What does Psalm 83:5 mean?
Asaph continues to pray (Psalm 83:1) for God to act against enemies massing against Israel (Psalm 83:2–3). These opponents don't merely want to defeat God's chosen people. Rather, they want to annihilate them entirely, even erasing all memory of their existence (Psalm 83:4). In this case, Israel is not merely facing the normal threats of one nation competing with another. These enemy states are abnormally unified and driven by something more sinister. The enemies conspiring to attack are taking sides against God Himself.In the New Testament era, an early opponent of the church was Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul. He was "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1). Saul was confronted by Christ while travelling to persecute believers. Saul was blinded by brilliant light and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me…I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" (Acts 9:3–5). Attacks on God's truth, and His people, are effectively assaults on the Lord.
Psalm 83:1–8 forms the first half of Asaph's psalm. He urges God to act against Israel's enemies, who plan to wipe Israel from the face of the earth. These aggressors deliberately plan their assault; they agree about annihilating God's people. Asaph lists ten groups, which include many of Israel's historic enemies.
Asaph prays for God to intervene in a conspiracy. Many nations cooperate to erase Israel and her legacy. He asks the Lord for protection, asking Him to repeat the harsh judgments brought on pagan nations in the past. Asaph extends this by asking God to bring destruction, ruin, and humiliation on these opponents. Despite this, Asaph recognizes that the proper goal is for these nations to recognize that God alone is Most High. This is one of several "imprecatory" psalms such as Psalm 5, 10, 17, 109, and 137, which request God to deliver severe harm on some enemy.
