The Psalm 83 War
“O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God. See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, Byblos, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre. Even Assyria has joined them to reinforce Lot’s descendants. Do to them as you did to Midian…Make them like tumbleweed, my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze…Cover their faces with shame, Lord, so that they will seek your name.
The prophecy
The Psalm 83 prophecy indicates that the ten nations and people groups surrounding Israel will conspire, form an alliance and plan to “destroy…the nation so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” As the text is more than 2600 years old, ancient designations are used to reference the hostile groups. Below is a listing of contemporary identifications:
Tents of Edom = [descendants of Esau] Palestinian refugees & Southern Jordanians
Ishmaelites = Saudi Arabians
Moab = Palestinian Refugees and Central Jordanians
Hagrites = Egyptians
Gebal = Northern Lebanese
Amalek = Arabs South of Israel
Ammon = Palestinian Refugees and Northern Jordanians
Philistia = Palestinian Refugees and Hamas of Gaza Strip
Inhabitants of Tyre = Hezbollah and Southern Lebanese
Assyria = Syrians and perhaps Northern Iraqis
Children of Lot = Moab and Ammon
The apparent outcome
Implied is that the nations surrounding Israel will launch a first strike, but Israel, though outnumbered, will prevail. God will empower Israel’s army (Ezekiel 37:10b), but the world will not perceive Israel’s victory as being supernatural (which is different than how Israel’s victories in the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog and Battle of Armageddon conflicts will be perceived). Many believe the Psalm 83 war includes (or precipitates) the destruction of Damascus and the expansion of Israel’s borders and lays the foundation (Ezek. 38:11) for the Gog-Magog war profiled in Ezekiel 38-39.
Why Psalm 83 is important
Many consider Psalm 83 to be a kind of marker to aid in understanding where the world is on God’s prophetic timeline. Those who hold that the Psalm 83 prophecy has not yet been fulfilled believe the events profiled in the Psalm precede and are connected to other prophecies. In a sense, Psalm 83 then is viewed as a principal domino that, when put in motion, facilitates the movement of dominos that stand in waiting. In this article, I will refer to the prophecies standing in waiting as SET A (see below). Generally, those who hold that the Psalm 83 prophecy is already fulfilled look to another set of prophecies (SET B, see below) as being next in the prophetic timeline.
A listing of SET A and SET B prophecies
SET A prophecies include:
The ten nations or people groups noted in Psalm 83 will attack Israel. The war will expand into Syria and Damascus will be destroyed (Isa. 17).
The borders of Israel will be expanded (Ezekiel 23; Isaiah 19; Obadiah 19) to fulfill the covenant prophecy noted in Genesis 15:18.
When threatened, Israel will launch a preemptive strike against Elam, an area of Iran (Jer. 49).
With borders expanded and threats neutralized, Israel will feel secure and become the nation without walls referenced in Ezekiel 38:11.
Motivated by the hope of “plunder” (Ezekiel 38:12) and enraged by setbacks (particularly in Syria and Iran), the Gog-Magog coalition will form and attack Israel from the north. This conflict is profiled in Ezekiel 38-39.
God will intervene and supernaturally destroy the enemies of Israel.
Chaos in the region is quelled by a “peace covenant” (Dan. 9:27) between Israel and the “many.” This covenant is brokered by a new world leader who will later become known as the Antichrist.
SET B prophecies include:
Damascus will be destroyed (Isa. 17).
When threatened, Israel will launch a preemptive strike against Elam, an area of Iran (Jer. 49).
Motivated by the hope of “plunder” (Ezekiel 38:12) the Gog-Magog coalition will form and attack Israel from the north (Syria). This conflict is profiled in Ezekiel 38-39.
The prophecy regarding the sense of peace and security that Israel enjoys before the beginning of the Ezekiel 38-39 war may already be fulfilled (if peace and security are to be understood as confidence in their military strength, which is a possible interpretation).
When Israel is in peril, God will intervene and supernaturally dispatch Israel’s enemies.
Israel’s borders will expand (as noted in Ezekiel 23; Isaiah 19; and Obadiah 19), but the timing is not clear.
Chaos in the region is quelled by a “peace covenant” (Dan. 9:27) between Israel and the “many.” This covenant is brokered by a new world leader who will later become known as the Antichrist.
It is possible the first three points happen almost simultaneously.
There are four primary schools of thought regarding the interpretation of Psalm 83
Some believe Psalm 83 is not prophetic, and was written relatively soon after battles noted in 2 Chronicles 20. This position holds that Psalm 83 memorializes past battles, not prophesies of future ones. However, as the battles in 2 Chronicles 20 involve less than half of the combatants listed in Psalm 83, most Bible scholars do not believe 2 Chronicles 20 completely fulfills the Psalm 83 prophecy.
A small percentage of believers hold that Psalm 83 references the animosity nations have toward Israel (as opposed to a war with Israel). This position holds that though strongly implied; it is not explicit that hostile nations will attack Israel. They “growl,” they “conspire,” and they “plot…for the destruction of Israel,” but the text does not specifically note that nations attack. Therefore, this position holds that Psalm 83 is not a prophetic reference to war.
A growing number of believers hold that Psalm 83 prophecies have been fulfilled since 1948 (when Israel was restored as a soverign and independent nation. Those who hold this position (greatly advanced Amir Tsarfati and other notables) teach that the Psalm 83 prophecy was fulfilled during the war for independence (1948-49), during the 1967 war, or that the fulfillment of Psalm 83 prophecy occurred through a series of 20th-century conflicts. Individuals who hold this position believe the next set of prophecies to be fulfilled is noted in SET B.
The traditional position is that Psalm 83 prophecies are yet future. This position is held by teachers such as Bill Salus and Dr. David Reagan. The position holds that Psalm 83 is connected to border-expansion themed verses (such as Ezekiel 23; Isaiah 19; Obadiah 19 and Genesis 15:18) and references a profound well-coordinated attack by all ten nations and people-groups. Individuals who hold this position believe the next set of prophecies to be fulfilled is noted in SET A.
Conclusions
Points 3 and 4 (above) are the most likely interpretations of Psalm 83.
God has a plan, and His plan is perfect. God reveals his plan in the way and time He determines best.
Believers should monitor developments in the middle east and based on what is happening, anticipate what prophecies are about to be fulfilled.
Many of the prophecies noted in this document can be fulfilled rapidly, or simultaneously. World events can change quickly—current alliances are subject to change—former friends can become fierce enemies overnight. It is not wise to have strong opinions regarding it taking months or years for change to take place or prophecies to unfold.
Believers should remember that the Rapture can happen at any time. Tell others. Be ready.