“Let Us Wipe Them Out as a Nation”
The Raging of Yahweh’s Enemies Against Israel in Psalm 83
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Psalm 2 is the first time in the Psalter that we hear of the raging nations who plot against the Lord’s Anointed One. And the raging nations feature in many psalms after that too—such as in Psalm 83.
The enemies of Yahweh raise their heads in defiance (Ps. 83:2), and they craft plans of destruction against the people of God (83:3). The psalmist—in this case, Asaph—summarizes the sentiment of these enemies who have gathered against Israel. They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!” (83:4).
How do we read language like that as New Covenant believers? If we read in Psalm 83 about evildoers wanting to wipe out the nation of Israel, how should we interpret such a psalm in the present day? If we draw a line from the covenant community in Psalm 83 to something today, where does the line stop? Maybe not where you’ve heard.