Prophetic Events — page 44

still do not have a complete rest in their promised inheritance.* The anguish resulting from having been surrounded by enemies ("the assemblies of the tyrants," v. 14) leads them to cry out to the Lord for their preservation (vv. 1-7). They express their confidence in the Lord, that He will arise in power to strike down their enemies until all the nations are subdued and placed under Him (vv. 8-10). The recognition they have of the Lord's power is indicated by the fact that they use the name "Lord" (Adonai, in the original) seven times, which refers to the exercise of His almighty lordship, instead of "LORD" (Jehovah, in the original) which is His covenant name. They call to mind the wonderful deliverance wrought by the Lord on their behalf, when He destroyed their former enemies, and they trust that He will now do the same to the "assemblies of the tyrants" that have risen up against the remnant (vv. 13-17). The enemy ("the tyrants") on this occasion are the Assyrians, which in their final form is Russia.** The prophecy reveals that it is the Russian hordes (Gog) that will come down from the north in an attempt to defeat the newly regathered Israel (Ezek. 37-39, especially Ezek. 38:11,12). Their character of ungodly atheism is revealed in the fact that they do not set the Lord before their eyes (v. 14). This corresponds to point no. 6.

[ Note: *"The psalm is essentially the pious appeal, to Jehovah, of the remnant of Israel that has returned to the land."

J.N.Darby ("Synopsis of the Books of the Bible"). ] [ Note: ** "I believe the ungodly man is the Antichrist; the violent man (the 'tyrants' - Almeida version), the subsequent enemies of the Jews, the Assyrians."#35# "Gog will be the last form of the Assyrians."#36# Violent men (or 'tyrants') is an appropriate title for the Assyrians. They were particularly known for their violence and cruelty (Jonah 3:8). ] Psalm 87* - all enemies are seen as defeated. Zion (Jerusalem) is now re-established in the land as the city of God (vv. 1-3). The remnant of Israel (the ten tribes) learns of the various nations such as Rahab (Egypt, Isa. 51:9; Ps. 89:10), Babylon (the Beast, the western powers), and others that were judged before they returned to the land. They were not in the land when those nations were judged and therefore learn about it after the fact had already occurred (v. 4). With the beginning of the Millennium** the fame of Jehovah's people will spread throughout the whole world (Isa. 61:9) as having been born of God and connected by grace with Zion (v. 4). The Lord will keep a record of each one among the nations ("the peoples," cf. J.N.Darby translation) who will also be born again (v. 6). The final verse indicates that all earthly joy will have its origin and will be centered in Zion (v. 7).

[ Note: *Historically, it appears that this psalm was written after the deliverance of Jerusalem, when the armies of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, were destroyed (2 Chron. 32:21-23). If this is correct, the proper placement of this psalm is quite significant because Sennacherib is a well-known type of Gog (Russia). After the armies of Gog have been judged (Ps. 86), the glory of the Kingdom of Zion is revealed (Ps. 87), as being associated with the Most High. ] [ Note: ** The fact that the Millennium has begun is indicated by the use of the name "Most High" for the Lord (v. 5), which implies that He has taken possession of the heavens and the earth (Gen. 14:19; Ps. 2:8). ] There are many other outlines in the Prophets and in the Psalms that could be included in this book to confirm the order of the prophecy, but time and space do not permit it. The outlines above are sufficient for our purpose.