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83
Nations confederate · A psalm of Asaph

Do not keep silent, O God

18 verses
Common metre 8.6.8.6
BPW 83A
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Summary

Ten peoples have taken counsel together with one aim stated plainly: cut them off from being a nation, let the name of Israel be no more remembered. The psalm names them all — a roll-call, not an abstraction — and observes that a confederacy against the hidden ones of God is a confederacy against God.

Its middle is memory: do to them as to Midian, as to Sisera at the brook Kishon, as to Oreb and Zeeb. What God has done He can do. The petitions that follow are storm and stubble and chasing wind, and they end at a purpose that no reader can miss: that men may seek thy name, that they may know that thou alone art the Most High over all the earth. The final aim of the malediction is that the nations be brought to know God.

Outline
1–8
The league and its aim

Do not be still: they consult against thy hidden ones, and say, let us cut them off. Ten nations named, with Assyria to help them.

St. 1 · 1–4The stated purpose of the confederacy
St. 2 · 5–8The roll-call of the allies
9–12
Precedent: do as thou didst

As to Midian, to Sisera and Jabin at Kishon; as to Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, let us take God’s houses.

St. 3 · 9–10Kishon remembered
St. 4 · 11–12Their princes, and their boast
13–18
Stubble, storm, and the knowledge of His name

Make them as a wheel and as chaff; pursue them with tempest; fill their faces with shame — that they may seek thy name and know the Most High.

St. 5 · 13–15Wind, fire and tempest
St. 6 · 16–18That they may seek thy name

Stanza divisions provisional — to be conformed to the Book of Psalms for Worship. References NASB.