I've said it before, the Bible was written for our knowledge. What has happened in the past will happen again in the future. It is for us to learn from. I praise God for that. I praise God for Israel. I praise God for the Lord Jesus Christ. I praise God for wisdom and understanding.
No doubt you are hearing about the attacks taking place in Israel. Maybe it means nothing because it's overseas and not affecting your life. But don't be fooled. It will affect all our lives because God is involved. It's all about Him; it's all about turning our backs on Him. Psalm 83 describes the lament of the people of Israel. They feared invasion by their enemies. But as we see at the end, they call on God, who is always in control, for Him to destroy their enemies.
1Do not keep silent, O God!
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God!
2For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;
And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
3They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
4They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being
a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more."
5For they have consulted together with one consent;
They form a confederacy against You:
6The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
7Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot. Selah
9Deal with them as with Midian, as with Sisera,
As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,
10Who perished at En Dor,
Who became as refuse on the earth.
11Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb,
Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12Who said, "Let us take for ourselves
The pastures of God for a possession."
13O my God, make them like the whirling dust,
Like the chaff before the wind!
14As the fire burns the woods,
And as the flame sets the mountains on fire,
15So pursue them with Your tempest,
And frighten them with Your storm.
16Fill their faces with shame,
That they may seek Your name, O LORD.
17Let them be confounded and dismayed forever;
Yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
18That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD,
Are the Most High over all the earth.
The enemies in the psalm you may never have heard of. But you will recognize who they are today:
Edom - Palestine
Ishmaelites - Saudi Arabia
Moab - Palestine
Hagrites - Egyptians
Gebal - Hezbollah, No. Lebanese
Ammon - Palestine
Amalek - Arabs of Sinai
Philistia - Hamas, Gaza strip
Tyre - Hezbollah, So. Lebanese
Assyria - Syria, No. Iraq
Are you amazed at the past and the present in God's Word? It is said that her enemies will strike from the north, south, east and west. Make no mistake, however, in thinking God's people will be eliminated...or that anyone can come against God...or that the land of Israel will be conquered. Do not be fooled if you think that what happens in Israel will not affect the world. With a biblical understanding it is very clear, we are in what the Bible calls the last days. We can clearly see it if we open our eyes…and ears. People can try as they might to eliminate the very name of God and we might very well be persecuted for standing for Him, but in the end, God and His people around the world will be victorious against today's enemy.
Genesis 12:3 is a phrase we hear often: "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you..." God has allowed the tiny nation of Israel and the people of that land to be survivors. Don't you think her enemies throughout her existence would have been able to utterly destroy her by now if God had not had His hand on her? Read in scripture how she has time and time again been delivered out of the enemies' hands by none other than God Himself.
It would be to our advantage to stand behind Israel. Even if our country cuts ties with her, there are those God will continue to protect…those who stand behind Israel and her people…those who understand the connection between Israel and the world…through Jesus Christ.
I might add it is always our obligation to pray for our enemies. You never know who might turn their heart over to God and be saved in the process! It's sometimes hard to want to do this, but...
Matthew 5:44-45 - But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
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