(17) PSALMS 79-87

Psalm 79 - This psalm presents the effects of the invasions of the armies of the King of the North, when they have passed through the land of Israel destroying both the city of Jerusalem and the temple, in their conquest on the way to Egypt (Dan. 11:40-42). Those who are part of the faithful Jewish remnant cry out to God when they see the land of their inheritance laid waste by the invaders who come from the north. They plead that God quickly pour out His judgment upon them. Psalm 80 - While they await God's intervention, those who belong to the remnant lift up a threefold prayer for the restoration of the nation (vv. 3,7,19 Almeida Versão Atualizada). They speak to God about the nation under the well-known figure of a vine, reminding Him of His wonderful care for them in times past (vv. 1-11). Confused and troubled, they ask why God has allowed it to be trampled by a wild boar (the armies of unclean Gentiles of the King of the North) and burned with fire (vv. 12-16). They plead that God would have His hand upon the Man of His right hand (the Messiah), recognizing that the only hope of restoration is found in Him (vv. 17-19).

Psalm 81 - Foreseeing their restoration, the remnant longs for the trumpet to be blown at the new moon (the feast of trumpets, Lev. 23), symbolizing the harvest and national restoration of Israel (vv. 1-5). While they await the Lord's intervention, He speaks, reminding them that when they cried out to Him in the past, and He delivered them, they rebelled soon afterward (vv. 6-16). In this He tests the reality of the people's desire for Him. The Lord then testifies that if they would only listen to His voice and walk in His ways, He would certainly deliver them from all their enemies. Psalm 82 - God's presence is now recognized in Israel. The Lord has returned (the coming of Christ) in answer to the remnant's cry in the previous psalm. He is seen judging those who are in positions of authority in the land of Israel (the Antichrist, the obstinate king, and other officials of his government. Dan. 11:39). Judgment must begin at the house of God (1 Pet. 4:17). Those who have placed themselves in a position of responsibility are judged first (v. 7). The Lord applied this psalm to the time of His first coming (John 10:34), but He did not speak of judgment on that occasion, for He had then come in grace to save. But when He comes the second time, He will execute judgment in Israel, beginning with the responsible Jewish legislators (apostates). This psalm therefore describes the judgment that the Lord will execute on the day when He comes to deliver the remnant.* This answers point no. 4 of the summary. The remnant also asks that the Lord's judgment extend to the Gentile nations of the land (v. 8).

[ Note: *It should be noted that the Beast (the Western Confederation) is not mentioned as being judged here, although it is at that time. The Western nations are not the subject of the Psalms; Daniel and Revelation have more to do with them. J.N.Darby said: "It appears to me that, at least as far as results are concerned, the Antichrist is off the scene when Psalm 83 takes place. This psalm is fulfilled after the destruction of all the powers of the Beast"#30# ] Psalm 83* - The Lord having returned, His judgments continue. In this psalm His judgment is seen extending (as was asked by the remnant in Ps. 82:8) to the confederated nations** under the command of Assyria, which devastated the land. The judgment executed upon these nations is because of their aversion to God's earthly people, the Jews (vv. 1-8). This has a correlation with two significant victories in Israel's history (Barak and Gideon, Judg. 4-8) when God intervened in their favor on the plain of Megiddo (Armageddon). Those victories prefigured the judgment mentioned here (vv. 9-17). This may answer point no. 5. As a result of the nations under the command of the Assyrians, the name of the Lord becomes known over the earth (v. 18).

"JEHOVAH", the name revealed to Israel as His name related to the covenant, is now presented. The introduction of the name of JEHOVAH marks a change in the book from the so-called Elohistic psalms to the Jehovistic psalms. From Psalm 42 to 83, the remnant's cry was directed to God (Elohim), but from Psalm 84 onward they are directed to JEHOVAH ("Lord", in the Almeida version). This indicates that the remnant has been delivered and is understanding the blessings of the covenant that they have in Jehovah.#31# [ Note: *J.N.Darby mentions, concerning Psalm 83 in his "Synopsis", that this confederation is the "last confederation". Some have taken his statement to mean that these confederated nations rise up at the end with Gog (Russia), when he attacks (Ezek. 38-39). I believe this is a mistaken understanding of what Darby meant. Later in his "Synopsis" (regarding Obadiah), he mentions the "last confederation" attacking and destroying Jerusalem! Gog will not do that. He will attack, but when he does the city will be defended by the Lord who will then have returned to deliver the faithful Jewish remnant and restore the ten tribes of Israel.

At that time the Lord will roar from Zion and destroy Gog and the armies that follow him. It is necessary to understand what Darby means when he uses the expression "last confederation". This is the great Assyria in prophecy, which is an immense confederation that encompasses both the King of the North and his Arab Confederation (Psalm 83), as well as Gog (Ezek. 38:1-6). Gog will have control of the entire confederation. The nations in Psalm 83 are satellites of Gog (Dan. 8:24). The whole of the "last confederation" does not attack Israel at the same time. The King of the North, with his Arab Confederation (probably sent by Gog), to which this psalm refers, will attack first and will succeed in destroying the land (Joel 2:1-11) and the city of Jerusalem (Ps. 79:1-3; Zech. 14:1,2) as they advance toward Egypt (Dan. 11:40-43). This is sometimes called the first attack of Assyria. The second attack of Assyria is when Gog (Russia) and his armies come down later and are destroyed by the Lord (Ezek. 38-39). Both are called "last" because the Western Confederation (the Beast) will already have been judged by then and will be out of the picture at that time. ] [ Note: ** This confederation of ten nations is evidently not the Beast, whose empire is also composed of ten nations (Rev. 13:1; 17:12). The nations confederated under the command of the Beast originate from western Europe, while the nations in this psalm are located immediately north and east of Israel. ] Psalm 84 - The beginning of this psalm once again indicates that the faithful Jewish remnant (the two tribes, Judah and Benjamin) has been set free. Korah (the same as Core) and his group who were destroyed are a figure of the apostate Jews who rejected God. Their sons (the "sons of Korah") are a figure of the spared remnant (Num. 26:10,11). The psalm goes on to show the exercise of the ten dispersed tribes as they return to the land of Israel after the Arab Confederation, under the command of Assyria (Ps. 83), has been judged.* The longing for God rises among them. As true Israelites they long for the earthly place, as is proper to them, in the "courts of the Lord" (vv. 1-4). They envy the sparrows and the swallows that have found a place in the house of Jehovah and wish to be there too. Yearning for God and for His dwelling, His elect, coming from the four winds (Matt. 24:31), begin a journey that leads them there (vv. 5-8). Verse 5 could be better translated as "Blessed is the man... whose heart is in the ways to Zion" (free rendering of J.N.Darby's translation).

Compare also Isa. 11:15,16; 19:23; 35:8-10; 49:9-12. Their path leads them through the valley of Baca ("weeping", according to the note in J.N.Darby's translation) indicating that there will be a work of repentance in their hearts as they return (Jer. 31:9,18-21). They will go "from strength to strength" (v. 7 -- N.T.: "from group to group" according to the version used by the author). The Israelite pilgrims will increase in number as they meet other groups of their brothers and sisters along the way, until there is a huge multitude heading to Zion. The psalm ends with the desire they have to see the Messiah ("your Anointed"), whom they acknowledge as their Sun and Shield (vv. 9-12).

[ Note: *"The ten tribes, at least the remnant of them, are in the land when the last events are occurring. In Psalm 84 they go up again to Jerusalem, and in Psalm 85 the restoration takes place." J.N.Darby.#32# ] Psalm 85 - The remnant of Israel is now seen as having been brought from the four winds (Matt. 24:31) into the favor of Jehovah, with their sins forgiven and the wrath of God turned away (vv. 1-3). The psalm goes on to show that there will be a further restoration, in their souls, after they have been outwardly delivered and brought back to their land, before they can be at liberty to enjoy the blessings of the Kingdom#33# (vv. 4-7). The plea to the Lord, that His wrath be turned away from them, indicates that they need to understand the extent of the deliverance that now belongs to them. They are not yet sure of how the Lord's heart is toward them and, consequently, they are not at peace*. To put an end to their fears and to end their doubts, the Lord speaks to them of peace. He speaks of the greatness of the salvation that has been brought to them and instructs them in the true meaning and value of the cross, where mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other (vv. 8-10). As a consequence, the remnant learns that the finished work of Christ on the cross is the foundation for the blessings of the Kingdom and that they can enjoy them because they belong to them (vv. 11-13). Psalms 84 and 85 correspond to the interval between points 5 and 6.

[ Note: *Perhaps it is something like Joseph's brothers who, after having been restored to him, were still not certain of his favor toward them (Gen. 50:15-21).#34# ] Psalm 86 - This psalm shows that although the rest of Israel (the ten tribes) has returned to its land (Ps.

1. and been restored to the Lord (Ps. 85),