O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
-Second part of the second main division. Prayer inspired by God for the extinction of the foe by the fiery storm of God.
Verse 13. O my God, make them like a wheel - rather, 'like a thing whirled round as a wheel,' or like a whirlwind: parallel to "the stubble before the wind." Compare note, Psalms 77:18; Isaiah 17:13, 'they shall be chased like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.'
Verse 14. As the flame setteth the mountains on fire - i:e., setteth on fire the wood and stubble on the mountains.
Verse 15. Make them afraid with thy storm. The same Hebrew verb (tebahaleem) as in Psalms 83:17 is translated, "let them ... be troubled." 'Put them in consternation.'
Verse 16. Fill their faces with shame - expanded in Psalms 83:17, "Let them be confounded" etc.; "yea, let them be put to shame."
That they may seek thy name, O Lord - expanded in Psalms 83:18, "That (men) may know that thou ... Yahweh
... art the Most High," etc. "Thy name" is "THEE" in thy glorious manifestation of thy attributes, thy power, wisdom, and love to thy people, exercised for the subjugation of their enemies. Not the conversion of the enemy who are past hope, but their forced submission, like that of Pharaoh, is here contemplated (Psalms 59:13). Verse 17. Let them be ... troubled for ever - the same Hebrew as for 'make afraid' (Psalms 83:15). 'Let them be put to consternation forever.'
Verse 18. That (men) may know - rather, 'let them know' to their cost.
That thou whose name alone is JEHOVAH (YAHWEH), art the Most High over all the earth - literally, 'that thou, thy name, O Yahweh, art Most High,' etc. 'Thou, thy name,' means, thou, in respect to thy manifestation of thyself in deeds. The gods of the pagan have no deeds to 'produce,' manifesting their unseen godhead (Isaiah 41:21-24; Isaiah 41:26); in this God-Yahweh stands alone. Compare Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 37:20; 1 Samuel 17:46.