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Psalm 83 describes enemies surrounding God’s people and what happens to those who plot against the Lord’s anointed.
For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads (v. 2, ESV).
The Psalm has three layers of meaning:
- Enemies surrounding ancient Israel
- Enemies surround the church (and us)
- Enemies surrounding Israel in the end times
As the Psalms writes. . .
They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, “Come, let us wipe them out” (vv. 3-4a).
No one, no country, no consortium of nations, and none of our enemies will be successful. As this Psalm concludes …
O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane! (vv. 13-15)
Israel’s enemies, mentioned in Psalm 83, were literally to the north, east, and south (none live in the west as it’s the Mediterranean Sea). We know also that the countries surrounding Israel in the end time will attack Israel.
On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it (Zechariah 12:3).
And that in the end times, all peoples will conspire against the Lord’s anointed church.
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake (Matthew 24:9).
The Bible makes clear the ultimate end for all of God’s people and God’s enemies. . .
But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:13-14).
Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth (Psalm 83:17-18).
This week my wife has been enthralled listening to a podcast. The podcast, entitled “The Israel Guys: True and Authentic Stories from Israel,” discusses current events that could signal the final alignment of all nations against Israel in the last days.
Note: I know it’s controversial, and I’m not sure that I entirely agree with everything that’s said, but give a listen and let me know what you think. . .
Interesting to note that in Psalm 83:5-6 when it says, “They conspire with one accord. . . the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,” many Jewish scholars consider Edom to be Western culture, especially the United States. And Saudi Arabia has descendants of Ishmael.
Amen. Peace out! God’s in charge.