Day 174 Psalm 83-85 Supplemental notes

Psalm Chapter 83
Israel, physical or spiritual (see Physical and Spiritual Israel) has always been surrounded by potential enemies e.g. "the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined them" in this Psalm is just a partial listing. But the enemies of Israel were only allowed to become strong at the times when Israel's faith and obedience to The Lord became weak.

"A Song. A Psalm of Asaph. O God, do not keep silence; do not hold Thy peace or be still, O God! For lo, Thy enemies are in tumult; those who hate Thee have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against Thy people; they consult together against Thy protected ones. They say, "Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel [see Yis-raw-ale for the actual sounds in Hebrew of many well-known people of Bible History] be remembered no more!"
Yea, they conspire with one accord; against Thee they make a covenant - the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites [see Isaac and Ishmael], Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. [Selah]
Do to them as Thou didst to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground. Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, "Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God."
O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff [see Baptism Of Fire] before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so do Thou pursue them with Thy tempest and terrify them with Thy hurricane! Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Thy Name, O Lord. Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; let them perish in disgrace. Let them know that Thou alone, whose Name is The Lord [see YHVH, Adonai, Jehovah, LORD], art the Most High over all the earth." (Psalm 83:1-18 RSV)

Psalm Chapter 84
"Even The Sparrow finds a home" around The Lord's presence attests to how The Lord, although absolutely Almighty, is kind and gentle to whatever or whoever is at peace with Him.

"To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. How lovely is Thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! [see Host] My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts [see Court] of The Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at Thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Thy House, ever singing Thy praise! [Selah]
Blessed are the men whose strength is in Thee, in whose heart are the highways to Zion [see Zionism]. As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with Pools. They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! [Selah]
Behold our shield, O God; look upon the face of Thine anointed! For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For The Lord God is a sun and shield; He bestows favor and honor. No good thing does The Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who Trusts in Thee!" (Psalm 84:1-12 RSV)

Psalm Chapter 85
"Thou didst pardon all their sin" is a process from The Lord which is granted upon an enduring repentance. Otherwise, "when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and does the same abominable things that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds which he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, he shall die." (Ezekiel 18:24 RSV).

"To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Lord, Thou wast favorable to Thy land; Thou didst restore the fortunes of Jacob. Thou didst forgive the iniquity of Thy people; Thou didst pardon [see Your Pardon] all their sin. [Selah]
Thou didst withdraw all Thy wrath; thou didst turn from Thy hot anger. Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away Thy indignation toward us! Wilt Thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt Thou prolong Thy anger to all generations? Wilt Thou not revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee? Show us Thy steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us Thy salvation. Let me hear what God The Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints, to those who turn to Him in their hearts. [see A Pure Heart] Surely His salvation is at hand for those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. Yea, The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, and make His footsteps a way." (Psalm 85:1-13 RSV)