After church Sunday I had a great conversation I have continued to reflect upon. I don't know about you, but often in the moment a question is posed my mind can remain "prodigiously empty" like Emmet in the Lego Movie. For me, my best responses ebb at the beginning and begin to flow freely days later. In talking of the current state of the world ravaged by conflict and war, it was mused: "There must be a better way than war. Why can't we figure something out to avoid the killing of young people and scarring them for life?" I agree completely with the view. War is plainly horrific, and I realise my ignorance on the subject - never having personally lived in a war zone, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, flashbacks, or lost a close friend or family member in combat. Despite my lack of personal experience, God has provided wisdom and understanding about war, even how God is able to redeem warfare for His redemptive purposes.
I have been considering the words of King Solomon in relation to war often reserved for funerals in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." What this passage shows is there is ordained by God a purpose and time for war and peace. Every human being is born in sin and therefore at war with God, naturally resistant and hostile to His wisdom. It is only those who surrender to God in faith and repentance who will experience His perfect peace.
Jesus Christ has proclaimed peace to all people through the Gospel, His death on the cross and resurrection, even as God commanded His people to do for people in cities God provided. Deuteronomy 20:10-12 says, "When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. 11 And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you. 12 Now if the city will not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it." Conquest was never the purpose of war for God's people but to claim and take possession of all the land within the borders God had given them as an inheritance. Global domination was never the point. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, and God gave the children of Israel clearly delineated borders when He brought them into the Land of Promise. God used His people as His instruments to judge the sinful nations who possessed the land after giving them space to repent and to respond to the offer of peace. If they refused to submit to the offer of peace, God caused their cities to fall.
The Bible demonstrates how God uses war to remove wicked rulers, to defend the innocent, to confirm the truth of His Word, to show His might and glory, to discipline His people, and to cause them to seek Him again in truth. Suffering and persecution purifies the church. The book of the Revelation in many places speaks of Satan making war against Christians and will prevail against them for a season. Revelation 17:14 tells us how Jesus will overcome and those who follow Him will partake in the victory: "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." When murderous tyrants are overthrown in battle the oppressed and those who delight in righteousness rejoice, and Satan is a thief, liar, and murderer from the beginning. God is not bloodthirsty and does not even delight in the death of the wicked: He calls all men everywhere to repent. The horrors of war and death are but a small precursor to the eternal terror which awaits all those who refuse His offer of peace and forgiveness through the Gospel. It is only through the lens of scripture and the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ the suffering of this world makes sense at all.
Daniel praised God for His might and wisdom in Daniel 2:20-22, "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him." There is hope, peace, and healing in Jesus Christ. No matter how the battle rages or the wickedness of men seems to spread, God remains in control and is a refuge for all who trust in Him. The only way to peace in this world torn by sin and war is through Jesus. Jesus won't force anyone to surrender to His rule, and those who refuse will only experience war and conflict - whether or not they ever step foot on a field of battle. Jesus is our peace (Eph. 2:14)!
I have been considering the words of King Solomon in relation to war often reserved for funerals in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." What this passage shows is there is ordained by God a purpose and time for war and peace. Every human being is born in sin and therefore at war with God, naturally resistant and hostile to His wisdom. It is only those who surrender to God in faith and repentance who will experience His perfect peace.
Jesus Christ has proclaimed peace to all people through the Gospel, His death on the cross and resurrection, even as God commanded His people to do for people in cities God provided. Deuteronomy 20:10-12 says, "When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. 11 And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you. 12 Now if the city will not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it." Conquest was never the purpose of war for God's people but to claim and take possession of all the land within the borders God had given them as an inheritance. Global domination was never the point. The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, and God gave the children of Israel clearly delineated borders when He brought them into the Land of Promise. God used His people as His instruments to judge the sinful nations who possessed the land after giving them space to repent and to respond to the offer of peace. If they refused to submit to the offer of peace, God caused their cities to fall.
The Bible demonstrates how God uses war to remove wicked rulers, to defend the innocent, to confirm the truth of His Word, to show His might and glory, to discipline His people, and to cause them to seek Him again in truth. Suffering and persecution purifies the church. The book of the Revelation in many places speaks of Satan making war against Christians and will prevail against them for a season. Revelation 17:14 tells us how Jesus will overcome and those who follow Him will partake in the victory: "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." When murderous tyrants are overthrown in battle the oppressed and those who delight in righteousness rejoice, and Satan is a thief, liar, and murderer from the beginning. God is not bloodthirsty and does not even delight in the death of the wicked: He calls all men everywhere to repent. The horrors of war and death are but a small precursor to the eternal terror which awaits all those who refuse His offer of peace and forgiveness through the Gospel. It is only through the lens of scripture and the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ the suffering of this world makes sense at all.
Daniel praised God for His might and wisdom in Daniel 2:20-22, "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him." There is hope, peace, and healing in Jesus Christ. No matter how the battle rages or the wickedness of men seems to spread, God remains in control and is a refuge for all who trust in Him. The only way to peace in this world torn by sin and war is through Jesus. Jesus won't force anyone to surrender to His rule, and those who refuse will only experience war and conflict - whether or not they ever step foot on a field of battle. Jesus is our peace (Eph. 2:14)!
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