What does Psalm 83:1 mean?

Asaph prays for God not to rest. He is aware that Israel's enemies are constructing threats against the nation (Psalm 83:3); Asaph's appeal is that God would intervene before there is an attack. Rather than allowing this to happen, the psalmist prays for God to exercise His power. Later verses include a long list of enemy nations banding together to see Israel destroyed.

Asaph addresses his plea to Elohim, the plural form of "god." The second "O God" uses El, referring to God's great power. Asaph knows God is omnipotent and therefore capable of warding off any threat that is raised against His people. The apostle Paul shares this concept of God as all-powerful. He realized that if God is for His people, no one can prevail against them. He tells the believers at Rome: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31), and declares, "We are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). When a child of God senses that he is in danger, he can do what Asaph did, appeal to the Mighty One to arise and act on his behalf. God will answer his prayer (Jeremiah 33:3; Philippians 4:4–8; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 John 5:13–15).