Outlines in Psalms
I. The Plea - Psalm 83:1
II. The Problem - Psalm 83:2-8, Selah.
III. The Prayer - Psalm 83:9-15
IV. The Purpose - Psalm 83:16-18
I. The Plea - Psalm 83:1
II. The Problem - Psalm 83:2-8, Selah.
III. The Prayer - Psalm 83:9-15
IV. The Purpose - Psalm 83:16-18
I. The Plea
A. Be Not Indifferent – “Keep not thou silence, O God.” (v. 1)
B. Be Not Inactive – “Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.” (v. 1)
II. The Problem
(Note: Those who rise up as the enemies of God’s own are thereby the enemies of God Himself.)
A. God’s enemies rise in rebellious contempt against His position (authority).
“For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.” (v. 2)
B. God’s enemies take up crafty counsel against His people.
“They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones . . .” (vs. 3-4)
C. God’s enemies join in unified confederacy against His power.
“For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee . . .” (vs. 5-8)
III. The Prayer
A. Beat them down.
“Do unto them as unto the Midianites; . . .they became as dung for the earth . . . .” (vs. 9-12)
B. Blow them away.
“O my God, make them like a wheel [like a rolling tumbleweed]; as the stubble before the wind.” (v. 13)
C. Burn them up.
“As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; so persecute them with thy
tempest . . . .” (v. 14-15a),
D. Bowl them over.
“. . . And make them afraid with thy storm.” (v. 15b)
IV. The Purpose
A. To bring them to conviction and repentance (if they will yield).
“Fill their faces with shame [conviction]; that they may seek thy name, O LORD [repentance].” (v. 16)
B. To bring them to condemnation and destruction (if they will not yield).
“Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame [condemnation], and
perish [destruction].” (v. 17)
C. To bring others to conversion and submission.
“That men may know [conversion] that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high
[submission] over all the earth.”
A. Be Not Indifferent – “Keep not thou silence, O God.” (v. 1)
B. Be Not Inactive – “Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.” (v. 1)
II. The Problem
(Note: Those who rise up as the enemies of God’s own are thereby the enemies of God Himself.)
A. God’s enemies rise in rebellious contempt against His position (authority).
“For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.” (v. 2)
B. God’s enemies take up crafty counsel against His people.
“They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones . . .” (vs. 3-4)
C. God’s enemies join in unified confederacy against His power.
“For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee . . .” (vs. 5-8)
III. The Prayer
A. Beat them down.
“Do unto them as unto the Midianites; . . .they became as dung for the earth . . . .” (vs. 9-12)
B. Blow them away.
“O my God, make them like a wheel [like a rolling tumbleweed]; as the stubble before the wind.” (v. 13)
C. Burn them up.
“As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; so persecute them with thy
tempest . . . .” (v. 14-15a),
D. Bowl them over.
“. . . And make them afraid with thy storm.” (v. 15b)
IV. The Purpose
A. To bring them to conviction and repentance (if they will yield).
“Fill their faces with shame [conviction]; that they may seek thy name, O LORD [repentance].” (v. 16)
B. To bring them to condemnation and destruction (if they will not yield).
“Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame [condemnation], and
perish [destruction].” (v. 17)
C. To bring others to conversion and submission.
“That men may know [conversion] that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high
[submission] over all the earth.”