Book of Psalm Chapter 83 Vs. 1

 

O God, Do Not Keep Silence

Psm. 83:1 A Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

A Song...

שִׁירָה

šiyrāh, שִׁיר

šiyr: A masculine noun meaning a song. This word is used to indicate a type of lyrical song, a religious song, or a specific song of Levitical choirs. In Amos, God uses the word to indicate that He will turn their joyful singing into mourning because of their unfaithfulness to Him (Amos 8:10). This time of mourning will be like that of mourning for an only son, and it will end in a bitter day. In a similar usage, Laban asks Jacob why he ran off secretly without telling Laban. If Jacob would have stated he wanted to leave, Laban would have sent him off with joy and singing (Gen. 31:27). Isaiah uses the word to indicate the type of songs that will no longer be sung when the Lord lays waste the earth (Isa. 24:9). The type of drunken revels associated with drinking wine and beer will no longer be heard.

This word is also used in Nehemiah to denote songs of praise (Neh. 12:46). In this particular context, Nehemiah indicates that the music directors in the days of David and Asaph led songs of praise. The noun is also used to indicate specific songs of Levitical choirs accompanied by musical instruments. When David and the Israelites brought the ark of the Lord from Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim), they celebrated with songs (1Chr. 13:8). Amos uses the word to denote complacency and apathy. Many Israelites lay on ivory couches and strummed their musical instruments while dining on fattened calves and choice lambs. These people were so caught up in themselves that they did not even give thought to the threat of destruction by the Lord.

or Psalm...

מִזְמוֹר

mizmôr: A masculine noun referring to a psalm, a melody. It is found in the titles of psalms designating them as a psalm or melody. These musical titles are still under investigation to pinpoint their exact meanings more clearly.

of Asaph...

אָסָף

’āsāp̱: A proper noun designating Asaph, a name applied to several persons in the Old Testament. The name means "gatherer, convener."

A. He was one of David's chief music leaders. Son of Berachiah (1Chr. 6:39, 24) and a Levite (1Chr. 15:17). He sounded the bronze cymbals. He ministered before the ark of God (1Chr. 16:5). His sons were appointed to various duties by David (1Chr. 25:1). He composed many psalms (Psm. 50, 73-83). The singers at the Temple under Ezra were descendants of Asaph (Ezra 2:41). His descendants helped dedicate the new Temple (Ezra 3:10) and the wall (Neh. 12:35-36).

B. An Asaph was the father of King Hezekiah's secretary, Joah, an important official position (2Kgs. 18:17-18).

C. It refers to a Korahite named Asaph who served as a gatekeeper (1Chr. 26:1).

D. It designates a person who cared for the Persian king's forests. He gave Nehemiah timber for work in Jerusalem (Neh. 2:8-9).

E. It refers to a Levite who lived in Jerusalem on the return from the Babylonian Exile (Neh. 11:17).

Keep not thou silence,...

אַל

’al: An adverb meaning no, not, without; a basic adverb of negation. It is used consistently with the imperfect form of the verb to render a negative imperative or prohibition (Gen. 15:1; 22:12; 37:27; Psm. 25:2; Jer. 18:18). With the regular imperative, it expresses purpose, such as, that we may not die (1Sam. 12:19). In poetic sections, it may express the poet's strong emotions (Job 5:22; Psm. 41:2,3; Pro. 3:25; Isa. 2:9). It is also used without a verb to express simple negation in an imperative mode, as in ’al-ṭal, let there be no dew (2Sam. 1:21). It can have the meaning of there is no (Pro. 12:28), i.e., there is no death. It can also function as a noun + l^e meaning something comes to naught, nothing (Job 24:25). Coupled with the particle nā’, it means please do not or therefore, do not (Gen. 18:3).

דֳּמִי

d^omiy, דְּמִי

d^emiy: I. A masculine noun referring to silence or rest. It refers to the act of watchmen reporting what they see and know (Isa. 62:6) and to the Lord's resting from establishing Zion, Jerusalem (Isa. 62:7), or remaining silent towards one who prays to Him for help (Psm. 83:1,2).

II. A masculine noun denoting half, middle, the rest, the remainder. It is used of Hezekiah's concern that he die young, deprived of half or the rest of his life span (Isa. 38:10).

O God:...

אֱלֹהִים

’^elōhiym: A masculine plural noun meaning God, gods, judges, angels. Occurring more than 2,600 times in the Old Testament, this word commonly designates the one true God (Gen. 1:1) and is often paired with God's unique name y^ehōwāh (Gen. 2:4; Psm. 100:3). When the word is used as the generic designation of God, it conveys in Scripture that God is the Creator (Gen. 5:1); the King (Psm. 47:7,8); the Judge (Psm. 50:6); the Lord (Psm. 86:12); and the Savior (Hos. 13:4). His character is compassionate (Deu. 4:31); gracious (Psm. 116:5); and faithful to His covenant (Deu. 7:9). In fewer instances, this word refers to foreign gods, such as Dagon (1Sam. 5:7) or Baal (1Kgs. 18:24). It also might refer to judges (Exo. 22:8-9; 7-8) or angels as gods (Psm. 97:7). Although the form of this word is plural, it is frequently used as if it were singular-that is, with a singular verb (Gen. 1:1-31; Exo. 2:24). The plural form of this word may be regarded (1) as intensive to indicate God's fullness of power; (2) as majestic to indicate God's kingly rule; or (3) as an allusion to the Trinity (Gen. 1:26). The singular form of this word ’^elôah occurs only in poetry (Psm. 50:22; Isa. 44:8). The shortened form of the word is ’ēl.

hold not thy peace,...

חָרַשׁ

ḥāraš: I. A verb meaning to plow, to engrave. It refers to plowing, tilling the soil (Deu. 22:10; 1Kgs. 19:19) with animals. Hosea speaks metaphorically of Israel's "plowing wickedness" and receiving injustice as a reward (Hos. 10:13). It refers to devising or preparing evil against one's neighbor (1Sam. 23:9; Pro. 3:29) or enemy. With the preposition 'al, upon, it means to engrave (Jer. 17:1). Zion in judgment was plowed under as a field (Jer. 26:18; Mic. 3:12). The participial form of the verb indicates the person who does skilled work, a craftsman (ḥōrēš) (Gen. 4:22; 1Kgs. 7:14).

II. A verb meaning to be deaf; silent, mute. It indicates a person's keeping still or being silent (Gen. 24:21; 2Kgs. 18:36). It refers to keeping silent as indicating approval or consent (Num. 30:4,5) or as indicating a lack of conviction to act about something that needs to be done (2Sam. 19:10,11). Keeping silent can be a way to fake being dumb (1Sam. 10:27). To become silent is to cease speaking, to stop communicating with a person (Jer. 38:27). It can refer to a person silenced by shock, fear, or the inability to answer someone (Job 11:3). It describes God as being silent about evil (Psm. 50:21; Isa. 42:14; Hab. 1:13).

and be not... see Keep not thou silence, above.

still,...

שָׁקַט

šāqaṭ: A verb meaning to be still, to be quiet, to be undisturbed. The primary meaning of this verb is the state or condition of tranquility (cf. Job 37:17). It signifies the condition during the absence of war (Jdg. 3:30; 2Chr. 20:30); a sense of safety and security (Ezk. 38:11); inactivity or passivity (Psm. 83:1,2; Isa. 18:4); keeping silent (Ruth 3:18; Isa. 62:1); and an inner confidence or peace (Isa. 7:4). Scripture declares that righteousness brings true security and tranquility (Isa. 32:17); but also warns of the false security that comes to the unrighteous (Ezk. 16:49).

O God...

אֵל

’ēl: A masculine noun meaning God, god, mighty one, hero. This is one of the most ancient terms for God, god, or deity. It appears most often in Genesis, Job, Psalms, and Isaiah and not at all in some books. The root meaning of the word mighty can be seen in Job 41:25,17 and Mic. 2:1. This word is used occasionally of other gods (Exo. 34:14; Deu. 3:24; Psm. 44:20,21; Mal. 2:11) but is most often used to mean the one true God (Psm. 5:4,5; Isa. 40:18). It expresses various ideas of deity according to its context. The most common may be noted briefly: the holy God as contrasted to humans (Hos. 11:9); the High God El (Gen. 14:18; 16:13; Ezk. 28:2); the Lord (Yahweh) as a title of Israel according to the Lord's own claim (Gen. 33:20; Isa. 40:18); God or god in general (Exo. 34:14; Deu. 32:21; Mic. 7:8); the God of Israel, the Lord (Num. 23:8; Psm. 118:27); God (Job 5:8).

This word is used with various descriptive adjectives or attributes: ’ēl is God of gods (Psm. 50:1); God of Bethel (Gen. 35:7); a forgiving God (Psm. 99:8). He is the holy God (Isa. 5:16). Especially significant are the assertions declaring that ’ēl is with us, Immanuel (Isa. 7:14); and He is the God of our salvation (Isa. 12:2); a gracious God (Neh. 9:31); a jealous God (Exo. 20:5; 34:14). The closeness of this God is expressed in the hand of God (Job. 27:11).

In the human realm, the word also designates men of power or high rank (Ezk. 31:11); mighty men (Job 41:25,17); or mighty warriors (Ezk. 32:21). The word is used to designate superior and mighty things in nature, such as mighty or high mountains (Psm. 36:6,7), lofty, high cedars, or stars (Psm. 80:10,11; Isa. 14:13).

In conjunction with other descriptive words, it occurs as ’ēl šaday, "God Almighty" (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; Exo. 6:3) or ’ēl ‛elyôn, "God Most High" (Gen. 14:18-19; Psm. 78:35). Used with hand (yāḏ) in some settings, the word conveys power, strength (Gen. 31:29; Deu. 28:32; Pro. 3:27), or ability.