Keep not Thou silence, O God: hold not Thy peace, and be not still, O God.
An appeal to Heaven
I. A lamentable social scene (Psalms 83:2-8). The scene is that of men in tumultuous hostility both to God and His people. They appear developing all the leading characteristics of sin.
1. Boisterous. They “make a tumult.” Sin is agitation. There is no serenity in it, no repose.
2. Haughty.. “Have lifted up the head.” They were bold, arrogant, defiant. The evil spirit is described by Milton as “defying the Omnipotent to arms.” Sin intoxicates the soul with vanity and daring.
3. Intriguing (Psalms 83:3). Sin works insidiously, and with all the subtilty of the serpent. It is never open, frank, and straightforward; it is artful and scheming.
4. Malignant (Psalms 83:4). It is always in mischief. “The poison of asps,” etc.
5. Antitheistic. “They have consulted together,” etc. It is all against God.
6. Widespread. “The tabernacles of Edom,” etc.
II. A reprehensible religious prayer. In this prayer there is--
1. A savage revenge (Psalms 83:13), etc.
2. Pious abomination. Their destruction is here invoked, what for? In order “that they may seek Thy name, O Lord.” On what principle, either in ethics, or conscience, or sound philosophy, can such a prayer be justified? To me, I confess, it appears to be malice, inhumanity, and ungodliness in its worst aspect. (Homilist.)
Mental tendencies in relation to God
These words reveal two tendencies in the human mind in relation to the Creator.
I. A necessary tendency. By this, I mean, the tendency to think of our Maker as like unto ourselves. The psalmist here imagines Him to be silent and inactive, two conditions Which belong to ourselves, but which are impossible to Him. Indeed, we cannot think of God in any other way. We invest Him with our own attributes, and thus we humanify Him. Hence, how infinitely more glorious is the God which Christ adored and revealed, to the God which even the best men ever had, even the prophet and the apostles. This fact--
1. Accounts for the conflicting theologies of men.
2. Argues the necessity for following Christ. If we would reach exalted ideas of the Great Father, we must study and imitate His Blessed Son.
II. A culpable tendency. The culpable tendency indicated here is twofold.
1. A practical ignorement of God’s unremitting communications and activity. “Keep not thou silence, O God.” Silent! He is never silent. He speaks in all the sounds of nature, in all the events of history, in all the monitions of reason.
2. A proneness to regard Him as indifferent to us because we are in trouble. The psalmist seemed to think that because he and his countrymen were in great trial, the Almighty was silent and indifferent. How often is this the case with us all! How often we are inclined to think in affliction that our Maker has forsaken us! (Homilist.)