish ; wholly and eternally, in soul and body, for evermore. read more
Let them - perish - That is, in their present attempts. Some have objected to the execrations in this Psalm, without due consideration. None of these execrations refer either to their souls or to their eternal state; but merely to their discomfiture on their present attempts. Suppose the continental powers should join together to subjugate Britain, and destroy the Protestant religion; is there a Christian in the land that would not be justified in meeting them with the same or similar... read more
Metrically, the psalm divides into four strophes, three of four verses each, and one (the last) of six. read more
Soul spoilers. Dismissing from our consideration the probable historical occasion of this psalm (for which see 2 Chronicles 20:1-37 .), we take it as a vivid representation of the enemies and destroyers of the soul. Now— I. THERE ARE SUCH . Whoever yet sought to live the Divine life, and to walk with God in faithful obedience, that did not speedily find out that there were enemies of his soul such as are set forth here? For see— II. THEIR CHARACTERISTICS . 1 . ... read more
What God is to his people. The following general truths may be gathered up from this psalm. I. THAT SOMETIMES THE CHURCH OF GOD IS THREATENED BY A COMBINATION OF MANY DANGERS . As now—by science, philosophy, historical criticism, the spirit of commerce and the spirit of mammon, and what is called a worldly spirit. II. GOD AND HIS PEOPLE ARE ONE . ( Psalms 83:5 .) 1 . One in the closest relation. Father and children; Redeemer and... read more
Lot them be confounded and troubled forever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish. An expansion of the thought contained in the first clause of the preceding verse, which must not be regarded as annulling the kind wish of the second clause. Like Hezekiah ( Isaiah 37:20 ), the psalmist desires nothing so much as that "all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Jehovah, and he only, is God," and may turn to him in sincerity and truth. It is for this end that he wishes them to be... read more
Let them be confounded - Let them be ashamed. That is, Let them have that kind of shame and confusion which results from the fact that their plans have not been successful, or that they have been foiled and baffled in their schemes.And troubled - Disturbed; put to confusion. Let them be troubled as men are who are unsuccessful in their projects.Forever - As a people; as confederated nations; as united in such an unholy alliance. Let them never again be able thus to combine, or to form a compact... read more
Psalms 83:16-18. Fill, &c., that they may seek thy name That, being disappointed of their hopes, and discerning the impotence of their idols, they may own and worship thee as the only true God. Let them be put to shame and perish But those of them that will not humble themselves before thee, let them be utterly destroyed. That men may know Or, that they may know, namely, by dear-bought experience, even by their own ruin, what they would not know by information for their own good; ... read more
Psalms Opposition to God’s just rulePsalms 82:0 is written against all those who act unjustly in their position as God’s representatives in administering justice. They are even called gods (v. 1,6; cf. John 10:34; Romans 13:1,Romans 13:4,Romans 13:6). However, instead of rescuing the helpless poor from the powerful rich who enslave them, they show favour to those with influence and money (82:1-4). Because they are blind to all justice, truth and mercy, there is no stability in society (5). They... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 83:9-18
The psalmist here, in the name of the church, prays for the destruction of those confederate forces, and, in God's name, foretels it; for this prayer that it might be so amounts to a prophecy that it shall be so, and this prophecy reaches to all the enemies of the gospel-church; whoever they be that oppose the kingdom of Christ, here they may read their doom. The prayer is, in short, that these enemies, who were confederate against Israel, might be defeated in all their attempts, and that they... read more