Single lesson
Psalm 83: O God, Be Not Silent
Psalms 83:1–18
Psalm 83 is a prayer asking God to act when many enemies join together against God’s people. In this lesson, children will identify the speaker, notice the poem’s images, and trace how the prayer moves to its final purpose.
Before you teach
This psalm begins by asking God not to stay silent. The speaker says enemies hate God, plot against God’s people, and form a large alliance. The prayer then mentions Midian, Sisera, Jabin, Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna as examples in the prayer, uses strong images like chaff, fire and storm, and ends by saying God alone is the Most High over all the earth.
Students will identify the speaker as the person praying to God, describe key images in the psalm, and explain how the prayer moves toward people knowing God’s name.
Welcome: Who is speaking in this prayer?
5 minSay: “Today we are reading a prayer-poem.” Read Psalm 83:1 aloud twice. Ask children who is speaking and who is being addressed. Point out that the speaker is the person praying to God in this psalm, and that the repeated words show an urgent request for God not to be silent or still.
Psalms 83:1
Read and explain: What danger is described?
7 minRead Psalm 83:2-8. Help children notice who the enemies oppose: they hate God, plot against God’s people, and join together in an alliance. Explain that the long list of groups shows the danger feels large and serious. Note simply that the word “Selah” appears in verse 8 as part of the poem.
Psalms 83:2, Psalms 83:3, Psalms 83:4, Psalms 83:5, Psalms 83:6, Psalms 83:7, Psalms 83:8
Discuss: Examples named and strong images used
6 minRead Psalm 83:9-15. Show that the prayer names Midian, Sisera, Jabin, Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna as examples. Then notice the poem’s images: tumbleweed, chaff, fire, flame, tempest and storm. These word pictures express how strongly the speaker asks God to act against those who attack.
Psalms 83:9, Psalms 83:10, Psalms 83:11, Psalms 83:12, Psalms 83:13, Psalms 83:14, Psalms 83:15
Make and respond: Prayer image card
7 minChildren make a small card showing one image from the psalm, such as silent lips, a crowd joining together, chaff in wind, or a storm. On the back, they write a short prayer to God using words from the psalm, such as “Don’t keep silent” or “that they may know your name”. Remind them this is their response to the poem’s language.
Psalms 83:1, Psalms 83:5, Psalms 83:13, Psalms 83:15, Psalms 83:16, Psalms 83:18
Closing: How does the prayer end?
5 minRead Psalm 83:16-18. Briefly note that the psalm asks God to judge enemies very strongly, including confusion, dismay and perishing. Then ask for the final purpose. The prayer ends with God’s name and with God alone as the Most High over all the earth.
Psalms 83:16, Psalms 83:17, Psalms 83:18
Questions to explore
What does the speaker ask God to do at the very start, and who is the speaker talking to?
Look closely at the repeated requests in the opening line and notice that the speaker addresses God directly in prayer.
Psalms 83:1
Why does the psalm list so many groups by name?
The list follows the statement that they have conspired together with one mind, so it shows the size and unity of the threat.
Psalms 83:5, Psalms 83:6, Psalms 83:7, Psalms 83:8
What final result does the prayer aim for in the last verses?
Compare the request for confusion and dismay with the closing words about seeking God’s name and knowing that Yahweh alone is the Most High.
Psalms 83:16, Psalms 83:17, Psalms 83:18
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Prayer Image Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or textas
- crayons or coloured pencils
- Bible text of Psalm 83:1-18
Try it together
- Read the psalm and choose one image or line that stands out, such as silence, alliance, chaff, fire, storm, or God’s name.
- Draw that image on one side of a folded card.
- On the other side, write one short prayer line using words from the psalm.
- Invite each child to show the image and explain which verse it came from.
This activity helps children notice how Psalm 83 uses vivid images and direct prayer language to express urgency and to end with God’s name being known.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer three image choices on the board and let them copy one short line from a matching verse.
- For older children, ask them to sort the psalm into four movements: cry to God, danger described, action requested, and ending purpose.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: “God, when people are afraid or troubled, please help us call to you honestly. Teach us to notice your name and remember that you are over all the earth.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 83
1 God, don’t keep silent. Don’t keep silent, and don’t be still, God.
2 For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads.
3 They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
4 “Come,” they say, “let’s destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
5 For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you.
6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;
7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;
10 who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Let’s take possession of God’s pasture lands.”
13 My God, make them like tumbleweed, like chaff before the wind.
14 As the fire that burns the forest, as the flame that sets the mountains on fire,
15 so pursue them with your tempest, and terrify them with your storm.
16 Fill their faces with confusion, that they may seek your name, Yahweh.
17 Let them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish;
18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.