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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2015 April 25
View of Vesuvius from Posilippo (c. 1773-1775)
Joseph Wright (1734-1797)
Romanticism Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: In Psalm 83 the Psalmist calls on God to destroy the nations who have attacked Israel, hoping to destroy it. The occasion may have been the attack (c. 853 B.C.) by a confederation of nations (2 Chronicles 20) in the time of Jehoshaphat (873-848 B.C.). The author is called Asaph in the heading of the Psalm; and some commentators believe that the name "Asaph" was a title, of sorts, which referred, in this instance, to Jahaziel the Asaphite (2 Chronicles 20:14-18) upon whom the Spirit of God came, giving him a prophecy of victory. Today's painting illustrates fire upon the mountains, mentioned in verse 14.
[ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Chronicles 20. IMPRECATORY PSALMS: Psalm 5. Psalm 10. Psalm 17. Psalm 35. Psalm 58. Psalm 59. Psalm 69. Psalm 70. Psalm 79. Psalm 83. Psalm 109. Psalm 129. Psalm 137. Psalm 140. ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
[ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
[ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 83 - #1 (Zemlinsky Part 1). Psalm 83 - #1 (Zemlinsky Part 2). Psalm 83 - #2. Psalm 83 - #3. Psalm 83 - #4. Psalm 83 - #5. ]
The Psalmist asks God not to be silent while his proud enemies who hate him are creating a tumult (1-2). They took crafty counsel against God's secure people. They desired to cut God's people off from being a nation, causing them to be forgotten. Almost a dozen nations were united in their confederation against God and his people (3-8). So the Psalmist asked God to them as he had done to the nations that stood against Israel after they came out of Egypt. He asked that God would make Israel's new enemies like a wheel (restless); like stubble before the wind (driven), and like fire on wood or in the mountains (consumed). So the Psalmist asks God to persecute them with his tempest and make them afraid with his storm. He asks that God will fill their faces with shame, so that they might seek God's name. He asks that they might be confounded, troubled, put to shame, and perish. The purpose is that they might know that God alone is Jehovah (the Eternal One), and that he is Most High over all the earth (9-18).
THE PSALTER:
BOOK THREE OF FIVE:
Psalms 73-89.
Psalm 83
Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation;
that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:
10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer ( Habakkuk) and a musical notation (" upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a " send to" notice (" To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]
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