God Identifies With War

God Identifies With War
He is called a Man of War. - Ex. 15:3
God is the Commander and Chief of Armed Forces. One of His names is the Lord of Hosts (Jehovah Saboath). The Bible refers to Him in this manner 281 times. The Hebrew words used indicate that the term could reasonably be translated as, the Lord that organizes military campaigns. – 1 Sam 1:3
He helps with offensive strategies. A divine personage that identified himself as the Commander of the Lord’s Army appeared to Joshua and gave him instructions for the battle of Jericho. – Josh. 5:13-15
He is a defensive weapon. King David was a warrior and a man after God's own heart. He used military terminology to depict the way in which he had learned to envision God. He called Him his Shield, Buckler, Tower, and Fortress. - Psa. 3:3, 18:2, 61:3
God has an arsenal of military weapons. King David knew God intimately and perceived Him as possessing weapons of war such as swords, spears, bows, arrows, warhorses, and chariots. – Psa. 45:3, 35:3, 7:11-13, 64:7, 68:17
He leads battles against evil. At the end of this age Jesus will lead His heavenly warriors in the Battle of Armageddon. It will end the need for war on planet earth. – Rev. 16:14-16, 19:11-21
The Lord Wants People Informed About Warfare
The Lord is a realist about the potential for unprincipled men to be oppressive. God purposely allowed some of Israel’s enemies to remain in the land so those that had not experienced war could learn about it. – Jud. 3:1-2
He does not believe that teaching children about war will wound their psyches. After the death of Saul and Jonathan, King David commanded that all Israeli children be taught the Song of the Bow as a tribute to the fallen warriors. – 2 Sam. 1:17-27
The Scriptures endorse heroism and the prowess of those skilled in battle. Within the covenant society of the Holy Land, the people celebrated the exploits and abilities of those that fought for the nation. Women danced as they sang about how Saul killed thousands and David tens of thousands. Men that could use either hand to wield weapons of war and those that had single handedly defeated multiple opponents were the boast of the population. - 1 Sam. 18:7, 1 Chron. 11 & 12
God supports the draft. Those that were recently married or were engaged in essential fields of employment were exempt from conscription. He also knew that the protest of cowards could discourage troops. Therefore, the fearful were permitted to stay at home to prevent them from contaminating the brave with fear. - Deut. 20:5-8
He knows military tactics. The Lord gave His people specific instructions about the strategies of warfare: officers were to encourage and order their troops prior to a battle; opponents were offered peace and paid harsh consequences if they refused; and every effort was made to preserve the ecological environments of besieged cities. – Deut. 20:1-19
He is aware that civilians can come into harm’s way. The Lord of Hosts commanded that all enemies that resided within Israel’s borders be executed. It appears that He did so to minimize the potential for future conflicts. With this in mind, our troops should never fear divine condemnation in the event that they inadvertently inflict collateral damage. – Deut. 20:16-17