The Coalition of Hate

Psalm 83:1-8

This is a prophetic Psalm.  This Psalm is not usually thought of as prophetic - however, a closer look at its teaching plainly depicts for us a “coalition of hate” against God’s chosen people, Israel!  This is a fascinating Psalm revealing the players involved in a future attack.

The present Israel/Palestine conflict has the attention of the world.  This conflict will result in a war someday - maybe sooner than later!

Presently our U.S. forces are engaged in two wars in Islamic countries - Afghanistan and Iraq.  These wars are the result of the Islamic cowardly weapon of terrorism.  Our country is engaged in these wars against terrorism because of our support of the nation of Israel.  God promised to bless those who bless His people and curse those who curse His people.

The Muslim-Islamic world will never be satisfied with any kind of a peace proposal because they want all the land that God promised to Israel.  Remember, it’s the Isaac-Ishmael conflict continuing to this day (vs. 18).

This Psalm is a cry for God’s protection for His people the Jews.  It was written by a prophet named Asaph during the reign of King David.  Israel was experiencing great prosperity and peace.  It was written about a future event yet to happen.

Israel has always had wars and problems with her neighbors but never a coalition of nations.  Let’s dig in and see what this Psalm teaches us.

I.          The call for action - Psalm 83:1.  Here the Psalmist pleads for God to not be silent.  He urges God to speak up and be heard.  Followed by a plea for action (“…be not still, O God”!

II.        The plan to destroy Israel - vss. 2-5.  The plan of action is a coalition that has already come together against Israel.  Here is their plan:

            A.        Verse 2 - “thine enemies make a tumult.”  That is a commotion, causing constant problems against Israel.  The term “cold war” could be used here.  Constant problems continue between these countries. The real problem is they “hate Thee.”  Note verse 18.

            B.        Verse 3 - “They have taken crafty counsel” means they have plans that are shrewd, sneaky, and deceitful.  They have “consulted against “Thy hidden ones” referring to Israel.  Note verse 5, “consulted together.”

            C.        Verse 4 - “cut them off.”  The goal of the coalition is to destroy Israel as a nation.  There will be no peace agreements.  They want to destroy Israel so that no remembrance of the nation will be held!

            D.        Verse 5 - “one consent” refers to the fact that they are unified!  They have joined a unified league (confederate) with one goal - that is that Israel will be completely destroyed!

III.       The participants that make up the coalition - vss. 5-8.

            A.        Edom.  These are the descendants of Esau.  Today Edom is the southern part of Jordan.

            B.        Ishmaelites.  Ishmael was Abraham’s oldest son born to Hagar (Gen. 21:14-21).  They settled in a territory known today as Saudi Arabia.  We call them Arabians today.

            C.        Moab was a son from an incestuous relationship with his older daughter.  The Moabites settled in central Jordan

            D.        Hagarenes.  These are the decendants of Hagar.  We know little about Hagar’s descendants, but they usually are associated with Hagar’s homeland of Egypt.

            E.         Gebal.  Gebal is not a person nor does it refer to a group of people.  Gebal was a city.  Gebal was located in the modern country of Lebanon.

            F.         Ammon.  Ammon is the other son born to Lot from his incestuous relationship with his youngest daughter.  Ammon is located today in central Jordan.  The capital of Jordan is Ammon.

            G.        Amalek.  Amalek was the grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:12).  They were nomadic people settling mainly in southern Israel.

            H.        Philistines.  These people settled in what is known today as the Gaza Strip.  They are home of today’s terrorist Hamas, one of Israel’s most violent enemies.

            I.          Tyre.  Tyre was not a person nor a group.  Tyre was a city located in today’s southern Lebanon and is home to the terrorist group Hezballah.

            J.          Assur.  Assur was Assyria, the world empire before the Babylonian Empire.  They were located in today’s Syria and northern Iraq.