Psalm 83:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,

NIV: As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,

NASB: Like fire that burns the forest, And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire,

CSB: As fire burns a forest, as a flame blazes through mountains,

NLT: As a fire burns a forest and as a flame sets mountains ablaze,

KJV: As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

NKJV: As the fire burns the woods, And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,

Israel's climate would allow dry wood, weeds, briars, and twigs to accumulate, posing the risk of a sudden fire. The book of Judges mentions this as part of a prophetic warning (Judges 9:14–15). Elijah witnessed a fire as part of a dramatic encounter (1 Kings 19:11–12). Isaiah describes a forest fire (Isaiah 10:17–19), and later speaks of the Lord judging the enemies of Israel "with thunder and with earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire" (Isaiah 29:6). Some of the same images are used here in Asaph's appeal for God to punish Israel's enemies (Psalm 83:4–8).

The next verse continues this "imprecation:" a direct call for harm on someone else. Asaph will continue to evoke the power of nature—under God's control—as tool for judgment (Psalm 83:15).

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.

Accessed 5/2/2024 4:38:20 PM