Psalm 83

Psalm 83 isn’t as clearly an end-time prophecy as are other sections of scripture, but there are lines that reverberate in our times.  It may be that the prophecy already has been fulfilled, but there are many prophecies that have dual fulfillment.  As such, I cannot say with certainty that Psalm 83 is an end-time prophesy or that it will have a final fulfillment in the future.  However, I will set down the players of this psalm and put it in our timeline as a possible event.

Psalm 83:1-4

Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.  For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.  They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.  They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

More than once the nations surrounding modern day Israel have attempted to destroy her.  Even now, the aim of many of her neighbors is her complete annihilation.  Since the reestablishment of the nation of Israel in 1948, many still to this day do not recognize her as a legitimate nation.

Psalm 83:5-8

For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.

This section identifies the ancient people who are plotting against Israel in this event.  Looking at the forum of Ancient Placenames, we can identify them with six distinct modern nations: Jordon (Edom), Jordon and possibly Syria (Moab, Ammon, Children of Lot), Lebanon (Gebal, Tyre), Egypt (Amalek), Palestinians/Hamas (Philistines), and northern Iraq (Assur).  Note that the Ishmaelites and Hagarenes are general references to the descendents of Hagar through Ishmael (son of Abraham) and any other sons she may have had, which equate to modern day Arabs.

Compare this to the players of any of the Arab-Israeli wars since Israel declared herself a nation.  The players will invariably be on the list of those in Psalm 83.  Most notably, the 1948 war of Israel’s Independence (also known as the first Arab-Israeli war) and you will see a perfect match.  The Six-Day War of 1967 (also known as the third Arab-Israeli war) is just missing Lebanon.  However, what about the outcome of Psalm 83?  Does that match any recent scenerio?

Psalm 83:9-18

Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.  Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.  O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.  As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.  Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.  Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

The conclusion of the 83rd Psalm notes specifically that generals (like Sisera) as well as members of the ruling families of the nations that were involved would be killed, as were Oreb and others.  More in-depth study is required to determine if this happened in any of the Arab-Israeli wars.  For certain, they were embarrassed, humbled, but were any of their notables killed?  And all nations involved have since fully recovered.  Today, Egypt and Jordan are allies with Israel, but with recent developments in the middle-east, this may not last much longer.

Also notice that there is no mention of Christ or of the final ruler of the beast empire in the passage.  If this will happen yet in the future, it doesn’t necessarily have to happen during the final days.  Being that the destruction of Damascus is yet to happen, Psalm 83 may be in response to Israel’s retribution noted in Isaiah 17, or the destruction of Damascus could happen because of (or as part of) a yet future Arab-Israeli war that will be the final fulfillment of Psalm 83.