Psalm 83 The Battle Against Israel

Daily Bible Study for Friday October 21, 2016

By: Hanny Lynn Stearns

Fish N Loaves Ministries, Inc.

“Multiplying God’s Word Around The Globe”

Chapter Reading for Today: Please read in your Bible before proceeding. Note that most translations are considered paraphrases. The Young’s Literal Translation provides a more accurate translation since he is the one who authored a concordance. Others are helpful for seeing a different perspective, but we cannot always depend on their wording. I hope this is helpful to you. If you are studying in another version, that is fine. I am studying from the KJV, but for the purpose of this study, I will keep it with the New King James Version.

One final note: I will put the scripture in italics to differentiate from my own writing. I am adding red to the letters when it is Jesus talking – just like the Bible. Thank you.

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Psalm 40:8

I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”

Psalm 83

The Battle Against Israel

When looking at this chapter, our minds go immediately to what is happening in Israel today, don’t they? I mean it is obvious that this is talking about the Islamic rise against Judaism and Christianity in God’s holy city. There are many nations who are collaborating to come against the people of God from surrounding nations. Israel is the world’s “hot spot” today. But that is nothing new under the sun, amen. Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father:

Thank You for assuring us in Your word that You never slumber nor sleep. In all the terrors happening in our world today, You are watching. The battles for possession of Your holy hill in Jerusalem, Mt. Moriah, continue to erupt. Yet in all these things, You have given us a vision and plenty of assurance that in the end, You will prevail. Father, I ask You to give me the anointing and utterance to bring Your message to Your people today. Cause this message to reach out across this globe and even into the lands that are coming against Israel. Open their eyes to see. May this be a time where all of this confusion brings them to Your throne of grace and mercy. Remove the blinders from the eyes that satan, the god of this world has placed on them. Lift the spirit of religion from Your created people to see the Light of Christ like never before. Thank You for always watching over Your word to perform it in our lives when we are doers of Your word. That is our aim and goal, today and always. Help us to see what we can learn from this and even share with others around us. Thank You in advance for the answer to this prayer. We believe we receive it and thank You for it in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

The wars and rumors of wars that have been going on in the world – just like Jesus said they would are mainly centered around the tiny nation of Israel. A person could talk for hours on this subject, but don’t get scared. We won’t dwell on it for too long. The firs verse is one we have seen a lot in the study of the Psalms - a cry for the Lord God Almighty to rise up and help His people in the face of enemy attack. Since the beginning, after satan’s fall from heaven because of His rebellion, he has been rebelling against God through His people. This in nothing new. There have been many prophesies in the Bible about how this rebellion would go. The Lord knows exactly what is going on. And, we can rest assured that He has already made a plan to deal with satan and his host of demons before this whole thing is over.

The good news that we can enjoy right now is this. Jesus has conquered the devil. So, as born again Christians we have complete and total authority over the devil. There is no demonic power that can rule us because we have the Holy Spirit – the greater One is living inside of us. When we stand in faith in the name of Jesus in the face of the enemy, he will shrivel up and run screaming in fear. The devil knows his days are numbered and that number is growing shorter and shorter. That’s why the battles are intensifying. Satan is trying to throw every punch he can at God by attacking His anointed ones. This is nothing for us to fear – ever.

When I first read this chapter and came to verse 4, I immediately thought of the Islamic attack on the Jews and Christians. Not all Muslims are of the Islamic notion. They do not all want to kill people who don’t think and act like them. But there are many who do. The Lord knew all this would happen. He knows everything. In His amazing kindness, He chose to share with us the things that would happen in advance so we would have His promises to rest in. These promises are meant to give God’s people great peace in times of great commotion (tumult) like our chapter says today.

The nations surrounding Israel have been trying to steal their land and wipe them off the face of the map for a very long time. Again, this is nothing new. But thanks be to God, after all they had been through, the Lord brought them back together as a nation again in one day in May of 1948…

Isaiah 66:8

Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.

One of the most powerful ways that the Lord proves His existence to folks on this earth is by telling us what is going to happen in the future. He gives precise details through His prophets, and then when the events come to pass, no one can deny that it is God – though some will still try. Such a prophecy came through the man greatly beloved who sought the Lord for three long weeks of prayer and fasting. Let’s take a detailed look…

Daniel 9:23-27

²⁰ Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, ²¹ yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. ²² And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. ²³ At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:

²⁴ “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.

²⁵ “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.

²⁶ “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. ²⁷ Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”

Chapter 10:12-14, 20-21

¹² Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

²⁰ Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. ²¹ But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.

Chapter 11 The Entire Chapter

11 “Also in the first year of Darius the Mede, I, even I, stood up to confirm and strengthen him.) ² And now I will tell you the truth: Behold, three more kings will arise in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than them all; by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. ³ Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. ⁴ And when he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken up and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not among his posterity nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted, even for others besides these.

⁵ “Also the king of the South shall become strong, as well as one of his princes; and he shall gain power over him and have dominion. His dominion shall be a great dominion. ⁶ And at the end of some years they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her authority, and neither he nor his authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times. ⁷ But from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place, who shall come with an army, enter the fortress of the king of the North, and deal with them and prevail. ⁸ And he shall also carry their gods captive to Egypt, with their princes and their precious articles of silver and gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the North.

⁹ “Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the South, but shall return to his own land. ¹⁰ However his sons shall stir up strife, and assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come and overwhelm and pass through; then he shall return to his fortress and stir up strife.

¹¹ “And the king of the South shall be moved with rage, and go out and fight with him, with the king of the North, who shall muster a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into the hand of his enemy. ¹² When he has taken away the multitude, his heart will be lifted up; and he will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not prevail. ¹³ For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.

¹⁴ “Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall. ¹⁵ So the king of the North shall come and build a siege mound, and take a fortified city; and the forces of the South shall not withstand him. Even his choice troops shall have no strength to resist. ¹⁶ But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his power.

¹⁷ “He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do. And he shall give him the daughter of women to destroy it; but she shall not stand with him, or be for him. ¹⁸ After this he shall turn his face to the coastlands, and shall take many. But a ruler shall bring the reproach against them to an end; and with the reproach removed, he shall turn back on him. ¹⁹ Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.

²⁰ “There shall arise in his place one who imposes taxes on the glorious kingdom; but within a few days he shall be destroyed, but not in anger or in battle. ²¹ And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. ²² With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. ²³ And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. ²⁴ He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.

²⁵ “He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him. ²⁶ Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain.²⁷ Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. ²⁸ While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land.

²⁹ “At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. ³⁰ For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage.

“So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. ³¹ And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.³² Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. ³³ And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. ³⁴ Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. ³⁵ And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

³⁶ “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.³⁷ He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. ³⁸ But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. ³⁹ Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

⁴⁰ “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.⁴¹ He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. ⁴² He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. ⁴³ He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. ⁴⁴ But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. ⁴⁵ And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

Daniel 12 The Entire Chapter

12 “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.
² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.
³ Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

⁴ “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

⁵ Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. ⁶ And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”

⁷ Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

⁸ Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”

⁹ And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. ¹⁰ Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

¹¹ “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. ¹² Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

¹³ “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

I know this is a lot of reading, however we must look at the entire word of God. It is not at all wise to leave parts out that we just may not want to look at. Even though we see how the wicked plans of satan and his principalities will play out, this ends with a wonderful promise about the inheritance that will be received. The scriptures tell us that he who endures…

Matthew 24:13

But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

I only took pieces out of those three chapters, yet I highly recommend that you go back through and read them in their entirety on your own. As you read the Lord can speak to you personally according to what you need to hear and understand. When all this wraps up, there will not be a single soul who ever lived that will not know that the Lord God Jehovah is real. Many have created false gods in their religious traditions. They have tried to make up religions that “work for them” and their own ideas. That is where all these denominations came from – the rebellion of man wanting to have his own way. The Lord has set up one church, with one Lord, one faith, one Spirit and one baptism. There is only one God, and His name is not Allah, Mohammed, Buddha, etc. He is the great I AM, the creator of all that is seen and unseen.

Let’s look just a moment at what some of the religious traditions looked like when Jesus was addressing the temple leaders of His day…

Mark 7:1-23

7 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. ² Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. ³ For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

⁵ Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

⁶ He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
⁷ And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

⁹ He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ¹¹ But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), ¹² then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, ¹³ making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

¹⁴ When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: ¹⁵ There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.¹⁶ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

¹⁷ When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. ¹⁸ So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,¹⁹ because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” ²⁰ And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 

²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²² thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

What all these other so called “religions” have done is to cause people to turn away from the true things of God to activities and traditions of “doing things” – hoping to earn their salvation by works. None of these things are what saves a person from going to hell, and none of these “activities” result in a true and loving relationship with the One True God and Savior – Jesus Christ. Jesus blood is on the mercy seat on our behalf and is the only acceptable sacrifice for sins. No person can wash enough cups or hold things up in a building and say enough right words over and over enough to save their soul.

People all over this planet are worshiping Mary, the mother of Jesus. That is idolatry in the sight of God! It is evil. They are worshiping so called gods (made up by man, some of whom we named earlier) who are not God. They have made certain traditions of more importance than getting to know Jesus and learn of His love. It is very sad because when they go before His throne on Judgment Day, unless they turn to Him before then, they will hear these terrible words before they are cast of into to hell and outer darkness…

Matthew 7:21-23

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

But friends, there is good news. It is never too late to turn to the one true God. He is always ready and willing to forgive your sins and receive you into His everlasting kingdom of Light! Jesus is the Light. No man can come to the Father in heaven except through Him…

John 14:6

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

This life is full of trials; we all know this. But the Lord has given us promises that will hold us up – like the time when Moses needed help…

Exodus 17:12

But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

What does that rock represent? Jesus – of course. Anyone who stands on the Rock of ages will not fail. Aaron and Hur supporting him represents the church helping each other to continue earnestly for the faith…

1 Peter 1:3-9

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Everyone in the church needs help standing in the faith until the end. If anyone thinks he doesn’t need help, he needs to be careful of that attitude, lest he fall. Let’s rejoice at the hope we have in Jesus. While we look at the entire counsel of God in His word from Genesis to Revelation, we know that because of Jesus, we can chew on the bitter as well as the sweet. All of it necessary…

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Of the things we cannot understand in this life, we can go to the Lord and ask Him the questions. Many things He will tell us while other things are just not our business. Or, they are not for us to know in this life. That’s why we walk by faith. That’s why we have to trust Him. He is faithful and no good thing…

Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

We cannot allow ourselves to ever be in fear – that is of the devil! What we can do is walk in faith right now and enjoy this life the Lord has given us. When we walk in the whole counsel of God, we will have miracles, signs and wonders from Jesus (who is Wonderful – Full of wonders) that will keep us shouting His praise all the way to the wedding feast with Him – hallelujah! Our final verse before our prayer is this…

1 Corinthians 13:12-13

¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

                        Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father:

Thank You for always making me aware of the important things I need to know in order to walk as a successful Christian. With Your help, I will not allow the things present nor the things to come to move me with fear and trepidation. Father, thank You for the joy I have in knowing You as my Lord and Savior, and the One who holds me up when I get weary. Father, show me if there has been any worry or fear in my heart. If I have backslidden in any way, I ask You to show me so I can confess and receive my forgiveness. If I have trusted in a false god of any kind, I ask You to reveal that to me through Your Son Jesus Christ. I desire to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. Thank You in advance for the answer to this prayer. I believe I received it already as I stand praying. I give You all the glory, honor and praise in the mighty name of Jesus! Amen.

There are three main points to consider from today’s study…

God will defend His people Israel – that’s all who believe in Jesus

There is only One True God and Savior – Jesus Christ

Jesus will hold us up through these turbulent times

Questions:

What has helped you the most in this study?

How as your thinking been changed about “religious traditions?”

How do you handle the thought of the prophecies given in the Bible – with confidence or fear? If there is fear, will you take it to the Lord in prayer?

What changes will you make in your life as a result of this study?

Who can you share this study with?

Do you have a real love relationship with Jesus right now?

And God Said… You fill in the blanks.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.