Ensign: The Laws Of War, Part 3

All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. Isaiah 18:3

AN ENSIGN ON THE MOUNTAINS 18 January 2013

When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.

Simple enough; nobody WANTS war. (Though with some commentators I've heard and read lately, Christian and otherwise, I wonder …) But as we pick up our study of Deuteronomy 20 with verse ten, we see what those called to active duty in the armed forces of the children of Israel needed to lead as well as to follow. For there was going to be fighting in their new homeland – the Promised Land – of Canaan. Pure and simple, people already living there were unlikely to give up their rights without a fight.

And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

So go for peace first. This did NOT originate with Jesus in His sermon on the mount (sorry, all the caps would be too much) saying “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” in Matthew 5:9, for why fight when you don't have to? Isn't the best way to fight a battle to find a way to not fight the battle at all? Although making those cities that surrender tributaries or branches or outposts of Israel per verse eleven, and thereby their people Israel's servants – and thereby the LORD's servants – sounds servile to our ears, consider the alternative.

And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:

As I said, the people already living in the Promised Land were unlikely to give up their rights without a fight. So if they choose to fight, which continued reading of Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua shows was more likely than not, then the city and its people were fair game. See this in verse twelve quoted above. For this brings home the fact that entering fellowship with the children of Israel – and thereby, fellowship with Israel's God – was very much, is very much, an either/or proposition. There weren't any jails or any where the condemned could cool their heels until justice was served. So you pretty much had to swear obedience to God and Israel on the spot … or die.

And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:

I have a confession to make. This is not the easiest passage of Scripture to write about, but just because something's difficult doesn't mean we shouldn't study it, and possibly learn something about how to conduct ourselves in our own day and time. Look at the beginning of this verse thirteen, “And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it ...” That doesn't mean you and I in a conflict or struggle need to do nothing and just “turn it over to God”, but it does mean that we can't be half-hearted. When you and I ask God for something or to do something with us, we MUST be prepared for the answer. And to act on it, not to be halfhearted about it, hence last week's study of verses five through nine giving reasons children of Israel – sorry, “Jews” doesn't come into use for another thousand years – could not serve in their country's battles. No distractions.

But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

At least going to war with a city (and keep in mind this referred to cities, established communities with a common and not tribes of roving bandits) far away didn't mean total destruction for that city, unlike now potentially. Or did it? But note in verses fourteen and fifteen this refers to where the Promised Land – this promise goes back to Genesis 12 – wasn't. It was still and would still be possible to live if you weren't a child of Israel and thereby a servant of the LORD God; possible, but very difficult. Even if your city got devastated by Israel at war, there were still rules. And we need them.

Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

There's a storm coming in,

David

P.S. I write this weekly devotional to keep in touch with all of you in my address book, and I hope to be an encourager to action too! If you find that I’m not or you want me to get lost, just let me know – thank you!

Thank You, Lord, that we can come to you in prayer and that You provide for all our needs, even when we don’t know what they are. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem on both sides of the fence there and around the world.

Thank You, Lord, for everyone in leadership and service, both here and abroad. Thank You for the opportunities we have and the promise of new life through You. I pray that we all seek and have a blessed week! Amen.