Satan Hates Who God Loves

Commentary

This psalm was written by Asaph, who was one of King David's worship leaders. (1 Chronicles 6:4-5) Asaph's name is attributed to several psalms, psalm 50 and palms 73-83. The major theme of Asaph's psalms is God's judgment.

There are some who believe that this psalm might be a prophecy for our time, and others who believe that it's simply an imprecatory prayer. Which is a prayer of curses upon the enemies of Israel. Regardless of what side you fall on, this psalm expresses the reality and constant nature of Israel's conflict with their neighbors, something that is as big an issue today as it's ever been.

Since Israel has been a nation, both the first time and now a second time, since 1948, the Arab nations have battled with Israel over and over. Since Islam came on the scene in the mid to late 1st millennium AD, there has been a united front against not only the Jews but also Christians. Satan hates all that God loves, and he has tried over and over again to wipe out the Jews and, in the last 2,000 years, Christians.

As we look upon current events, fundamental Islam has spread like fire in the Middle East and North Africa, even into South Pacific Asia and through the world. Their battle cry is to destroy the nation of Israel, kill all the Jews, Christians, and anyone else who won't convert to Islam. But in the midst of all the propaganda, God's Word provides clarity to who the land of Israel belongs to and what faith is true and real. A follower of Christ should not be confused about what is happening but instead rely on Scripture to make clear events past, present, and future.

Commentary

Understand that the evil of this world is not done completely in silos. Satan and his demons are lurking around to inspire man, to possess the wicked, to mobilize anyone who is willing or spiritually ignorant to battle against God and His people.

The nations listed in these verses were nations of people we'd primarily call Arab today. What makes this more interesting and possible evidence for this psalm being prophetic is that the lands which these nations inhabited are currently inhabited by mostly Arab and Egyptian people, who primarily identify as Muslim.

Gaza is in the same location as ancient Philistia. Ammon, Moab, and Edom are now modern-day Jordan. The locations of Tyre and Gebal are in modern-day Lebanon. For the most part, these are strongholds for fundamental Islamic ideology and the terrorism that attacks Israel regularly.

We know from Genesis that God promised the land of Israel to Abraham, then confirmed it to his son Isaac, then to his grandson Jacob, who was renamed by God to Israel.

But Abraham had a firstborn son named Ishmael, from his wife’s handmaid. It would be accurate to say that many Arab tribes are descendants of Ishmael. Scripture gives a very interesting description of this man Ishmael, whom many Arabs have descended from. This description could also be used to describe the Muslim world today.

Commentary

Asaph is calling out to the Lord for the same kind of intervention and victory, like God gave Israel over other nations in the past. Those times are written about in Judges, chapters 6, 7, and 8.

God has intervened many times, using His faithful servants to defend and protect His people. However, in Israel's rebellion, God has also allowed their enemies to overwhelm them. One thing that we can be sure of is that from 1948 onward, Israel isn't going anywhere. God promised that when He made Israel a nation-state once more, in the last days, that it would endure forever. Israel, more precisely Jerusalem, must exist in the end for Jesus to return to.

Whether this psalm prophesies a coming war or not, whatever Israel may face, God will ultimately protect the nation from total destruction. It's His chosen people whom He brought forth His entire Word and the Messiah of the world, Jesus. As Christians, we should be blessing the Jewish people, showing them the love of Christ, so as to make them jealous for their Savior.

Commentary

When God decides to act, His wrath is swift and overpowering. To make Israel's enemies like tumbleweeds is to show them that when compared to the All-Mighty God, they are nothing but straw, weak, and unable to stand against Him.

If this psalm is a prophecy, then these words might allude to God intervening in a situation where major war has broken out against Israel from surrounding Muslim countries. Not something that is impossible given current events and geopolitical and religious alignment.

Fundamental Islam is on fire against Israel and Christianity at this time. It has been a wrecking ball of violence and destruction for centuries, and the desire of Muslims is to not only eradicate the Jewish people but also take over the entire world and convert everyone to Islam or kill them. The Quran teaches exactly that to Muslims.

In Asaph's time, Israel dealt with Pagan tribes; today, it's Islam, but the root remains the same: Satan.

Commentary

Asaph finishes his psalm, asking God to use the shame of Israel's enemies to turn their hearts to Him, but if not, to let their wickedness destroy them. This should be our prayer as we deal with the enemies of God. That He would turn their hearts toward Him, but if not, then destroy them and their evil. You hope for the first scenario, understanding that ultimately all who reject Jesus will perish in their shame.

It's so hard to witness the terror and violence that mankind has brought into this world through religion. And I'm not talking about a real relationship with Jesus, I'm referring to everything but.

The predominant religion of the Arab world, Islam, is a religion that is cold, devoid of love, and deceptive. It's presented to the world as peaceful, but is literally forced upon people through violence. When you come to understand this, as a Christ-follower, it can be tempting to hope for the demise of fundamentalist Muslims and anyone who makes themselves our enemies, without first praying for their souls. Evil as they are, they are still people made in God's image.

Our first desire should be for the salvation of our enemies, because their end without Christ is truly horrible. We know from Scripture that every single soul, whether in Heaven or in Hell, will know that Jesus is Lord and that God is the Most High over everything. Yet those who rejected Christ and ended up in Hell will stay there, knowing that Jesus is Lord, yet suffering their just punishment for their sins, because they rejected the gift of God for a lie. Let us pray that many will repent of their evil and turn to Jesus for salvation.