Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 83:1-8

"O God, keep not thou silence: Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult; And they that hate thee have lifted up the head. Thy take crafty counsel against thy people, And consult together against thy hidden ones. 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. For they have consulted together with one consent; Against thee do they make a covenant: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre: Assyria also is joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah" — Psalms 83:1-8 (ASV)

Sometimes God seems not to be concerned about the unjust treatment of His people. But then we may call upon Him, as the psalmist does here.

All wicked people are God's enemies, especially wicked persecutors. The Lord's people are His hidden ones; the world does not know them. He takes them under His special protection.

Do the enemies of the church act in unison to destroy it, and shall not the friends of the church also be united? Wicked men wish that there were no religion among mankind. They would gladly see all its restraints shaken off, and all who preach, profess, or practice it, cut off. This they would accomplish 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 for Himself a church in the world.