Why Do Some People Promote Psalm 83 In Our Days As A War? Series

WHY DO SOME PEOPLE PROMOTE PSALM 83 IN OUR DAYS AS A WAR?

One of the most uncertain writings in the bible is Psalm 83. I never used to hear anything about this Psalm a few years ago, but now a few people are making reference to it. Some are going as far as to say this is a prophetic event that will happen, even about to happen because of problems in the Middle East.

Because it is a Psalm that was below my horizon, I never gave it any attention other than being a Psalm of Asaph, that great song leader in the Tabernacle/temple. Since the references to it are being made by some and pushed into the present, I thought I would look into it, especially as a Christian asked me what my thoughts on it were.

LET US LOOK AT THE PSALM ITSELF AT FACE VALUE

[1]. ITS INTRODUCTION

{{Psalm 83:1 O God, do not remain quiet, do not be silent and, O God, do not be still,

Psalm 83:2 for, behold, Your enemies make an uproar and those who hate You have exalted themselves.

Psalm 83:3 They make shrewd plans against Your people and conspire together against Your treasured ones.

Psalm 83:4 THEY HAVE SAID, “COME, AND LET US WIPE THEM OUT AS A NATION THAT THE NAME OF ISRAEL BE REMEMBERED NO MORE.”}}

In those verses Asaph earnestly prays to the LORD in a great need. In the first verse he pleads three times for action from God. God hears when just one request is made; three of them is a deep, sincere pleading.

In verses 2 to 4 Asaph outlines to God (who already knew of course) the reason for his great concern. The desire of Israel's enemies was to wipe Israel out as a nation that they be remembered no more. The plans they make are shrewd and they make a lot of noise. In verse 3 there is a great conspiracy.

One of the reasons people like to consider Psalm 83 as prophetic for our times is because of the current situation as I write this in November 2023, the terrorism of Hamas and Hezbollah. The purpose of Islamic terrorism and Jihad and all nations surrounding Israel, is to destroy God’s people. “From the River to the Sea” is their catchcry. It the same old Haman activity who sought the destruction of the Jews. It happened in 1947 and 1967.

However, bear in mind, that this satanic opposition and destruction towards Israel has been operating for 4 000 years since God revealed his promises to Abraham. Satan did not know about the great promises to Abraham given by God, because Satan is not omniscient, and only knew of it when given to Abraham. Since then his destruction has always been towards Israel and God’s earthly people. Think it not strange that the UN and the WHO and the WEF and all other world bodies oppose and hate Israel. Biden practised “double talk”. Seriously, he does not like Israel like all socialists and far left people, they really hate and oppose Israel. Biden went to Israel but it was to try to make them go easy on the Palestinian terrorists and have a cease fire. The man understands nothing.

What I have to say here is very relevant. The situation Asaph describes has been played out over and over in Israel's history. Enemies were always there; conspiracies to wipe out Israel have always been. So, is there anything special about what Asaph is describing? I don’t think so, even though he goes on to name certain peoples and nations of his time.

[2]. ITS DEVELOPMENT – THE NATIONS

{{Psalm 83:5 THEY HAVE CONSPIRED TOGETHER with one mind. Against You do they make a covenant:

Psalm 83:6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab, and the Hagrites,

Psalm 83:7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.

Psalm 83:8 Assyria also has joined with them. They have become a help to the children of Lot. Selah.”}}

In verse 5, there is no surprise even there. Enemies may fight and disagree with each other but when it comes to the hatred of Israel, and Christians for that matter, it is no surprise they come together in a satanic harmony; come together in an evil conspiracy. It happened in the trial of Jesus – {{Luke 23:12 “Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day for before they had been at enmity with each other.”}}

Edom, Moab, the Philistines, Assyria and Ammon were nations at the time this Psalm was written. They had always been enemies of the Jews and the other people mentioned in verses 6 and 7 were just attachments in warfare, everyone of them malicious with demonic evil just as Hamas and Hezbollah are today.