Could the conspiracy of Psalm 83 against Israel involve ISIS?
It was only fifteen years ago that I was conducting research for my first book on anti-Semitism They Have Conspired Against You. This led me to an in-depth study of the 83rd Psalm written by Asaph who was a contemporary of King David. Psalm 83 spoke of many enemies of Israel and of the pleading of Asaph with God for His miraculous intervention on behalf of the Jewish people. Of the several points made by this short psalm, I was intrigued by the ten people groups who were described as conspiring against Israel. In digging a little deeper, I realized that this covenant of nations had never taken place in the history of Israel. I also thought that there was a strong possibility that Asaph usage of the sentence: "They make shrewd plans against Your people, And conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, That the name of Israel be remembered no more." could very possibly be a literary device to express emphasis in despair. Maybe Asaph wanted to express that Israel had enemies–a true statement–and for emphasis, he described all her neighbors as the enemies, akin to someone with a few foes saying:"The whole world hates me!"
Of course, an equally valid interpretation could be that it is a future attack on Israel by a confederation of countries and/or states. I find it fascinating to look at the people described in Psalm 83:6-8: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them, and compare them to modern day countries or people groups. The results could even be too close for comfort.
Edom - Southern Jordan
Ishmaelites - Ishmael was one of the fathers of all the Arabs.
Moab - Central Jordan
Hagarenes - Egypt
Gebal - Lebanon
Ammon - Northern Jordan
Amalek - The Sinai Peninsula
Philistia - The Gaza Strip
Tyre - Lebanon
Assyria - Iraq and parts of Syria
By these standards, Israel finds herself surrounded by enemies who have conspired together to destroy the Jewish state. This would be a likely scenario in light of the fact that eventually the whole world will go against Israel, but we are faced with an inconsistency. There are two countries that have an ongoing peace treaty with Israel in the whole Middle East: Jordan (Edom, Moab and Ammon) and Egypt (Hagarenes, Sinai Peninsula). Yet these are listed as enemies of Israel, so how can this be possible? I wonder if the answer could not be found in the events of the last year and the progress of ISIS (Islamic State) in the region? ISIS is continuously making progress in a very volatile region, not to mention their global recruitment over the last year. A quick review of their progress could lead credence to an upcoming fulfillment of Psalm 83:
• ISIS started their bloody takeover campaigns in parts of Iraq and Syria.
• ISIS has also been trying to gain some ground in Northeast Lebanon and Northern Lebanon. The mere idea that Lebanese Christians would praise Hezbollah for fighting ISIS is frightening at best and most likely temporary.
• They even got into the Gaza Strip, giving Hamas a run for their money.
• Of course, they also recently launched an offensive in the Sinai Peninsula. How's that peace treaty with Israel looking right now? Very shaky if ISIS spreads further into Egypt!
• This leaves us with Jordan and the Iraqi border, which have also been affected.
So there you have it in a nutshell. To an extent, ISIS has infiltrated all the areas listed in Pslam 83, INCLUDING JORDAN AND EGYPT, the only two countries with existing peace treaties with Israel. Asaph might have spoken prophetically and we might be getting really close to seeing the evil confederacy of Psalm 83 being formed. It was almost impossible to fathom that Psalm 83 would have a literal fulfillment 15 years ago. Today and with the advance of the Islamic State, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it took place. And what if it did take place?
While the entire civilized world appears to be in agreement regarding the barbarism displayed by ISIS, it is now becoming obvious that the terrorist group is not being stopped, let alone even contained. It is very surreal and quite puzzling to see ISIS recruits coming from all corners of the world to train under "the black banner of death". So yes indeed, the grip around Israel is tightening at the hands of ISIS.
Israel has her plate very full with a Hamas ruled Gaza Strip in the south and a Hezbollah ruled Lebanon in the north. The Jewish state has been on high alert since May 14, 1948. They will not provoke but they will certainly respond. They will do it better and faster than the rest of the world because their existence depends on it. To an extent, the rest of the world's existence also depends on how serious we are about ISIS. But when you hear people such as Richard Barrett, former head of counter-terrorism at MI6 who said that:" We cannot destroy ISIS, so we will have to learn to live with it", you wonder how serious anybody really is about defeating ISIS? We are not even discussing how Islamic ISIS really is or is not, but we are still faced with a terrorist group that is organized, wealthy, well advertised and very arrogant. The minute that ISIS crosses the line where Israel feels threatened, they [Israel] will respond swiftly and efficiently. No question about it.
We must also keep in mind the rest of Psalm 83 like verse 5 describing the enemies of Israel as the enemies of God Himself:"For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You they make a covenant." God might or might not intervene between ISIS and the world, but if they [ISIS] go against Israel, I am certain that He will get involved. Yet, there is still time for the enemies of Israel to repent because God might be just but He is also patient as Psalm 83:15-18 says:
So pursue them with Your tempest And terrify them with Your storm.
Fill their faces with dishonor, That they may seek Your name, O Lord.
Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever, And let them be humiliated and perish,
That they may know that You alone, whose name is the Lord, Are the Most High over all the earth
The prophetic hourglass was turned on May 14, 1948 and it is running out of sand in its top section!
Thank you for your last thought: the prophetic hourglass...running out of sand! Great!
These comments on Psalm 83 from Bible Scholar Jack Kelley (www.gracethrufaith.com lend credence to your interpretation to Egypt's role or non-role in the the coming Psalm 83 war:
"Some have tried to link the Hagrites to Egypt, saying they were the descendants of Hagar. Remember, she was the Egyptian slave woman Abraham and Sarah acquired there who became the mother of Ishmael (Genesis 16).
Other scholars say the names “Hagrite” and “Ishmaelite” are synonymous. If so, this aligns them with the desert tribes of Ishmael rather than with Egypt and locates them in the desert east and south of Israel. There’s no record of any other children born to Hagar, and since God promised her many descendants (Genesis 16:10) and said that Ishmael would become a great nation (Genesis 21:18) this makes sense to me. You can read about the 12 tribes of Ishmael who became the patriarchs of 12 tribes in Genesis 25:12-18.
(It’s important to note that the desert people of today, called Bedouins now, don’t owe their allegiance to any country and don’t recognize anyone’s borders. Lately they’ve aligned themselves with various Muslim groups, all opposed to both Israel and Egypt. In fact the Sinai Bedouins are currently at war with Egypt.)"
Very insightful article, bye the way.
Thanks for the encouragement. Feel free to share and repost this article. Another great resource is "Footsteps of the Messiah" by Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum.
Thanks, Oliver, for an insightful article. When I study Ezekiel 38 and 39 I am impressed by what is not mentioned: Israel's near neighbors. How could they be left out of a war against Israel of such magnitude? The prophetic interpretation of Psalm 83 could be the answer. I explored this possibility in a blog article:
https://www.fairhavensmedia.com/isis-and-israel-is-there-a-prophetic-connection/
As American Christian in 70's with lifetime belief in Bible authenticity and family contacts with strategic community going back to OSS days, I habitually put USA into the biblical calculus. Lacking direct USA reference, it is nonetheless simple enough to figure out how Middle East events shall impact America as we go along. Petrodollar economics in and of themselves keep the hooks in America's jaws... ISIS infiltration into the lower 48 is building to wounding of America! Add to the M.E. effect: Roe Vs, Wade reckoning can't be ignored indefinitely.
It is fantasy to think new US oil reserves allows us to step back from an oil crisis affecting EU and other treaty partners. Oil crisis for treaty partners translates to US obligation to share our inflows (still substantial) just as EU supplemented US oil needs after Katrina. Psalm 83 scenario absolutely brings US woes. Drought is entre' to famines even with minimal instability. Authorities like Tony Cordesman, & Frank Gaffney, men of God like Chuck Missler and Rabbi Jonathan Cahn have brought secular & spiritual warnings onto the same page!
Tony Cordesman (Arleigh Burke Strategic Chair) at International Studies Institute warns in his "Middle East War Consequence" narratives of several likely outcomes brought on by Iranian and ISIS actions NOW IN PROGRESS. A fire battalion reaching the Middle East on a fire response analogy would already call the scene "fully involved".... Spiritually, America is headed for the woodshed! The physical preparations for America must be outlined, in brief:
Aside from ISIS modus operendi on our turf, including a flurry of shootings and sabotage in a short time frame; choking roads, hospitals and emergency response, we know of certain infrastructure remedies we must prepare with all due haste. If not at initial surge, soon thereafter more sophisticated foes will bring EMP/HAMP nuclear detonations in Troposhphere, aimed at shutting off the electricity grid, and more deadly still, stopping transport instantly. Only thing moving will be pre-1970 cars & trucks, along with railway and aircraft equipment either without solid state onboard computers for fuel management, or Faraday Cage (lightning protection) design for critical electronics. North American Water And Power Alliance (water distribution grid) engineering features must be part of US food security- -now a shambles, another casualty of globalization.
Large scale food distribution will not exist for a time. After the Electromagnetic Pulse, Railway & truck diesels will come back only as shop forces make up plumbing to get them rolling, Not easy if the electricity is down! Railway lines will need local container handling apparatus along the mains, something not currently available except at intermodal hubs and ports. Dormant rail lines must be rebuilt as fast as possible.
We will experience famine in large areas of America even in best case. William R, Forstchen's "ONE SECOND AFTER" is quickest way for US citizens to read up on EMP/HAMP scenario. Local & national politicians too self absorbed to concern themselves with what's afoot will need private movers & shakers to wake them from their malaise... Maybe some corporate leaders not too busy seeking cover can help with infrastructure before the emergency?
This is a fine mess we've got ourselves into. Daniel 4 V-15 is good analogy of Great Tree America being brought down, saved from complete destruction by bands of iron & bronze. Railways and hardened cable communication barely able to preserve the Union of States? Certainly only with God's help, and America has not been very respectful of God lately!
For further investigation I recommend the book by Bill Salus "Psalm 83: The Missing Prophecy Revealed, how Israel becomes the next mideast superpower".