Psalm 83 ... Possible Preview
Of
A Coming Attraction
by Jack Kelley
Hezbollah says that Israel's
disappearance after the next war is an established fact. Iran's President calls
Israel a dirty microbe and a savage animal that will soon disappear in a flash.
The commander in chief of Iran's army predicts that millions will soon receive
the joyous news of Israel's destruction. Israel's chief of staff warns of a
“tough ordeal” coming soon. Israels' ambassador asks the UN to condemn Iran.
With all the rhetoric flying around the Middle East, a
closer look at Psalm 83 could reveal some details of a coming attack against the
Jewish state.
Psalm 83 was probably written some time after the reign of King Solomon but
before Assyria's march through the Middle East, but the Bible contains no
account of such a coordinated effort by all of Israel's neighbors to destroy
them during that time. A partial fulfillment may be in view in 2 Chron 20 when
Moab, Ammon, and Edom invaded Judah during King Jehosophat's reign (872-848 BC)
Interestingly, Jahaziel, a Levite who prophesied Judah's victory in that battle
was a descendant of Asaph, who wrote Psalm 83. Applying one of his favorite
tactics, the Lord set Israel's enemies against each other and they defeated
themselves. Ezekiel 38:21 tells of a future use of this same tactic.
But as we'll see, the Battle of 2 Chron. 20 doesn't fully meet meet the
requirements of Psalm 83, so on that basis we'll assume Psalm 83's fulfillment
is still in the future, perhaps the very near future. If so, it could be the
bridge between the current state of affairs in Israel and the conditions
necessary for the Battle of Ezekiel 38. Let's find out.
Psalm 83
O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still. See how your
enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire
against your people; they plot against those you cherish.
"Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be
remembered no more."
With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you- the tents
of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal, Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them to lend
strength to the descendants of Lot. (Ps. 83:1-8)
The language is out of today's headlines and the
countries lined up against Israel inhabited the lands of Israel's current
neighbors. Edom and the Ishmaelites were in land occupied by
southern Jordan today while the territories of Moab and Ammon make up the rest
of that country. (While the government of Jordan has a peace treaty with Israel,
we should remember that some 70% of Jordan's population is “Palestinian” and in
fact the country was formed to be the Palestinian home land.)
The Hagrites were part of Aram, whose capitol was Damascus in modern Syria.
Gebal, also called Byblos, and Tyre can still be found in present day Lebanon.
The Amalekites lived in Israel's southern desert and Philistia settled in Gaza
on Israel's southern border. Assyria would conquer Aram shortly after Psalm 83
was written and the descendants of Lot is another way of saying Moab and Ammon,
who were the sons of an incestuous union between Lot and his two daughters.
So here we have all of Israel's next door neighbors, all of them sworn to
Israel's demise, all of them hopping mad over the death of their hero Imad
Mughniyeh for which they blame Israel, and all of them being whipped into a
frenzy by Iran.
Do to them as you did to Midian, as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river
Kishon, who perished at Endor and became like refuse on the ground. Make their
nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said,
"Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God."
Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire
consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with
your tempest and terrify them with your storm. Cover their faces with shame so
that men will seek your name, O LORD. May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may
they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD—that you
alone are the Most High over all the earth. (Psalm 83:9-18)
Asaph, the Psalm's writer, can't resist telling the Lord exactly how he'd like
Israel's enemies to be dealt with. In that sense he's just like you and me.
Midian was defeated by a vastly outnumbered force under the command of Gideon.
It was another case of the Lord turning Israel's enemies against each other and
defeating themselves. (Judges 7)
Jabin was a king of the Canaanites and Sisera was the commander of his army. The
Lord lured the Canaanite army into a trap and the Israelites destroyed
them.(Judges 4) The commander of Israel's army was named Barak, just like
Israel's current defense Minister. Probably a coincidence.
Oreb, Zeeb Zebah, and Zalmunna were all leaders of the Midianite army defeated
by Gideon.
Asaph's prayer was that Israel's current enemies will
be just as soundly defeated as were the Midianites and the Canaanites, their
armies scattered and their leaders executed. Should this be the case, Israel
will become larger, not smaller, with the contention over the ownership of Gaza,
the West bank and the Golan put to an end. Israel will become stronger, not
weaker, its military reputation restored and even enhanced. The divided land
will be divided no more, and Jerusalem will remain a unified city. The
controversial security fence will come down, since the borders on all sides will
be safe and the threat of terrorist attacks eliminated. 60 years of war will
have finally ended. It will be the perfect opportunity for
the enemy to bring about a false sense of security and turn Israel into a
peaceful and unsuspecting people living in a land of un-walled villages.
Meanwhile, the Russians and Iranians, who will have fought this battle only by
proxy will study their defeat and learn from their mistakes, lying in wait for
the next opportunity to strike. It won't be long in coming. You can almost hear
the footsteps of the Messiah.
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| Some have
said that God has already defeated Israel's enemies in numerous wars
since 1948, and thus Psalm 83 has been fulfilled. Certainly Israel's
neighbours have been saying for decades, "Come, let us wipe Israel off
the map". They have of course failed to do so.. Others see the eventual fulfilment of Psalm 83 occurring at Christ's second coming. I have some reservations about the above article's scenario playing out, but it is of course certainly possible. Perhaps the fulfilment of Psalm 83 began in 1948, and will culminate in a larger conflict in the near future. It's good that people smarter than me are studying God's word and prophecy, and putting forward ideas and possible scenarios. It makes us think and hopefully examine the subjects ourselves. All will unfold in due course. The more ideas we have studied, listened to and explored, the less surprised and unprepared we will be as events unfold. ... Keygar |