Gebal, Ammon and Amalek - Psalms 83:7

In Psalms chapter eighty three Asaph referred to the enemies of Jehovah God and the people of Israel which included, “The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes”, and in chapter eighty three and verse seven of Psalms Asaph shared about, “Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek”, where we read,

Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;

The verse begins, “Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek;” Asaph began with the word, “Gebal” whose name means “a boundary” and was “a mountainous area south of the Dead Sea”, “and Ammon” which means “and Ammon whose name means tribal and was a people dwelling in Transjordan descended from Lot through Ben-ammi”, “and Amalek” or “and Amalek whose name means dweller in a valley and was son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timnah, grandson of Esau, and progenitor of a tribe of people in southern Canaan and the descendants of Amalek”. Asaph include the people of “Gebal, Ammon and Amalek” as enemies of Jehovah God and the people of Israel.

The verse continues, “the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;” Asaph added the words, “the Philistines” or “the Philistines whose name means land of sojourners and was the general territory on the west coast of Canaan or the entire country of Palestine” “with the inhabitants” which means “alongside the people who are dwellers and abiders” “of Tyre” or “belonging to Tyre whose name means a rock and was the Phoenician city on the Mediterranean coast”. Asaph included the “Philistines” alongside the residents in “Tyre” as enemies to Jehovah God and His people Israel.

When we consider the words in this verse, we see how Asaph named five more enemies to Jehovah God and the people of Israel. “Gebal, Ammon, Amalek, the Philistines and the residents of Tyre” were also among God's enemies. Modern day “Gebal” is Lebanon. “Ammon” is Jordan. “Amalek” is no longer a country as they were destroyed by Joshua. The “Philistines” are the Palestinians, and “Tyre” is in the modern nation of Lebanon. In other words, Israel was surrounded by enemies. God knows who loves Him and His people, and He is aware of those who hate them. His desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone regardless of their nation of origin, and He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and judge everyone according to His standard of perfect righteousness - Jesus.

Next time Asaph shares how, “Assur also is joined with them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".