They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
Parallel Translations
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They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
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They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
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(83-4) They hold crafty converse against Thy people, and take counsel against Thy treasured ones.
Cross-references (10)
Passages linked to Psalms 83:3 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Psalms 64:2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil;
- Psalms 27:5 For in the day of trouble, he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the secret place of his tabernacle, he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock.
- Psalms 31:20 In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.
- Isaiah 7:6-7 “Let’s go up against Judah, and tear it apart, and let’s divide it among ourselves, and set up a king within it, even the son of Tabeel.” This is what the Lord Yahweh says: “It shall not stand, neither shall it happen.”
- Psalms 10:9 He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net.
- Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Luke 20:20-23 They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me?
- Psalms 56:6 They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life.
- 1 Samuel 13:19 Now there was no blacksmith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears”;
- Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain The elect of God are his secret ones: for…
The elect of God are his secret ones: for he hideth them in the secret of his tabernacle, and preserveth them from all dangers.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Psa 83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy…
Psa 83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
Ver. 3. They have taken crafty counsel, &c.] They have negotiated this league with much subtilty and solicitation, conferunt et captant consilia, they are cruel crafties. Malignaverunt consilium, saith the Vulgate.
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And consulted against thy hidden ones] Hidden under the hollow of thy hand, under the shadow of thy wing; and therefore safe from strife of tongues or force of hands, Psa 27:5; Psa 31:21, Commodum instituto epithetum. The Greek rendereth it, Thy saints, such as whose life is hid with Christ in God, Col 3:3 1Jn 3:2. The same Hebrew word is used for the inward oracle of the temple, Eze 7:22, a type of heaven, the saints’ country.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain i.e. Thy people of Israel, as it is explained…
i.e. Thy people of Israel, as it is explained in the foregoing words, and in the next verse; who are called God’s hidden or secret ones, to intimate the singular care and respect which God hath to them, as to his peculiar treasure, as they are called, Exo 19:5; Psa 135:4, whom he will hide and preserve in the secret of his presence, and under the shadow of his wings; and withal, to note their folly in seeking the destruction of those whom God was engaged and resolved to protect.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain They have taken crafty counsel against thy people,.... The…
They have taken crafty counsel against thy people,.... The people of Israel, hereafter named, whom God had chosen and avouched to be his people; these they dealt subtlety with, as the king of Egypt had done with their forefathers; and this, agreeably to their character, being the seed of the old serpent, more subtle than any of the beasts of the field; these devised cunning devices, formed crafty schemes for the destruction of the Lord's people; but often so it is, that the wise are taken in their own craftiness, and their counsel is carried headlong:
and consulted against thy hidden ones; not hidden from the Lord, and unknown unto him, though from their enemies, and unknown by them, and so the object of their hatred and persecution; but hidden by him as his jewels and peculiar treasure, which he takes care of; hidden under the shadow of his wings, in the secret of his presence and tabernacle, as in a pavilion; and therefore it was a daring piece of insolence in their enemies to attack them: so the life of saints is said to be hid with Christ in God, which denotes both its secrecy and safety; see Col 3:3, the Targum is,
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"against the things hidden in thy treasures;''
meaning the riches of the temple.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Hidden ones - Thy people of Israel, who are…
Hidden ones - Thy people of Israel, who are called God's hidden or secret ones, to intimate the respect which God has to them, as to his peculiar treasure.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 3. Consulted against thy hidden ones.] צפוניך tsephuneycha,…
Verse 3. Consulted against thy hidden ones.] צפוניך tsephuneycha, Thy hidden things; places; persons. "The hidden things in thy treasures." - CHALDEE. "Thy holy ones." - SYRIAC. "Thy saints." - VULGATE and SEPTUAGINT; and so the AEthiopic and Arabic. The people of Israel are probably meant. Or perhaps the temple, the ark, and the treasures of the temple, are intended.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Psa 83:3-5. They have consulted against thy hidden ones…
Psa 83:3-5. They have consulted against thy hidden ones — That is, against thy people Israel, as it is explained in the foregoing words, and in the next verse. They are called God’s hidden, or secret ones, צפוניךְ, tzepunecha, abditos tuos, to intimate the singular care and respect which God had to them, as his peculiar treasure, (as they are called, Exo 19:5; Psa 135:3,) whom he would hide and preserve in the secret of his presence, and under the shadow of his wings; and withal to denote the folly of Israel’s enemies in seeking the destruction of those whom God was engaged and resolved to protect. They have said, Come, let us cut them off, &c. — Whereby they have showed both their implacable rage and malice, and their great assurance of success. They are confederate against thee — They have laid aside all their private quarrels and animosities, and agreed together against thee.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain They have taken crafty counsel - The one word…
They have taken crafty counsel - The one word translated “have taken crafty” - ערם ‛âram - means properly to make naked; and then, to be crafty, cunning, malignant, 1Sa 23:22. It is well rendered here, they have taken crafty counsel. The meaning is, they have made their counsel or their consultations crafty, cunning, artful, malignant. Instead of pursuing a course in their deliberations that would be just, true, honorable, they have followed the reverse. On the word rendered “counsel” - סוד sôd - which means a couch or cushion, and hence, a divan - see Job 15:8, note; Psa 25:14, note; Psa 64:2, note. The idea here is, that the persons referred to in the subsequent part of the psalm (Psa 83:6-8) had been assembled in a divan, or for consultation, and that they had there formed a malignant plan - against God and his people - which they were now proceeding to execute.
Against thy people - For the purpose of destroying them.
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And consulted against thy hidden ones - The word rendered “hidden ones” - from the verb צפן tsâphan, to hide, to conceal - properly denotes that which is secret, private, inaccessible Eze 7:22; and then, anything protected or hidden so as to be secure. Compare the notes at Psa 27:5. It would seem here to refer to those who were so protected by Yahweh - so inaccessible to others by reason of his guardian care - that they would be safe.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 3. Crafty counsel—Hebrew, Craftily plotted a secret. Both the…
3. Crafty counsel—Hebrew, Craftily plotted a secret. Both the object and the plan of execution were a secret. Avoiding all customary army routes, they stealthily took the dangerous Bedouin trail around the south and west shores of the Dead Sea, a route which well nigh cost Jehoram his army soon after, (2 Kings 3,) and, ascending the mountains at Engedi, completely surprised Jehoshaphat. He had no time to collect his army, and had no army adequate to meet the foe.
Hidden ones—Those whom God “hides in the secret of his tabernacle,” that is, protects. Psa_27:5
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 3. They have taken … and consulted] They are…
3. They have taken … and consulted] They are taking … and consulting together. Jehovah’s hidden ones are His people whom He conceals in His pavilion in the day of trouble (Psa_27:5; Psa_31:20), those to whom He has given an asylum from their enemies. The later Greek Versions (Aq. Symm. Theod.) and Jerome read the singular, thy secret place, i.e. the temple, cp. Eze_7:22.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (3) They have taken crafty counsel.—Literally, They have made…
(3) They have taken crafty counsel.—Literally, They have made their plot crafty; or, as we say, “They have laid a deep plot.”
Hidden ones—i.e., those under God’s close protection, as in Psa_17:8; Psa_27:5; Psa_31:20.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain They have taken crafty counsel against thy people. Such…
They have taken crafty counsel against thy people. Such a widespread confederacy as that described below (vers. 6-8) cannot have been formed without much secret consultation and plotting. And consulted against thy hidden ones; i.e. "those whom thou hidest in the covert of thy presence from the plottings of man". (Psa_31:20, Revised Version: comp. Psa_27:5)
God"s hidden ones.
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This name is especially applicable to Israel because of the geographical position of their country. (Cf. Num_23:9, "The people shall dwell alone. They were away, off the beaten track of the nations, shut in, and, as it were, hidden, by the deserts on the east and south, the sea on the west, and the mountains on the north, from the rest of the world. But the expression in the text is applicable to all God"s people everywhere and always. They are his hidden ones. And we note concerning them
I THE FACT THEY ARE HIDDEN.
1. Their physical life God often hides from those who would destroy it. Not always does he do this, but often, as Peter from Herod. (Ac 12; and cf. Obadiah"s hiding of the prophets, 1Ki_18:4) And how often God has hidden his servants in wildernesses, glens, mountain heights, catacombs, etc.! The adversary would fain have destroyed them all, as the wolf the sheep; but they have not all been destroyed, the sheep yet outnumber the wolves.
2. Their spiritual life is ever a hidden one. For it resides not in themselves, but in another, as the life of the branches is in the vine. (Joh 15 Col_3:3) The principles that govern it are not known or understood or appreciated by the world. Its law of self-sacrifice, meekness, etc. Except by uncertain conjecture, the world knows nothing of its springs of action and its controlling motives. The practice of this life is also so different from the world"s life. It is meek, retiring, not loving notoriety; it pursues a lowly and unnoticed way; it has no eye for worldly pomp, no ear for worldly applause. It is not necessarily identified with any places, or seasons, or forms of worship, or order of men; but whilst generally using more or less of them, is independent of them all.
3. And this condition of God"s hidden ones is of their own choice. (Rth_2:12 Psa_91:1 Psa_143:9) They love to have it so. The hidden life is, in their esteem, the blessed, the secure, the eternal life.
4. It is God who hides them. (Cf. Psa_31:20 Joh_10:28) He does this by his providential care and by keeping them in his own love. And the majority of them he has hidden from men below in his own blessed presence in heaven. The Church on earth is a little flock indeed, not absolutely, but in comparison with the vast flock in the heavenly pastures, and there they are forever hidden from all the malice and might of men or of the devil.
II WHAT THIS FACT IMPLIES.
1. Their preciousness in the sight of God. Things common and cheap we do not hide, or those for which we do not care. Jewels are hidden oftentimes, and God calls his hidden ones his jewels. (Mal_3:17) And how could they be other than precious, when we remember their cost! with the precious blood of Christ;" each one was bought with that price. And God deems them precious, also, for their own sakes. They can and will respond, ever more and more perfectly, to that love in the heart of God which, like all love, yearns for response such as they only can give.
2. Their peril. God would not have hidden them as he has were they in no danger (see text). And how perpetually did our Lord bid us "watch and pray"! The world, the flesh, the devil, are ever bent on doing us harm. We are safe only as "our life is hid with Christ in God
3. Obscurity. The world knows us not, even as it knew him not. See how all but unbroken is the absolute silence of secular history as to the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, and as to the history of his Church, until its marvelous growth and supernatural power compelled its attention. And still, the fame, layout, and honour of the world are things which none of God"s hidden ones may seek. (Joh_5:41, Joh_5:44)
4. Safety. (Ps 91, the whole psalm)
5. The love of him whose hidden ones we are.
III TO WHAT IT SHOULD LEAD.
1. To deep love of God. Whatever God has given you, he has given and he can give nothing like this numbering you among his hidden ones.
2. To staying where you are. Dwell in the secret place of the Most High.
3. To having done with forebodings, murmurings, and helpless grief. Should such as you be chargeable with such things?
4. To confession of Gods love to you before your fellow men.
5. To all holy endeavours to bring others where you are. S.C.
Vers. 3, 5. Confederacy in evil designs.
"They have taken crafty counsel against thy people." "They have consulted together with one consent." Prayer book Version reads, "cast their heads together." The Prophet Micah has a striking expression for this confederacy in evil so they wrap it up". (Mic_7:3) Cases of confederacy against God"s people, that may be used as illustrations, are such as the following: Chedorlaomer"s confederacy against Canaan, which swept away Lot. Combinations of northern nations against Joshua and Israel. Confederacies in times of the Judges; against Asa; and against Jehoshaphat. Schemes of Samaritan parties against rebuilding walls of Jerusalem, in the time of Nehemiah. A combination of surrounding nations, in the time of the Maccabees, when the Jerks restored the altar which Antiochus had polluted. See also Eph_6:12 for the combinations against spiritual religion; the confederacy of chief priest, scribe, Pharisee, Sadducee, and traitorous disciple, against Christ; and the gathering together of the enemies of Christ and his Church in the last days. (Rev_20:8, Rev_20:9) Other and striking illustrations may be taken from Bunyan"s "Holy War," which pictures various forms of confederacy against Emmanuel and his "Mansoul." The point suggested is, that neither man, nor any combinations of men, can ever get beyond God. Opening this, we may inquire
I HAS GOD PROVED HIMSELF ABLE TO DEAL WITH CASES OF CONFEDERACY? All the above instances may be reviewed in order to answer this question; and to them may be added cases from Church history, and from personal experience. Luther"s life provides some good examples. Take the principle involved in the saying that "no chain is stronger than its weakest link," and show how God has ever broken up confederations for evil by the simplest agencies. He holds control of the forces that bind men in a common purpose, and can loosen his hand when he pleases. There is no plotting for evil that is beyond Divine permissions. It is strange that we should fear combinations of evil more than individual foes. We need to learn God"s superiority to them.
II ARE CONFEDERATIONS FOR EVIL REALLY AS STRONG AS THEY SEEM TO BE? There is an element of weakness in all human combinations. They are attempts to unite varying wills and dispositions. This weakness is specially felt when combinations of bad men are attempted, to secure bad ends. Self-willed and wrong purposing men find it hard to agree together. Jealousies are sure to arise. Self-interests overmaster the common interests. Elements of confusion are easily introduced. The confederates turn their swords against each other, as the mixed host of Midian did in the days of Gideon. Neither "craftiness" nor "confederacy" is out of the Divine control. R.T.
The Lord"s hidden ones.
"Those whom thou hast set apart and guarded as thine own peculiar possession." Those whom thou hast undertaken in a special manner to protect. "Those whom God holds in the hollow of his hand; those to whom he is a wall of fire round about them, that none may do them hurt; those to whom he says, "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of mine eye. Confidence in the hiding of God is a familiar spirit to the saints of God. "Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wings"; (Psa_17:8) "In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me"; (Psa_27:5) "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man; thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues"; (Psa_31:20) "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty"; (Psa_91:1) "Your life is hid with Christ in God". (Col_3:3) This idea that they are the Lord"s hidden ones ought to be still cherished by God"s people as a source of abiding restfulness.
I THEY ARE "HIDDEN" IN RELATION TO OUTWARD FOES. This is the point presented in the text. It is illustrated historically. There is still a sense in which the Christian may be said to have outward foes. Agents of the evil one are ever at work resisting godly living and serving. It may be said that sometimes the foes reach the "hidden ones" and injure them; but from the high standing ground of faith we can see this distinction. When God permits a seeming foe to reach his "hidden ones," it ceases to be a foe; it becomes God"s angel on a ministry of blessing. That foe"s work turns out to be a part of the Lord"s "hiding.
II THEY ARE "HIDDEN" IN RELATION TO AFFLICTIVE CIRCUMSTANCES. We might think they should be hidden from all troubles and sufferings; hidden so that no afflictions should reach them. But this would be quite to misapprehend the Lord"s hidings. He hides in sorrow, not from sorrow. And that hiding is altogether the more important and precious. God"s hiding of a man who is placed in afflictive circumstances is the sweet marvel of Divine love. Illustrated by God"s hiding of suffering Job.
III THEY ARE "HIDDEN" IN RELATION TO PERSONAL FRAILTIES. The Lord"s people carry into his "secret place" frailties of disposition and character. These may become evil forces, influencing Christian conduct and relations. So from the "unworthy self" God hides his people. Life gains a high sense of security when we can worthily realize the "Lord"s hidings. R.T.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain Ver. 3. They have taken crafty counsel against thy…
Ver. 3. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people. Whatever we may do, our enemies use their wits and lay their heads together; in united conclave they discourse upon the demands and plans of the campaign, using much treachery and serpentine cunning in arranging their schemes. Malice is cold blooded enough to plot with deliberation; and pride, though it be never wise, is often allied with craft.
And consulted against thy hidden ones. Hidden away from all harm are the Lord's chosen; their enemies think not so, but hope to smite them; they might as well attempt to destroy the angels before the throne of God.
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Ver. 3. Thy hidden ones. This representation of God's people is worthy our notice. It may be taken two ways. First, As referring to their safety. We often hide only to preserve. This is the meaning of the word in the parable, with regard to the discovery of the treasure in the field; "which, when a man hath found, he hideth it." His aim is not to conceal but to secure; and the cause is put for the effect. Thus God's people are hidden. He hid Noah in the Ark, and the waters that drowned the world could not find him. When his judgments were coming over the land, "Come, my people, "saith he, "enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thee also for a little season, until the indignation be overpast." Hence the promise, "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." Hence the confidence expressed by David, "In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upon a rock." The Saviour could say, "In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me." And, "All the saints are in his hand." They are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. For he himself is their "refuge, "their "hiding place." They are his hidden ones. Secondly. As intimating their concealment. This is not absolute. But it holds in various respects and degrees. It is true with regard to the nature of the spiritual life. Our life, says the Apostle, is hid with Christ in God; and that he refers to its invisibleness, rather than to its safety, is obvious from the words following: "When he who is our life shall appear, we also shall appear with him in glory." ...The heart of the believer only knows his own bitterness; and a stranger intermeddleth not with his joy. The manna on which he feeds is hidden manna. And no one knoweth the new name in the white stone given him, but the receiver... They are sometimes hidden by persecution. For though this does not prevent their being Christians, it hinders them from appearing as such; especially by secluding them from their social and public assemblies... They are sometimes hidden by the obscurity of their stations. Not many of the wise, and mighty, and noble are called: but when they are called they are also exhibited. They are like cities set on hills, which cannot be hid. A little religion in high life goes a great way, and is much talked of, because it is so often a strange thing. But God has chosen the poor of this world; and they are often rich in faith. Yet how is their moral wealth to be known? How few opportunities have they for religious display or exertion! There may be the principle of benevolence, where there is no ability to give. And the Lord seeth the heart, but men can only judge from actions. Many who are great in the sight of the Lord are living in cottages and hovels; and are scarcely known, unless to a few neighbours equally obscure. They are sometimes hidden by their disposition. They are reserved, and shrink back from notice. They are timid and self diffident. This restrains them in religious conversation, especially as it regards their own experience. This keeps them from making a profession of religion, and joining a Christian church. Joseph of Arimathaea was a disciple of Jesus; but secretly, for fear of the Jews. And Nicodemus, from the same cause, came to Jesus by night. They had difficulties in their situations, from which others were free. They ought to have overcome them; and so they did at last, but it was a day of small things with them at first. Others are circumstanced and tried in a similar way: and we must be patient towards all men. They are sometimes hidden by their infirmities. We would not plead for sin; but grace may be found along with many imperfections. The possessors have what is essential to religion in them; but not everything that is ornamental, and lovely, and of good report. The same will also apply to errors. Here, again, we are far from undervaluing divine truth. It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. But it is impossible for us to say how much ignorance, and how many mistakes, may be found, even in the Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile. William Jay.
Ver. 3. The less the world knows thee, the better for thee; thou mayest be satisfied with this one thingGod knows them that are his: not lost, although hidden is the symbol of a Christian. Frisch, in Lange's Bibelwerk.
Ver. 3. Thy hidden ones.
I. Hidden as to their new nature, which is an enigma to men.
II. Hidden for protection, as precious things.
III. Hidden, for solace and rest.
IV. Hidden, because not yet fully revealed.
Psalms 83:4*
Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people, and…
Psa_83:3-4
They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people, and consulted against Thy hidden ones.
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The enmity of the wicked against the Church
I. The enmity which the wicked bear to the Church of God, and from whence it proceeds.
1. This proceeds from the craft and policy, the malice of the Devil, who, being a competitor with God for dominion in the world, and whose whole design it is to defeat Him in the good that He would do for mankind, doth perpetually labour to put a stop to whatever may be offered toward the delivering of the souls of men out of his snare.
2. It proceeds from the restless temper of wicked men, whose minds are set upon mischief, and that do catch at all opportunities for it.
3. It proceeds from the interest of wicked men (Psa_83:3).
4. It may proceed from the excellency of a Church, when it doth outshine them in the best and truest perfections, and that true goodness and substantial piety is there taught and practised.
5. It may proceed from the disposal of Divine Providence, that for the punishing of the sins of a Church, doth not only suffer others to aft]let her, but turn their displeasure that way.
II. In what ways they show this enmity, and what course they take to afflict and destroy the Church.
1. Slandering their adversaries, and raising false reports of them.
2. Dividing the Church, and setting one part of it against the other.
3. Downright force.
III. The confidence they have of success. This may proceed from the review which they have of their own policy and strength, and from the observation which they make of the weakness of their adversaries; weak, perhaps, of themselves; weaker, perhaps, with their divisions; weak because they are secure, and not aware of an assault; and weak because they have made no provision against it. Confident again they may be of success because the design lies out of sight.
IV. The course by which the Church and people of God may and shall be secured. Which is fervent prayer to God, and entire dependence upon Him. (J. Williams, D. D.)
Thy hidden ones.
Gods hidden ones
1. We may find Gods hidden ones where possibly you would least think of looking for them, amongst those who are about us most--the children. I often think of Charles Lambs plaint over the wrongs and woes of children.
2. We may find Gods hidden ones amongst the struggling souls so plentifully to be met with in society. Society, as such, frequently seems as if it were impossible for it to believe in penitence or amendment, as if it were impossible for it to exercise forgiveness, or hope, or charity, What God thinks of these hard-pressed, sin-tormented souls; how He cares for those who fail in the crisis, who sink in the depths, who lose name and character, and heart and hope, do we not see in His revealer and interpreter to mankind, His best gift to the world, the Lord Jesus Christ?
3. We may find Gods hidden ones amongst the poorer, the obscurer, the unheard-of members of our Christian communities. Many a poor soul consigned to the free seats or the galleries loves the worship and work of the Church far more than those known of most or seen of all. Many a cottager, in proportion to his time or his means, denies himself more, contributes more, than those who take the Chief seats, or are saluted as leaders.
4. We may find Gods hidden ones in regions or atmospheres that may to us seem least likely to produce them. I have heard of some worthy Christian men who, if you had told them that Gods good Spirit taught the Romans, or the Greeks, or the Assyrians, or the Egyptians in ancient days as well, as the Jews, would have been tempted to charge you with blasphemy; or, if you had expressed the conviction that God was as much in Asia or Africa at this moment as He is in Europe or America, would have thought you well-nigh an atheist.
5. We may find the hidden ones of God without, as well as within, the pale of the Church. Where there is no declaration of faith on the lips, there may still be true loyalty in the heart; that where there is no outward profession, there may still be the sincerest inward service. (J. T. Stannard.)
The obscurity and security of good men
They are hidden in two senses--
I. In the sense of obscurity. The Divine motives that actuate, the sublime aims that inspire, the supernal joys that fill the souls of the genuinely good, are hidden from the eyes of worldly men. The world knoweth us not.
1. The characters of good men are misjudged by the world. They have often been treated as fiends rather than as angels, hence martyrdom.
2. Their moral superiority is unappreciated by the world.
II. In the sense of security. In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion. Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence. Your life is hid with Christ in God. The hidden things are generally the most secure, the hidden roots, the hidden springs, the hidden substances, etc. Hid with Christ in God. What enemys hand can reach them there? (Homilist.)
Gods hidden ones
I know few studies that may be made more profitable to Christian people than the names and titles which are given to them in the Book of God. They are called the flock of God, to intimate His care and their sure supplies; trees of God, to intimate their hidden life, their growth and fruitfulness; His jewels, to denote their preciousness and rarity; the family, the children, the household of God, to denote His Fatherhood and their happiness and home; the priesthood of God, that they may be holy and separate, and present daily sacrifice to Him; soldiers, in order to inspire them with courage to fight the good fight of faith. In the text they are called His hidden ones. The name implies--
I. The safety of Gods people. Out of God and away from Him, man is exposed, without screen or shelter, to the storms of conscience, the tempests of sorrow, the blast of death, the winter of judgment and of doom. All round the world this shelterless condition is felt. Adam felt it, and tried to hide himself among the trees. The heathen fears the anger of the gods, and screens himself by cruel offerings to idols of wood and stone. Self-righteousness makes a fancied refuge for itself, but all in vain. BuS God Himself hath opened a hiding-place: His own infinite mercy, as manifest in the atoning death of Christ.
II. The concealment of the Christian.
1. The godly are for the most part hidden, unnoted, and unknown. They are not appreciated. The spirit of the world is at enmity with them--refuses to rank them amongst those whom it delights to honour. It altogether undervalues them, and has little but sneers, contumely, and contempt to give.
2. Besides this, the bulk of Gods people in this world are hidden in the obscurity of their condition. In the main, Christianity dwells among the brushwood. It is composed of the rank and file, and has its dwelling, as it had in Christs time, in the homes of the poor.
3. Some of Gods children are hidden by persecution. In the olden time, the faithful ones were hidden among rocks, and dens, and caves of the earth.
4. Many loyal and faithful disciples of Jesus are hidden by a constitutional diffidence. They shrink from any and all publicity. These hidden ones, quiet, silent, and reserved, may be doing a holy work in secret spheres.
5. Then, again, the Lord has His hidden ones, who are hidden by age, by sickness, and by the iron wall of duty, from which they cannot, ought not to break away. Depend upon it, this is a large and noble army.
6. Then I would not forget how many of the Lords loyal disciples are hidden from each other by the thick, man-spun veils of opposing creeds.
7. Many of ,Gods hidden ones are hid away in the shelter of the restful grave.
III. Gods appreciation of His people. Nobody troubles to hide what is counted worthless. It either has an intrinsic value, like gold, or a circumstantial value, like an old letter or a lock of hair. Believers in Jesus are dear to Him, precious to Him. He hides them, guards them, keeps watch over them. Where do you keep your jewels? some one asked of a Roman matron. In my heart, said she, and straight brought her children into view. They were her precious things, hid in her heart. Thy hidden ones!
IV. The ultimate manifestation of Gods people. Hidden, are they? Well, but He that hides can find. The jewels are hidden in the casket till they are wanted; then they are brought out to flash upon the breast and to beautify the brow. The royal regalia is hid away under lock and key until another coronation-day comes round. (J. J. Wray.)
Gods hidden one
I. Why are they called Gods hidden ones?
1. Because He has put them out of the reach of their adversaries, and concealed them in a place of safety.
2. Because He gives them quiet and peace, even in the midst of turmoil and sorrow. The more of trial you have to endure, the more of communion you shall have to enjoy. This is the happy, happy case of a tried child of God.
3. Because they are not understood. He who has been made to live unto God lives a life that is quite incomprehensible to ordinary men.
4. Because they are obscure.
5. Because all the saints are at present unrevealed.
II. What is their special honour?
1. He knows whom He chose and redeemed; He knows whom He has called; He knows whom He has justified. He has hot done any of those things in the dark. He has a familiar acquaintance with all that His grace has done for you.
2. Though you are hidden, you are not hidden from the Lord. You are hidden by Him, but you are not hidden from Him. He can read your thoughts; He knows the troubles that are yet to come as well as those that have come; He reads you as I read the pages of this Bible.
3. Some of Gods hidden ones are among the very choicest of His children. I think there are some who are so very dear to God that He keeps them to Himself.
4. Hidden as you are, He has engaged to keep you. His Very hiding of you shows that He means to keep you in safety. You shall never perish, for He keepeth the feet of His saints.
III. What then?
1. Let us rejoice that the Lord has more people than we knew.
2. Let us look for these hidden ones wherever we are.
3. Since God has hidden ones, let us take care never to act or speak so as to grieve them.
4. Although God has His hidden ones, let not one of us hide himself more than is needful. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 your protected ones
your protected ones
"those whom you protect." This refers to the Israelites.
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the name of Israel will no longer be remembered
Here "name" represents a reputation or the memory of someone. This can be stated in active form. AT: "no one will ever remember the Israelites existed" (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)
They have schemed together with one strategy
"Your enemies have agreed together with one plan"
against you they have made an alliance
"they have joined together against you"
translationWords
people of God
nation
name
Israel
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.