The following is a few thoughts on war in the Bible. It is not exclusive and has been done by some of our members in response to some conversations with returning soldiers from the Middle East.

WAR is terrible, but not unforgivable

We have heard that some of the military personnel who have been in a combat situation have the idea that because of the acts of violence they committed, they will go to hell. This simply is not so.

The only reason a person goes to hell is because he/she rejects Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

A study of the wars in the Old Testament reveals some very bad situations back then. One of the early wars that took place is very familiar to most of us. That is the battle of Jericho. The usual focus on the battle of Jericho is how the Israelites won the battle, not what the consequences were.

Joshua 6:20-21, 24:

²⁰ So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

²¹ And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

²⁴ And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein; only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.

Even in that day and time, there was death and destruction of a people who were enemies of the Lord.

We wonder why this God of love that we worship would allow such horrible things to happen. Our God hates sin and wants to keep His people as pure as possible. Also, it appears that many who would not realize who He is and the power He has find this out in a war situation.

Another good example of an atrocity that was committed in a wartime situation is found in the story of David and Goliath. First Samuel 17:45-54:

⁴⁵ Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

⁴⁸ So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. ⁴⁹ Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. ⁵⁰ So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. ⁵¹ Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.

And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. ⁵² Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley^[a] and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron. ⁵³ Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents. ⁵⁴ And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

Most of us have been familiar with the story of David and Goliath since we were children. However, very few times is the focus of the fact that David killed an enemy of God. And not only that, he did what we consider a very atrocious act in the day and time in which we live. He cut off the giant’s head and took it to Jerusalem. There was no TV to prove the enemy was dead and that may have been the reason for this act, but it also helps us to realize that just because we are in a war situation and faced with killing the enemy, it is not these acts that will send us to hell.

David was a man of war. But God also said He was a man after His own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14b)

^14b The LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

Acts 13:22b “He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, “I have found David^[c] the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart.”

The Lord does not like wars, but He allows them because they are mostly between good and evil, and Jesus said there would be wars and rumors of wars until He returns.

The compassion of the American people comes from the roots of the Christianity upon which this country was founded. Even though we are caught in war, let us hope that we do not lose that compassion.

It is not what you have to do in a war that decides your eternal destiny. It is what you do with Jesus that makes the difference.