What does Psalm 83:3 mean?

God's enemies were schemers. They were drawing up plans against the Lord's people, whom Asaph describes as God's "treasured ones." The phrase translated as "treasured ones" can be more literally rendered as "hidden ones." That which is valuable is often described as being "hidden" in safety (Psalm 17:8; 27:5; 64:2; Matthew 13:44). Worse, many nations conspire together (Psalm 83:6–8). Yet Scripture notes that those who turn to God can find protection (Psalm 31:19–21).

Throughout history wicked men have schemed against God's people. Pharaoh of Egypt tried to reduce the Hebrew population by having all the male babies killed (Exodus 1:15–16). He tried to destroy the fugitive Hebrews at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:8–9). In the time of Esther, "Haman sought to destroy all the Jews… throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus" (Esther 3:6). When Jesus ministered on earth, antagonistic religious leaders wanted to kill Him. Ultimately, they conscripted false witnesses to accuse Jesus of blasphemy and have Him crucified (Matthew 26:3–4; Mark 14:55-56; Luke 22:2; John 11:47–53). The early Christians were persecuted (Acts 8:1), and in the tribulation, believers will be murdered and persecuted by the rest of the world for Jesus' sake (Matthew 24:9).