ENEMIES ON ALL SIDES This psalm starts in the form of a collective lamentation; but ends as usual by a praise to glorify and thank God on His work with His people amid their affliction. Scholars differ as to the occasion when this psalm was written. Many believe that it suits what came in 2 Chronicles 20, concerning when several nations made a confederacy against King Jehoshaphat. Then, “the king sought the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. Then Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and prayed to the Lord seeking His intervention. And the Lord saved them by a strong hand and a mighty arm”. It is the story of the church in all eras; and even the story of every true believer, when the devil and the hosts of darkness are stirred up against him; But the Lord grants him the conquest. Adam Clark believes that this psalm suits the confederacy against Jehoshaphat king of Judah, for the following reasons: (1)The Ammonites were the main factor in the war (2) Edom came to support them (2 Chronicles 20: 1, 22; Psalm 83: 8) (3) Many strangers from Syria and beyond the Dead Sea: the Ishmaelites and the Hagarites (Psalm 83: 7-8). (4) The appearance of Jahaziel, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, to proclaim that the war is the Lord’s, and not that of the king nor of the people (2 Chronicles 20: 14-15). He probably is the author of this psalm. 1- A cry-out to God 1 2- An evil confederacy 2 - 5 3- The names of the confederates 6 - 8 4- A supplication for salvation 9 - 17 5- A victory for God’s glory 18 The title: A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. This is the last of the psalms of Asaph. Because there are many things in common between it and what came in 2 Chronicles 20, Some scholars believe that Asaph, here, is ‘Jahaziel’ mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20. Although this psalm bears the type of a collective lamentation, yet it is still called ‘a song’ 1- A CRY-OUT TO GOD: “Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God” (1) In the Septuagint version it came as: “Who is like You, O God? Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God” https://coptic-treasures.com/ 2 As there is no one like you; we look up to no one but You. So “Do not keep silent, O God, and do not hold your peace” We are speechless; So intercede to our account. That is the voice of a righteous man with a peaceful conscience1. (St. Jerome) Seeing the enemies allied together against God, and stirred up against His people; the situation needs just one word from God; hence the psalmist cries-out saying: “Do not keep silent, O God; do not hold Your peace, and do not be still”. God oftentimes, seeming as though silent and not caring for the stirred-up enemies, the believer stands confused. But if God seems as though silent, it is to exhort us not to be silent ourselves, but to pray to Him to arise and to rebuke the wind, so there would be great calm (See Mathew 8: 24 etc.). Who is like You, O God? No one is like You!. “Do not be silent; do not hold Your peace”. It is a man of the church who talks; “out of whose heart flow rivers of living water” (John 7: 38). Seeing a great crop, but few workers; a multitude of believers, but few teachers to teach them; many heretics, and many adversaries, but few warriors to the account of Christ’ he cries-out: “Do not be silent, O Lord, Do not hold Your peace! 2”. (St. Jerome) O God, Who is like You?! … Likeness could be either in essence or in the way. God has no likeness in essence; namely in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – One Deity of three Persons, with no difference in essenceThe likeness between the righteous and God could be in the way; not natural in them, but through grace from Him. … While God, the Holy and the Just, all His features are natural in Him, and not gained; Man, on the other hand, if he has got certain of God’s features, they would not be natural in him, but partial and gained. The prophet, therefore, says: Who is like You, O God, in essence?! As to saying: “Do not be silent!” It means: Do not be any more longsuffering on the wicked, but hasten to avenge against them. (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) 2- AN EVIL CONFEDERACY: “For behold, Your enemies are in tumult; and those who hate You have raised their head” (2) The enemies are stirred-up, gathered together in tumult, like hungry wolves intending to devour the people of God, like a flock of sheep. They raised their heads up in haughtiness against God Himself, as though they have triumphed on Him. According to father Onesimus of Jerusalem, what came here is a prophecy of what was going to happen later on, when Cyrus, king of Persia, was going to allow the rebuilding of the temple and the holy city; When the surrounding nations would be stirred-up on the Jews, but God would support Zeribbabel to overcome them. The adversaries against the church of God are characterized by the following features: 1 On Psalms, homily 15. 2 On Psalms, homily 62. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 3 (1) They cry out loudly, yet in a vague language, on account of that they are irrational, and their animosity is for no good reason. (2) They haughtily raise their heads even against God Himself, as well as against His believers. While the Lord says: “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11: 29); The haughty, on the other hand, follow the one who said: “I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest side of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14: 13-14). (3) They craftily plot against those under the protection of God, intending to utterly cut off the church of God, and wipe her name out. St. Augustine notices that the psalmist did not say: “They raised (their) heads”, but said: “They raised (the) head”; as though the enemies have reached the point when they all gather together around one head; that head of the one about whom is said: “Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped” 2 Thessalonians 2: 4). So that, if this psalm is a cry-out coming from the heart of the whole church, she cries out when the antichrist comes, who, in his haughtiness, “sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2: 4). All the wicked gather together under the leadership of the antichrist to oppose the church in the entire earth. That is when the church seeks from her God not to remain silent, as the affliction has reached its maximum; and the antichrist assumes that no god could stand before him. “Behold, your enemies are in tumult “. The heretics talk, while the church people hold their peace; they are in tumult, while we keep silent; They blaspheme, while we are not offended … He says it well: “They are in tumult”, They produce only noise, confusion, and division. … “Those who hate You have raised their head”. The heretics are a great multitude; while Your believers are but a few1. (St. Jerome) 2 “They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones” (3) As the Lord’s enemies gather together against His believers, and resort to deception and craftiness in planning their plots, the believers seek from God to support and protect them. Commenting on the words: “in tumult”, and, “consulted together”, St. Augustine says that they make more noise than a talk or a conversation. The enemies oppose the church by the spirit of violence and tumult, and make plans without understanding, nor prudence, or rational debate. “They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones”. They only think of how to make men of Your church stumble, and to fall into their trap3. (St. Jerome) 1 On Psalms, homily 62. 2 On Psalms, homily 15. 3 On Psalms, homily 62. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 4 “They have said, ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more” (4) If ‘Israel’ here refers to the church, being the New Israel, the enemy, helpless to cut it off from the world, proclaims what is in his heart, by saying: “that the name Israel may be remembered no more”. That is what will happen when the two (witnesses) will be killed at the end of time; when “those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another” (Revelation 11: 10). The enemies will seek nothing less than to utterly cut off the people of God, so that they are remembered no more. “They have said, ‘Come, and let us destroy their nation” … The way Herod and Pilate – as an example – who were enemies, came to be in peace together to persecute Christ; and became in their friendship more horrible than they have been in their animosity, So are the heretics, who are diversified among themselves in their evil, will come together to practice a greater evil1. (St. Jerome) “For they have consulted together with one consent. They form a confederacy against You” (5) The enemies come together with one heart, and have one goal, namely, to cut off the people of God from being a nation; the way all the Jewish leaderships did against the Lord Christ. According to St. Augustine, the evil adversaries against the church of God form a confederacy among themselves to become stronger. They bear the spirit of unity in evil. “They have consulted together with one consent” … How miserable creatures we are, the people of God! when we cannot come together, the way the evildoers do2! “They form a confederacy against You”. The way You talked to us through Your prophets; the Heretics did the same through Mani, Mercion, Arius, and Valentinus3. (St. Jerome) 3- THE NAMES OF THE CONFEDERATES: “The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hegerites” (6) The psalmist mentions here the names of the nations, adversary against the church, which, according to St. Jerome are 11; being unable to reach the figure 12, of perfection. As we mentioned in many locations, the figure 12 refers to the kingdom of God on earth; as men in the four corners of the earth believe in the Holy Trinity (4 X 3 = 12). Both St. Augustine and St. Jerome believe that the name of each of those nations refers to its nature. a. “The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites”. The word ‘Edom’ is translated as (the earthly); and the word ‘tents’ is the right expression, as the Edomites do not live in houses with well-established foundations, but in temporary tents. 1 On Psalms, homily 62. 2 On Psalms, homily 15. 3 On Psalms, homily 62. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 5 b. The word “Ishmaelites” refers to the fact that they have the appearances of (listeners); but they actually do not care much for God. c. The word “Moab”, means (from the father); who was born a fruit of the illegal and unholy relationship between ‘Lot’, the father, and his daughter. “The Hagerites”, Those who were before citizens, then became strangers, not of the household; And being strangers, they come against their father’s house1. (St. Jerome) “Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre” (7) “Gebal” A part of Edom, East of the Dead Sea; meaning a fruitless barren valley. The prefix ‘Ge’ means (valley); and the suffix ‘bal’ means (empty). “Ammon”; means (non-peaceful people), or (people of grief), referring to that they were confused people who put their trust in unworthy mobs, and not in true believers. “Amalek”; namely (lickers of the ground); As the enemies of the people of God do not subsist on the heavenly bread, but lick the ground like serpents. “Philistia” means those who drink from the cup of the devil and die by the poisonous dryness. In Latin, it means (a strange race). And according to St. Augustine it refers to those who get drunk by the luxuries of the world. “Tyre”, according to St. Augustine means (narrowness) or (affliction); as said by the apostle: “Tribulation and anguish on every soul of man who does evil” (Romans 2: 9). “Gebal” means a barren valley; The Lord’s enemies are not mountain people, but from the barren valley; their wisdom is not from high above, but from down below; they are not from heaven, but are entirely from the earth. According to the holy Scripture, the humble man who sacrifices everything he has for Christ’s sake, is a valley and a field, not barren but fruitful. “Ammon” applies, no doubt to the deceptive people, referring to the heretics, who are not followers of Him who says: “I am the Truth” (John 14: 6), but of him who is the father of lies. “Amalek”, meaning (lick); As they leave nothing to the church, but lick all its foundation. They do not feed upon the words of the Holy Bible, but lick the ground like a serpent2. “Philistia”; The Hebrew name Phelistim is translated as (a cup of poison). All the heretics drink from the cup of Babylon, about which the prophet Jeremiah says: “Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunk” (Jeremiah 51: 7). The word ‘Babylon refers to (confusion). … “A golden cup”. The teachings of the philosophers and the eloquence of the speakers (among the heretics) are like a golden cup from the outside, while in the inside it is full of deadly poison, which they hide by the shine of gold. “With the inhabitants of Tyre”; ‘Tyre’ is located in a narrow region; hence the word indicates (narrowness). There is no heart, wide for Christ; as said by the apostle Paul to the (2Corinthians 6: 12) 3. 1 On Psalms, homily 62. 2 On Psalms, homily 62. 3 On Psalms, homily 62. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 6 (St. Jerome) “Assyria also has joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot” (8) Assyria supporting Moab and Ammon confirms that this psalm was written before Assyria becomes a great empire. The Assyrian is ‘Nebuchadnezzar’, the enemy of God, who took His people captives; he also refers to the devil who seeks to captivate the children of God. Now, the word “Assyria’ is most probably used as a symbol of the devil “the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2: 2) 1. (St. Augustine) “Assyria also has joined with them”. The others took the lead, and these followed suit. Let us see who those followers are! “Assyria” symbolizes the devil, in whom there is no doubt of his deception and revenge; as is written in the psalm: “That You (the Lord) may silence the enemy and the avenger” (Psalm 8: 2). He is the one who makes us sin, and he is the one who accuses us to be punished. “Assyria also has joined them”, The devil (Assyria) is their prince and leader; and not Jesus the Righteous King and Ruler. “They have helped the children of Lot”. “Lot” means turn away from God, as the Jews did. The heretics partake of the blasphemes of the Jews2. (St. Jerome) According to St. Augustine, “the children of Lot” means (the children of lowliness or of descent) The apostate angels are truly interpreted as (the sliding down angels), as by sliding down from the truth they became the followers of the devil. About them the apostle says: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6: 12). Those unseen enemies (spirituals) work through unbelievers to oppose the people of God3. (St. Augustine) 4- A SUPPLICATION FOR SALVATION: “Deal with them as with Midian, as with Sisera, as with Jabin at the brook Kishon” (9) Midian, Sisera, and Jabin, those three have corrupted the earth, and became like refuse. “Midian” means (not caring for authority). They were enemies of the people of God, who did not care for judgment to come. “Sisera” were enemies of the people of God; not of the flock of God, but followers of the devil; violently stirred up like wild horses. “Jabin”; refers to those who, leaning upon their own wisdom, and not upon the glory of God, corrupt the earth like refuse. He starts here with a prophetic prayer; by which, according to St. Augustine, he tells beforehand what will dwell upon those people, rather than cursing them. In the 1 On Psalms 83 (82). 2 On Psalms, homily 62. 3 On Psalms 83 (82). https://coptic-treasures.com/ 7 names mentioned here, he sees symbolic meanings, beside historical facts; he says: [Symbolically, Midian means (a corrupt rule); Sisera means (ceasing to rejoice); Jabin means (wise). But historically, they refer to the enemies who were defeated by the people of God, (the wise man), about whom the apostle says: “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disrupter of this age?” (1 Corinthians 1: 20) 1. “Who perished in Endor, Who became as refuse on the earth” (10) Those who boast their army, whose king is the Assyrian who used to say: “I will ascend into heaven” (Isaiah 14: 13), will not only be cut off the earth, but will be on it like refuse2. (St. Jerome) “Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, Yes, all their princes like Zeebah and Zalmunna” (11) God destroyed the army of Midian; Oreb was killed on the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb was killed at the winepress of Zeeb. They were proud to call themselves crows and wolves, to end up like these birds of prey and wild beasts. Zeebah and Zalmunna were followed, caught, and killed by Gideon, the judge of Israel. Once God stands, all His enemies will scatter, “Flight shall perish from the swift. The strong shall not strengthen his power, nor shall the mighty deliver himself” (Amos 2: 14). “Oreb’ means (draught), ‘Zeeb’ means (wolf), ‘Zeebah’ means (victim of the wolf), and ‘Zalmunna’ means (shadow of riot); All those correspond to evil overcome by the goodness of the people of God, ‘Kishon’, means (the torrent flood) where their cruelty was swept away, and ‘Endor’ where they perished means (fountain of renewal), where the physical birth is taken away and destroyed; as they did not care for the birth that leads to life, where they , nor die. All these are symbols overcome in truth by the people of God, as sung by the psalmist3. (St. Augustine) “Who said, ‘Let us take for ourselves the pastures of God for a possession’” (12) The goal of the adversary princes and rulers was to force themselves into the temple of God and His dwelling place in us. The evil enemy will not cease his opposition, until he sets himself a god in the hearts of mankind. “Who said, ‘Let us take for ourselves the dwelling places of God’”. They claimed and thought of themselves as men of the church4. (St. Jerome) “O my God, make them like the whirling dust, like the chaff before the wind” (13) 1 On Psalms 83 (82). 2 On Psalms, homily 15. 3 On Psalms 83 (82). 4 On Psalms, homily 62. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 8 The ungodly opponents of God would become “like the chaff which the wind drives away” (Psalm 1: 4); Whereas those who attach themselves to the word of God, will abide forever. “O my God, make them like (a wheel)”, never to settle down, never to have a steady place, always on the move, backward. So are the heretics, they are never steady in their teachings and views, but change them all the time. “like the chaff before the wind”. Having denied the law of faith of the 11 apostles. the psalmist seeks 11 punishments against them1. “My God, make them …” Notice the attitude of the prophet, he does not pray against them, but for their sake. He says: O my God, the God of all, those who put their foundations in craftiness, make them without foundations altogether! Make them like a wheel that runs here and there, and never abide in their craftiness2! (St. Jerome) “As the fire burns the woods, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire” (14) The mountains covered with forests often suffer huge fires, the way it happens in the forests of the U.S.A., where thousands of acres are consumed by fire that sometimes lasts for several days. The fire of the Holy Spirit burns the heart with love; whereas the fire of evil is a sign of curse (see Hebrew 6: 8); “The people shall be like the burnings of lime; like thorns cut up they shall be burned in the fire” (Isaiah 33: 12). According to St. Augustine, the fire and flame here refer to God’s verdict of punishment on the wicked. As “the flame that sets the mountains on fire” to burn the pride in them3. (St. Jerome) Having kindled for themselves the fire of wrath and bodily lusts, let it burn and consume them. That is what God says in a prophecy by Isaiah: “All you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with sparks; Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled” (Isaiah 50: 11). (Fr. Onesimus of Jerusalem) “So pursue them with your tempest, and frighten them with Your storm” (15) About the portion of the wicked, the righteous ‘Job’ says: “Terrors overtakes him like a flood; a tempest steals him in the night. The east wind carries him away, and he is gone” (Job 27: 20-21). “Frighten them with your storm”. The demons are always terrified; as it happened to the armies that attacked Jehoshaphat, when the angel of God terrified them, and drove them away. That is how the Lord defends and protects His people. “Pursue them with your tempest”. … He did not say ‘Kill them’, but “pursue them”, to return to you4. (St. Jerome) 1 On Psalms, homily 62. 2 On Psalms, homily 15. 3 On Psalms, homily 15. 4 On Psalms, homily 62. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 9 “Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O Lord” (16) As terror dwells upon them, they fall into shame for their animosity against God and His people (Isaiah 26: 11); they will be ashamed for they have foolishly stood before the Almighty God. Yet the goal of all this is their salvation, and not their perdition; as He says: “Let them be terrified of Your Name, that they may seek your name”. St. Augustine says: [I dare to say that it is better for the proud to fall into a clear and obvious disobedience, so as to become sad; as their fall was initially caused by their joy with themselves. St. Peter was better off when he cried, being ashamed of himself, than when he dared to be proud of himself. That is what the blessed psalmist confirms by saying: “Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord” (16) 1. According to St. Augustine, although this prophecy proclaimed ahead the shame that will dwell upon those enemies, yet some of them will eventually return to the Lord and seek His name before the coming of the day of ultimate judgment. “Fill their faces with shame”, and not with punishment. Why does not he seek their perdition? The words of inspiration give the answer by saying: “that they may seek your name, O Lord”. For once they seek, they will get; those who were deceived by the heretics, and return to the Lord2. (St. Jerome) “Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish” (17) In case they do not return to the Lord by repentance, and seek His name, they will perish; There will be nothing before them except “shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12: 2). The wicked have no other choice but to return to God, or the everlasting perdition; there is no other way between the two: either the kingdom of God or the kingdom of darkness! “To be put to shame and perish”. He who feels ashamed of his sins would be close to forgiveness They will perish as heretics, or be saved as men of the church; the same way you say: Let the adulterer perish; not because we wish him perdition, but for the adultery to be destroyed in him; the adulterer would then be saved, not as an adulterer, but as righteous and pure3. Notice that destruction here does not mean perdition but rather salvation. What is to follow? “That men may know that You, whose name alone is Jehovah, are the Most High over all the earth” (18). I wish he who intends to be haughty, be puffed up; But we will say: “You are the Most High over all the earth”. We shall not preoccupy ourselves with, to what extent will that person boast; as we have God, the Lord of all4. (St. Jerome) 5- VICTORY FOR THE GLORY OF GOD: “That men may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord (Jehovah), are the Most High over all the earth” (18) . 1 مدینة الله 13 :14 2 On Psalms, homily 62. 3 On Psalms, homily 62. 4 On Psalms, homily 15. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 10 As it happened with Jehoshaphat; As much as the nations and peoples conspired against the people of God, God transfigured as ‘Jehovah’, present with His people, the Most High over all the earth. According to St. John Chrysostom, it is befitting of us to praise the lord, and to give him thanks for all His amazing works; not only when He saves us from evil, but also when He allows for us to go through troubles and afflictions, which we may count as evils. : [Let us thank God for everything; not only when He saves us from evil, but when we suffer from these evils1]. To know how sound our interpretation is, let us draw your attention to how the Holy Spirit say: “Let them be put to shame and perish” (17); How will they perish? “That they may seek Your name, O Lord” (16); namely, to perish to evil, and be saved to the truth, for you alone “are the Most High over all the earth”. … Not the multitude of heretics, nor the evil spirits, nor the uncountable days of Vlantinus, nor Basilides who claimed the existence of 365 gods, nor the multitudes of gods beyond count; … but, “You alone is the Most High over all the earth”, to whom is the glory, forever, Amen2. (St. Jerome) 1 Homilies on Statues, 17: 1. 2 On Psalms, homily 62. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 11 AN INSPIRATION FROM PSALM 83 WHO WILL SUPPORT US BUT YOU? Seeing the hosts of injustice gather together against Your church; My depths cry out to You; Until when will you keep silent? Until when will You hold Your peace? Behold, Your enemies make a tumult, and plot against You. They put in their heart to destroy Your church; And to take away Your Holy name. They conspired together and vowed not to hold their peace until they realize their goal. Let them go back to old history, to find out that, All along the generations, the war of the wicked have never ceased; They have lifted up their heads; To become like chaff before the fire. We confess to You that we love them the way You do! Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord. Instead of opposing You, they may get attached to You; Instead of animosity, they may get to enjoy reconciliation; That Your name be glorified in all the nations; And You be praised by the whole earth.
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