Psalm 83 (82):13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Spoken of, but not fulfilled, for the Lord contended on behalf of His people. A distinct understanding emerged. They viewed themselves as a spiritual authority and claimed the Church as their own.

They take pride in their bravery and confidently envision themselves owning the temple devoted to You. The prophet referred to the temple as the dwelling place of God. Symmachus rendered the term ‘sanctuary’ as ‘dwelling place,’ which clarifies the essence of the psalm. After their return, the Jews constructed a temple, thereby facilitating all legitimate divine worship, as serving God in accordance with the law was impossible without it. Due to the hostility from their neighbors, their aspirations were entirely focused on the temple, striving to use it as a means to undermine both the people and the rightful worship in accordance with the law.

Asshur, along with the Moabites and the Ammonites, envious of Jerusalem's restoration, conspired, saying, Let us seize the holy place, namely, the temple of God, where the Lord consecrates His people, not out of reverence or admiration, but driven by a greed to take the sacred items, treasures, and valuable gifts that it housed.

The authorities, then, are defined more by their malice than by their honor; therefore, they aspire to claim God’s holy place as their own, aiming to exploit the sacred for profit and the divine for selfish interests. This greed manifests not only in those who pilfer the hallowed vessels and sell the holy site, but also in those who traffic in spiritual matters, exchanging them unlawfully for gain. A prime example is Simon, who sought to buy divine favor with money, leading Peter to deem him unworthy of the Holy Spirit's gift.

In these verses, the prophet charges the unscrupulous individuals with sacrilege for having stolen what belongs to God. Although they may not have spoken these words aloud, in their hearts they held contempt for the Lord, who was revered by the people of Israel, as they well knew. Thus, it is just and right for him to accuse them of trying to seize God's inheritance. It is clear that those who worship false deities did not invocate the holy name of the true God with their wicked expressions. Even if they restrained themselves from uttering blasphemies, any offense directed at the faithful invariably reflects an affront to God Himself, who has taken them under His divine care. It is fitting for Him to declare to the nations, "He who touches you touches the apple of My eye" (Zechariah 2:8).

The Psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit through David, was entrusted to Asaph, the foremost singer, so that he might declare the prophetic message it bears regarding the impending trials facing the Jewish people, especially the faithful followers of Christ at various times, with particular emphasis on the era of the Antichrist. In this Psalm, the prophet, acting as a representative of the Holy Church, earnestly calls upon God amidst the tribulations (Theodoret). Evil serves as a demonic spell that lures individuals toward idolatry and all manner of sin. Due to God's forbearance, adversaries grew arrogant, making their presence known with insolence. Those who wage war against God’s people and His saints are in effect striking at Him since they are His servants and brethren.