Psalm 83:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.”

NIV: who said, 'Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God.'

NASB: Who said, 'Let’s possess for ourselves The pastures of God.'

CSB: who said, "Let's seize God's pastures for ourselves."

NLT: for they said, 'Let us seize for our own use these pasturelands of God!'

KJV: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

NKJV: Who said, “Let us take for ourselves The pastures of God for a possession.”

Some interpreters suggest this quote conveys the attitude of the historical enemies of Israel, specifically those like the Midianites (Psalm 83:9–11) who tried to conquer or dominate Israel (Judges 6:1). This would mean Asaph is further describing those earlier foes, while asking God to apply their fate to the present conspiracy (Psalm 83:4–8). The other option is that this verse refers to the recent foes, and Asaph is accusing them of wanting to take possession of land God has not given them.

In either case, Asaph (Psalm 83:1) is asking God to repeat the brutal punishments given to other nations, applying them to the coalition now plotting against the Jewish people.

Another meaning may be attached to "the pastures of God." This phrase may apply to the places where the Israelites worshiped Him. Second Chronicles 20:1–2 reports that in the time of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, the Moabites and Ammonites came against him to battle. Their intent was to expel God's people from their land. Jehoshaphat tells the Lord that the enemy was "coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit" (2 Chronicles 20:11). The land of Israel is God's gift to His people. Though surrounding nations have always wanted to drive the Jewish people out, God's chosen people have a divine right to live in the land.

Psalm 83:9–18 comes after Asaph's plea: that God will stop the coalition of enemies attempting to destroy Israel. Here, Asaph directly asks the Lord to punish these opponents. He asks God to disgrace them, annihilate them, and make them acknowledge that the Lord alone is the Most High over all the earth. These requests place this song among the "imprecatory psalms."

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.

This is the last psalm identified with Asaph. It is one of the imprecatory psalms which call for harsh judgment from God. Other such psalms include 5, 10, 35, 109, and 137. The psalm is not explicitly connected to a historical event. It may refer to the attack on Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20). Others see this as a general reference to the Gentile world's relentless attacks on Israel. Still others interpret this as a prophecy about a large-scale attack set to occur in the end times.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.