In this Psalm Asaph speaks of the nations who were trying to destroy Israel. The Arab nations surrounding Israel have been trying to destroy Israel for centuries. This conflict began around 2000 BC when Abraham had two sons: Isaac and Ishmael. Ishmael was Abraham’s son by an Egyptian servant named Hagar. Isaac was Abraham’s son by his wife Sarah.
God had promised Abraham that Abraham’s descendants would be blessed through a son born to Abraham and his wife, Sarah. This son was not born until Abraham was 100 years old. Abraham’s wife Sarah was 90 years old.
Fourteen years prior to this Abraham and Sarah grew impatient and figured that Sarah was too old to bear children. So, Sarah gave Abraham her slave to impregnate. Ishmael was the result of this.
Israel descended from Isaac. The Arab nations descended from Ishmael. There has been conflict between these two populations since Isaac and Ishmael were children.
This conflict was a result of Abraham growing impatient and not waiting on God’s timing for Isaac to be born. The Bible says that we are to ‘wait on the Lord.’ We must be patient.
