1 A song or Psalme of Asaph. Keepe not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
2 For loe, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee, haue lift vp the head.
3 They haue taken craftie counsell against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They haue said, Come, and let vs cut them off from being a nation: that the name of Israel may bee no more in remembrance.
5 For they haue consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee.
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites: of Moab, and the Hagarens.
7 Gebal and Ammon, and Amalek: the Philistines, with the inhabitants of Tyre.
8 Assur also is ioyned with them: they haue holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
9 Doe vnto them as vnto the Midianites: as to Sisera, as to Iabin, at the brooke of Kison:
10 Which perished at En-dor: 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 sayd, Let vs take to our selues, the houses of God in possession.
13 O my God, make them like a wheele: as the stubble before the wind.
14 As the fire burneth a wood: and as the flame setteth the mountaines on fire:
15 So persecute them with thy tempest: and make them afraid with thy storme.
16 Fill their faces with shame: that they may seeke thy name, O Lord.
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for euer: yea let them be put to shame, and perish:
18 That men may knowe, that thou, whose name alone is IEHOVAH: art the most High ouer all the earth.
The designs of the enemies of Israel. (1-8) Earnest prayer for their defeat. (9-18)
1-8 Sometimes God seems not to be concerned at the unjust treatment of his people. But then we may call upon him, as the psalmist here. All wicked people are God's enemies, especially wicked persecutors. The Lord's people are his hidden one; the world knows them not. He takes them under his special protection. Do the enemies of the church act with one consent to destroy it, and shall not the friends of the church be united? Wicked men wish that there might be no religion among mankind. They would gladly see all its restraints shaken off, and all that preach, profess, or practise it, cut off. This they would bring to pass if it were in their power. The enemies of God's church have always been many: this magnifies the power of the Lord in preserving to himself a church in the world.
9-18 All who oppose the kingdom of Christ may here read their doom. God is the same still that ever he was; the same to his people, and the same against his and their enemies. God would make their enemies like a wheel; unsettled in all their counsels and resolves. Not only let them be driven away as stubble, but burnt as stubble. And this will be the end of wicked men. Let them be made to fear thy name, and perhaps that will bring them to seek thy name. We should desire no confusion to our enemies and persecutors but what may forward their conversion. The stormy tempest of Divine vengeance will overtake them, unless they repent and seek the pardoning mercy of their offended Lord. God's triumphs over his enemies, clearly prove that he is, according to his name JEHOVAH, an almighty Being, who has all power and perfection in himself. May we fear his wrath, and yield ourselves to be his willing servants. And let us seek deliverance by the destruction of our fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.