And all of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance [confusion] in it. (Neh. 4:8)
“All of them” indicates the jealous neighbors had formed an alliance with a united objective: to prevent the Jews from raising a wall and defending their national sovereignty. A wall around Jerusalem would provide a haven for returning exiles. Without a bastion for protection Jerusalem could be recaptured and destroyed anytime her enemies determined to do so.
The conditions in Nehemiah’s time bear a striking similarity to the situation in the Middle East in the first years of the twenty-first century. Since the founding of the new Jewish state in 1948, hundreds of thousands of Jews have migrated to Israel. Surrounding Arab states have resisted this reemergence of Jews in the Land. Consequently, the Jews have been forced to fight or be driven into the sea. Israel’s freedom and autonomy are still contingent upon the strength and readiness of her military.21
Similarly, the United States is not without enemies. Yet we have stripped our military to bare bones. Our armed services are woefully inadequate for effectively defending our vital interests abroad. Nehemiah 4:8encourages us to revitalize and maintain the military. We should consider Israel’s continuing struggle for survival and heed the warnings of Nehemiah. We should realize that our enemies will always oppose the rebuilding of our martial capabilities even as the four tribes vigorously opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall.
“All of them conspired together to come” indicates the hostile approach of the four armies to Jerusalem. Their objective: Make war against the city from all sides. These diverse groups joined forces in a plot to destroy Jerusalem. “To cause a disturbance,” תּוֹעָה (to ‘ah), actually denotes creating “confusion” to facilitate the purpose of the alliance. Clearly, these armies were bent on exploitation, tyranny, and enslavement.
When the exiled Jews returned to the Land, they accomplished two tasks: First, they restored the function of the Temple, revitalizing their spiritual life as the highest priority; second, they provided for national defense by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and their military establishment. Mandatory military training was instituted. They were following the time-honored tradition mandated by the Mosaic Law.
And Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war [learn the use of arms and train for warfare], that they may go against Midian, to execute the LORD’S vengeance on Midian. A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.” So there were furnished from the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed [trained] for war. (Num. 31:3-5)
The returned exiles under Nehemiah maintained a small, regular army and a ready reserve consisting of the entire eligible male populace. Each man was instructed in the use of a weapon. On any given day the reserve troops might be soldiers or civilians. Judah was prepared to defend itself.
But we prayed to our God, and because of them [the enemy] we set up a guard [watch] against them day and night. (Neh. 4:9)
The conjunction “but” emphasizes the two areas in which a nation must undergo preparation when facing an antagonist. Notice first the aspect of spiritual readiness. “We prayed (פָּלַל, palal) to our God” literally means, “But from our own free will, we offered intercessory prayer to our God.” They prefaced their operational preparations with a petition to the Lord.
The second priority of a nation is military readiness. “A guard against them day and night,” מִשְׁמָר עֲלֵיהֶם יֹומָם וָלַיְלָה (mishmar 'aleyhem yomam valaylah), is a phrase encapsulating four critical spheres of grand strategy for national defense:22
The ability to mobilize a military force to meet an invading army;
Constant readiness and training;
A sagacious and establishment-oriented civilian administration;
A united civilian populace that supports a common national objective.
With foresight the Jewish leaders had organized for any contingency and were able to counter the threat of the aggressively approaching armies. Since they had already established a superb military organization that could be rapidly mobilized, the troops now were placed on maximum alert.
Their determination to defend Jerusalem reveals something about the Jew of ancient Israel. Like his counterpart in the modern state of Israel, he was a formidable soldier, a ferocious fighter who exhibited courage, resourcefulness, and mental toughness in the face of aggression.
In the phrase “set up a guard against them,” the verb עָמַד (‘amad) means “to be caused to be stabilized, to take one’s stand” and the noun mishmar means “a guard” or “a watch.” These Jews were vigilant and ready for action. While the apostate Jews in the days of Jeremiah neglected and rejected their military, the steadfast Jews under Nehemiah had a fully staffed, well-trained military establishment. Clearly the returned exiles had learned from their past mistakes.
Thus in Judah it was said,
“The strength of the burden bearers is failing,
Yet there is much rubbish;
And we ourselves are unable
To rebuild the wall.” (Neh. 4:10)
Some of the Jews complained that they could not reconstruct the defensive wall around the city as long as full mobilization was in effect. When Nehemiah called up the reserves, that left only the “burden bearers,” an exhausted crew of rock carriers, still clearing the “rubbish.” The wall had been devastated in Nebuchadnezzar’s siege and was still in deplorable condition, useless for protecting the inhabitants. So much rubble remained that the builders could not maneuver to begin reconstruction of the ramparts. Faced with an impending attack and too little time to rebuild, Nehemiah decided to develop defensive tactics with a fully mustered legion and to trust in the Lord for deliverance.23
While verse 10 reveals the internal discord among the returned exiles, verse 11 describes the plotting of the enemy from without.
And our enemies said, “They [the Jews] will not know or see [the plot] until we [invaders] come among them, kill them, and put a stop to the work.” (Neh. 4:11)
The armies of the Samaritans, the Arabs, the Philistines, and the Ammonites finalized their strategy for a surprise attack and converged on Jerusalem. Unbeknown to these conspirators the element of surprise would have no effect. The Jewish army, well trained and on full alert, was prepared.
The four aggressors understood the difficulty of attacking a prepared military defense. They opted for the shock of surprise, to catch the defenders unawares. Their immediate objective was to kill the exiles already in Jerusalem. Their long-range objective was to discourage any new contingent of returning Jewish refugees from completing the defensive bulwark of Jerusalem’s massive walls.
And it came about when the Jews who lived near them [the invaders] came and told us ten times, “They will come up against us from every place where you may turn.” (Neh. 4:12)
Even though Nehemiah inaugurated mandatory military training, even though the army was prepared for every exigency, even though the general populace would fight to avoid enslavement and annihilation, there were still some cowards who wanted to surrender. Jews from outlying areas had reconnoitered the approaching armies and could see no escape. Terrified over the possibility of attack, they flocked to the city frantically repeating a warning to Nehemiah, “Our enemies are coming from every direction—we are trapped!” Knowing such hysteria could spread to the troops and the public at large, Nehemiah took decisive action.
Then I stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families [מִשְׁפָּחָה, mishpachah] with their swords, spears, and bows. (Neh. 4:13)
After estimating the situation Nehemiah issued an operations order. He arrayed the troops in a defensive posture to meet the enemy strategy. Nehemiah was not only a student of the Word of God, but also of military science and human nature. He used the terrain and the available forces to best advantage. Lacking a completed wall around the city, he set up a defensive perimeter, concentrating troops at the gaps in the fortifications to act as a holding force.
How could such a sparse first line of defense hold in the face of a numerically superior force? Nehemiah literally stationed his troops in their mishpachah, “clans.” Each combat unit consisted of extended family members. In close proximity to each unit were wives, children, and other noncombatant relatives. Thus the soldiers were placed in naturally cohesive groups and furnished with a constant reminder of the dire consequences that defeat would bring to their loved ones. This family immediacy would give the warriors added incentive to fight on to victory. What a brilliant and innovative command decision! Nehemiah exhibited exceptional moral courage, an essential attribute for any military leader.
Then, he formulated a strategy to place these “men in the lowest parts” to hide the main body of his troops from the enemy. In so doing, regardless of which enemy army attacked first, Nehemiah could call on his hidden reserve forces to meet the most prominent threat. Nehemiah had thus provided a defensive perimeter around the city and a mobile reserve to maneuver on interior lines.24 The advantage of fighting on interior lines is the ability to concentrate all available combat power against the most immediate danger. A smaller force can preserve the initiative against a larger force. Clearly Nehemiah understood strategy and tactics.
Hidden from sight on the low ground, Nehemiah set up his mobile reserve, his instant reaction force. Their position shielded them from the prying eyes of the enemy. The hostile forces theoretically would observe only the weak perimeter and then proceed recklessly, confident of easy victory. At just the right moment, Nehemiah would move the reaction force and strike the attacking enemy on the flank. Thus, the enemy would face a tenacious holding force and a second aggressive force, attacking from a different angle. Here is the advantage of fighting on interior lines. After the enemy is defeated in one quadrant, the reaction force can move quickly to a different section of the perimeter and respond to a threat from a new direction.
Notice again the last phrase of verse 13, “with their swords, spears, and bows.” The Jews had weapons and they knew how to use them. They had the means and the will to protect their country and their loved ones. Disarmament is never an option for a people desiring freedom.
From Nehemiah’s example an application can be made to the United States of America. From time to time the freedom of this country depends on general officers who accurately understand and skillfully employ the military science of strategy and tactics. Only after years of intense training and study in technical military subjects is a commander capable of deftly and effectively maneuvering troops. Such proficiency comes only through constant practice and preparation. Yet this country has discouraged gifted men from dedicating their lives to the study of military science. Those who have chosen to follow the noble profession of arms receive little honor from those they serve. Often they are hated and ridiculed by their countrymen. What a tragedy! No nation can survive in time of war without such courageous and competent soldiers.
When I [Nehemiah] saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughter, your wives, and your houses.” (Neh. 4:14)
Who was Nehemiah addressing? The aristocracy, the bureaucracy, and all the rest of the citizens. Nehemiah knew the danger of fear spreading among the military and civilian leadership and the populace in general. Fear would not only cause the leadership to overreact and issue orders contradictory to Nehemiah’s, but would also paralyze the civilians. Nehemiah did not need the leadership’s interference in his strategic and tactical decisions; he needed them to prepare themselves “and the rest of the people” for the coming battle. So Nehemiah encouraged all of them to think divine viewpoint.
Nehemiah reminded all the citizens why they should not panic. Fear on the home front can be just as devastating to the war effort as fear in the foxhole. Such fear can subvert national morale and sabotage a people’s determination to defend freedom. He urged all of them to focus on Bible doctrine. Nehemiah’s rallying cry was “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord!” In effect he was saying to them, “You have doctrine, now use it!”
When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in Thee. (Ps. 56:3)
The LORD is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me? (Ps. 118:6)
“Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10)
Nehemiah did not divulge his strategy of fighting on interior lines, the tactic of envelopment, or his ingenious troop dispositions. Security of the operation was paramount. He could not risk the possibility of his carefully laid plans falling into enemy hands through a slip of the tongue.
Nehemiah had not time for situation briefings or a long sermon. All his concentration was on the coming conflict. Success in any endeavor in life requires the concentration to pay attention to detail while staying focused on the objective. However, Nehemiah remained a brief moment to remind them that the Lord is “great and awesome”; their God was a mighty warrior, “the Lord of hosts,” the ultimate Commander in Chief. With the Mighty Warrior in control what did Israel have to fear from her enemies? Nehemiah exhorted them to employ the faith-rest drill25 so they could handle their fear and invoke the battle cry of King David:
“The battle is the LORD’S and He will give you [the enemy] into our hands.” (1 Sam. 17:47b)
‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.’ (2 Chron. 20:15b)
God uses warfare to judge nations which have become depraved. At various times in the course of Israel’s history the Lord of hosts had given the command “utterly destroy them [the enemy]!” to keep corruption from spreading or to preserve His people (Deut. 7:2, 16; 20:16-17; Josh. 11:20-21). In 1 Chronicles 5 the Jews were fighting the Hagrites, descendants of Hagar, the Egyptian servant of Sarah and Abraham (Gen. 16:1-10). God condoned this war as judgment upon Canaanite apostasy.
And they made war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who werewith them [their allies] were given into their hand; for they [the Jews] cried out to God in the battle, and He was entreated for them [their cause was just], because they trusted [faith-rest] in Him. (1 Chron. 5:19-20)
For many fell slain, because the war was of God. (1 Chron. 5:22a)
This is the divine perspective of warfare: Victory demands that the enemy be rendered hors de combat. Wars should be fought to win and winning means slaying the enemy.
Nehemiah 4:14 closes with the command, “Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” This mandate reminds the warriors why they fight:
“For your brothers”—fight to defend your fellow citizens, the national entity, divine institution number four;
“Your sons, your daughters”—fight to defend and protect children and family, divine institution number three;
“Your wives”—fight to protect your right woman, divine institution number two;
“Your houses”—fight to defend privacy, property, and freedom, divine institution number one.
Warfare is necessary as the guardian of the four divine institutions. Nehemiah not only calmed the fears of all the citizenry by encouraging them to “remember the Lord,” but he motivated the military by reminding them of the common cause for which they would confront the enemy—the freedom of the nation. He personalizes this command by saying, “Fight for the survival and well-being of your families.”
If you are a soldier, memorize the last phrase of verse 14. When you find yourself in combat on a foreign shore thousands of miles from home, remember you are fighting for your loved ones. No matter where the fray, or who the enemy, you are waging war for hearth and home.
Military Preparation Prevents Wars
And it happened when our enemies heard that it [the surprise attack] was known to us, and that God had frustrated their plan, then all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. (Neh. 4:15)
Having “frustrated” the machinations of the four enemies, the crisis passed without bloodshed. Why? The Jews were prepared for war—‘peace through strength!’ God honored Nehemiah’s compliance with the divine defense plan. The Jews were ready and willing to defend their freedom without reservation. Thus, the four aggressor nations were deterred and retired without attempting an assault. The epitome of military preparedness is to deter the enemy without a fight.
How different is the story of the United States. After World War I the military capacity of our country was drastically reduced by a deluded Congress. Our representatives mistakenly believed we had just won ‘the war to end all wars.’ Such is never the case. Why did the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor? They saw an easy target! The Japanese took advantage of our appalling weakness. They planned to crush our under strength army and navy in the Pacific with one blow, leaving us helpless to resist. Had our military been adequately prepared for aggression, the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor might have remained only a scenario of Admiral Yamamoto and the Japanese Imperial staff rather than the reality of 7 December 1941.
By the end of World War II our military power reached its zenith. But rather than intelligent demobilization to maintain a semblance of the most effective fighting force in the history of our nation, we drastically reduced the army, mothballed the fleet, and gave up important strategic advantages. Through irresponsible reduction of forces we were once again left vulnerable. How quickly we forgot the price of freedom.
Within five years of World War II we were mired in the Korean War for which we were shockingly ill-prepared in personnel and equipment. Ten years later we committed troops to combat in Vietnam, untrained in guerrilla warfare and with no intelligible objective. The civilian population—Americans enjoying the privileges of freedom—abandoned our soldiers fighting on that distant, jungle battlefield. We forfeited morale, men, materiel, prestige, and self-respect. Are we destined to repeat continually the painful lesson taught by our lack of military preparedness? The old axiom seems to apply: We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.
In contrast the Jews applied divine viewpoint and learned the lesson of history. Nehemiah’s established war plan, speedy mobilization, brilliant tactical deployment of troops, and the support of the civilian population disheartened the four invading armies. The price of attacking a primed defense was too high. When oppressors identify a tough opponent, their resolve falters.
Since Nehemiah and his compatriots understood divine viewpoint, especially the doctrine of the total depravity of man, they had no illusions about the evil intent of the invaders. Totalitarian nations harbor sinister intentions. Spiritual and military training are necessary to prevent tyranny from prevailing. The Jews, both spiritually and militarily prepared, could now prudently demobilize the reserves and finish reconstructing the walls—an engineering feat they accomplished in a remarkable fifty-two days (Neh. 6:15).
Intelligent Demobilization
And it came about from that day on, that half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. (Neh. 4:16)
The reserves were demobilized and “carried on the work” of raising the wall. The rock carriers welcomed the help they had been begging for while the regular army maintained constant readiness. The regulars, still mobilized, carried their weapons. This is the shrewd way to demobilize. The Jews realized their enemies could return without warning. They were not only equipped militarily for such a contingency, but also were improving their defensive capability by rebuilding the wall. They had learned the cost of maintaining freedom and national autonomy. It cannot be negotiated with an implacable enemy. Freedom is the product of constant vigilance, military might, and in the final analysis, the grace of God.
Whereas Judah had four unrelenting foes, the United States has countless antagonists and few real allies. Absurd military reductions have made our country dangerously vulnerable. We cannot maintain freedom from a position of weakness—either military or spiritual weakness. We must follow Judah’s example and pay the price for freedom by supporting an extensive and proficient military.
Nehemiah 4:16 concludes by emphasizing the importance of leadership during Judah’s demobilization. The rulers “behind the whole house of Judah” were leaders who understood the necessity of a well-trained military supported by the home front. They organized the people both to work and to fight.
The rebuilding of the United States armed forces in the 1980’s brought our long-standing antagonist, the Soviet Union, to dissolution without a shooting war. Our defense priority was an astute application of the concept of freedom and peace through strength. Where is that kind of leadership in the United States today? In the past, both the executive and legislative branches of government had denigrated and denuded the military. As a result our national defense was impaired.
The next two verses continue to recount the Jewish demobilization.
Those [the demobilized troops] who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens [the rock carriers] took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. (Neh. 4:17)
As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stoodnear me. (Neh. 4:18)
Why were the builders wearing swords? Because these citizen-soldiers—professional construction workers and expert men-at-arms—were essential to the Jewish defense force. While the men worked on the wall, they kept their weapons instantly available. Nehemiah did not intend for the enemy to return and surprise the Jews before they could complete the fortifications around Jerusalem. The military was so integral to the survival of freedom that participation was a duty for every able-bodied man. The demobilized reserves carried their weapons to work and were ready to use them at a moment’s notice. They were true “minutemen.” Their call to arms was only a trumpet sound away. They were spiritually, militarily, and mentally prepared. Freedom so zealously guarded is freedom preserved.
THE DIVINE VIEWPOINT OF THE MILITARY
The following biblical tenets will illuminate your thinking concerning the purpose and necessity of the military. God authorizes a military so the human race can survive war and guard freedom, just as He authorizes the “sword” of state (Rom. 13:4) so the human race can survive crime and live in freedom.
Freedom must be maintained.
The military maintains freedom.
Therefore, the military must be maintained.
Enemies may appear from within or from without the nation. Scripture supports the right of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves against evil and crime and a nation to defend against hostile attack. Violence of evildoers is retrained only by the stronger violence of the righteous. God could not be called good if “He were to turn the world over to the horrors of unbridled cruelty perpetrated by violent and bloody criminals or the unchecked aggression of invading armies.”26
In the operation of the military in combat the enemy must be destroyed to protect freedom. The same is true of the enemy within: The violent criminal must be removed from society—therefore, the necessity of imprisonment and capital punishment. The military destroys external enemies; the judicial system executes internal enemies. Thus, peace and the survival of a nation are ensured.
Interior Protection
God ordained government to be the authority within a national entity. As the guardian of liberty, a regime, whatever its form of governance (parliamentary, monarchy, republic, etc.), must protect the inherent right of its citizens to life, privacy, property, and freedom to succeed or fail according to their own ability and volition. The national entity must also ensure the right of the individual to religious freedom—the opportunity to accept or reject Jesus Christ as Savior (Acts 17:26-28) and grow in the spiritual life (2 Pet. 3:18).
Civil liberty is maintained through an objective judicial system that is respected by a majority of citizens. The authority of the policeman on the corner and the judge on the bench protect freedom within a nation. The police officer detects and deters criminal activity, apprehends offenders, and keeps public order. Judges as leaders or authorities in the state and “ministers of God” (Rom. 13:4) divinely ordained to adjudicate and to punish. A system for establishing evidence in trials, administering strict punitive measures for the guilty (Eccl. 8:11), and obtaining the immediate release of the innocent characterizes equitable jurisprudence. The entire internal security of a people depends on just and skillful administration of law, which protects the innocent and punishes the guilty.
Exterior Protection
A nation that adheres to the laws of divine establishment is a righteous power that provides a bulwark against any encroaching forces of tyranny and evil. An honorable military defends national sovereignty. Obviously, military invasion for personal or political aggrandizement, such as the Nazis in World War II or the later communist aggressions, is not justified. Battlefield victories won by virtuous nations forced to employ justified violence have preserved freedom throughout history.
Does a nation protect its sovereignty and freedom when it fights an enemy on foreign soil? The biblical answer is delineated in Numbers 32. Two of the tribes of Israel, Reuben and Gad, requested their parcel of promised land on the east side of the Jordan River (v. 5). The rest of the nation’s land was to be on the west side of the river. Moses was incensed that Reuben and Gad wanted to desert their fellow Israelites about to begin the battle for dominion west of the river (v. 6). Reuben and Gad corrected their mistake in a response to Moses.
And the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben answered, saying, “As the LORD has said to your servants, so we will do. We ourselves will cross over armed in the presence of the LORD into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us across [east of] the Jordan.” (Num. 32:31-32)
Reuben and Gad were saying in effect, “We are fighting for our land by crossing the river and fighting on the other side.” These two tribes realized that their freedom and autonomy depended upon defeating the common enemy of the entire nation, even though that foe was beyond the borders of their own territory. They would not wait for the enemy to attack their domain but would strike first to spare their families and property from the devastation of war.
When Charles Martel organized a group of warriors and drove the followers of Mohammed back behind the Pyrenees Mountains at the battle of Tours, Europe was saved from centuries of Islamic rule (A.D. 732). Had it not been for a few Polish, Austrian, Prussian, Hungarian, and Greek knights who had the courage to oppose Genghis Khan and his invading Mongol armies, Western Europe would have been subjected to centuries of barbaric Tatar domination.27 With overwhelming power and might the United States of America annihilated the tyranny of Japan and Germany in World War II. Decisive defeat of an enemy is the only way to assure autonomy. Such violence is justified to deter evil aggression and perpetuate freedom.
Peace Through A Prepared Military
To insure peace a nation must be prepared for war. Military weakness invites attack by belligerent, aggressive nations. Military superiority deters aggression. Only those living in a fool’s paradise support shirking military service, antiwar demonstrations, and disarmament.
Understandably, man desires peace, and freedom is optimized during times of tranquility, but the manner of achieving and maintaining peace has been the subject of endless controversy throughout history. Unrealistic utopians advocate world peace through capitulation, assuming harmony can be created among nations through good will.28 These ‘doves,’ apostles of appeasement, foster warfare. They beg and cry for peace “but there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14b; Ezek. 13:10a). Safety is never attained by ‘petting the cobra’ or peacefully coexisting with the tiger. Those who try end up peacefully dead. When a nation caters to confused idealists dreaming of a better world or hoping to bring in the Millennium through disarmament and pacifism, that nation is being led to the slaughter.
He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has violated his covenant.
His speech was smoother than butter,
But his heart was war;
His words were softer than oil [deceptive],
Yet they were drawn swords. (Ps. 55:20-21)
Throughout history deceptive words have been uttered to mask “drawn swords.” Wicked nations proclaim peace when their true intent is to wage war and subjugate other nations (Ezek. 13:10-16). These deceivers extend an olive branch in one hand while concealing a sword in the other. The plight of a people desiring peace who are plagued by a belligerent enemy is described by the psalmist.
Too long has my soul had its dwelling
With those who hate peace.
I am for peace, but when I speak,
They are for war. (Ps. 120:6-7)
Nations plead for peace, negotiate treaties to guarantee peace, make compromises and concessions for peace, only to be bitterly disappointed when the peace is violated and freedom threatened. What is the response to the machinations of deceitful nations?
Historically, a balance of power against aggressive nations has been the most effective insurance for an interval of peace. The only way to avoid war is to be adequately equipped and trained for war. In any generation the capability for righteous violence is essential for the preservation of national freedom. Only a prepared national military can deter enemy aggression.29
Despite man’s efforts for peace, warfare will continue until the Millennium (Matt. 24:6; Mark 13:7; Luke 21:9). Never in human history has there been a time when warfare has not been raging in some corner of the globe. In the period from 1990 through 1995 fifty-three separate major armed conflicts were recorded.30 The sin nature, mankind’s volition, and the cunning stratagems of Satan in the angelic conflict are the root causes. After the Rapture of the Church,31 during the seven years of the Tribulation conflicts will become even more brutal (Rev. 6—19). Only at His second advent when the Lord Jesus Christ victoriously concludes the Armageddon campaign will warfare cease.32 Satan and all fallen angels will be removed from the earth (Rev. 20:1-3). Then, with Jesus Christ on the throne of the millennial kingdom, hostilities will no longer threaten the peace of nations (Isa.11:6-9; Micah 4:1-3).
And He will judge between the nations,
And will render decisions for many peoples;
And they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they learn war. (Isa. 2:4)
Until Christ returns in glory warfare is inevitable (Eccl. 3:8) and under certain circumstances necessary for maintaining national sovereignty and preserving freedom.
The Military Image Of Jesus Christ
During the struggle to attain and perpetuate Jewish freedom after the Exodus, the preincarnate Jesus Christ reserved the title the “Lord of hosts,” Lord of the armies of Israel (2 Kings 19:31a). In the Book of Joshua He is called “Captain of the Lord’s host.” Jesus Christ was the Commander in Chief; Joshua was the chief of staff (Josh. 5:13—6:2). Joshua received a mandate from the Lord to destroy certain enemies (Josh. 11:6; cf., Deut. 20:15-18) so Israel might be preserved. This mandate, directed toward the destruction of a society saturated in degeneracy, included the divinely authorized killing of men, women, and children. Only then could the people of Israel disentangle themselves from the pervasive and contagious evil of a depraved society.
No leader today carries divine authority to kill civilian men, women, and children. However, in the course of all warfare noncombatants regrettably become casualties. Although such losses are to be avoided, God still sanctions the destruction of the enemy in battle to attain victory and maintain freedom. At the word of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Assyrian army of 185,000 infantrymen was struck down in one night (Isa. 37:36). At the close of the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will use righteous violence to decimate the military powers invading the Middle East (Zech. 14:3). The blood will run as high as the horses’ bridles (Rev. 14:20).
And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations [at Armageddon]; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS [Jesus Christ].” (Rev. 19:15-16)
Today pacifist believers would probably censure the Lord Jesus Christ if they understood the full impact of this passage. They envision Him as the meek and mild Jesus who spoke of turning the other cheek in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:39). In reality He is the one who “smites the nations.” The Sermon on the Mount relates to His personal peaceful reign over the earth that will not be initiated until the Millennium.
The “sharp sword” of verse 15 is the most formidable weapon of all time. With the words “from His mouth” our Lord slays the armies at Armageddon. The imagery of “the wine press” signifies the massive slaughter that terminates the Armageddon campaign. Christ Himself demonstrates how to win a war: Kill the enemy. Jesus Christ does not return at the Second Advent to negotiate a peace settlement; He returns to destroy the enemy. After their annihilation warfare will cease; freedom and peace will reign for a thousand years.
Nations That Lose Wars Lose Freedom
National autonomy and well-being inevitably depend on a superior army. A nation perpetuates freedom when its military succeeds but risks enslavement when its military fails. A strong military establishes a buffer against conflict. A nation cannot survive the destruction of its armed forces.
Military defeat and enslavement are part of the consequences of the demise of every client nation under the fifth cycle of discipline (Lev. 26:27-39). Before this catastrophic divine judgment descends upon a nation every echelon of spiritual and national life, including the military establishment, degenerates. Both the Northern Kingdom of Israel (721 B.C.) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (586 B.C.), destitute of spiritual virtue and values, followed this road to ruin.
Nonclient nations that disdain the laws of divine establishment also suffer devastating divine judgment. The Assyrians gradually deteriorated over thirty years before their capital, Nineveh, fell in 612 B.C. Chaldea, in the process of decay since the death of Nebuchadnezzar in 562 B.C., was easily subdued by the Persians in 539 B.C. Thus, when any nation’s armed forces are neglected, demoralized, and unprepared to wage war, that nation is in grave danger of losing a war and forfeiting the autonomy and freedom of its people.
Athens and Carthage reflect the tragedy of freedom lost on the battlefield. After a generation of conflict besieged and starving Athenians surrendered to a cruel and deceitful Sparta in 404 B.C., ending the Peloponnesian War. Athens was shorn of its empire and the sun set over the glory of Greece. Carthage was utterly destroyed in the Third Punic War (149-146 B.C.): Every building was burned to the ground, the site sown with salt to render farming futile, and all remaining territories were confiscated by Rome.33
The wars of Napoleon, from the Italian campaign to the battle at Austerlitz (1795-1805), depict the value of preparedness. The Grande Armee was the most formidable fighting force in Europe. With the borders of France secure from invasion the cowed nations on the continent lost all desire to challenge French ascendancy. These early campaigns of the Napoleonic era demonstrate the principle that the superior army obtains and maintains freedom and autonomy for its nation.
The German conquest of Norway in World War II offers another illustration. Vidkun Quisling, whose infamous name became synonymous with traitor, undermined the military’s effectiveness and will to fight. The Nazis needed only a few battalions to subjugate all Norway. Consequently, the country suffered the horrors of Nazi occupation for the rest of the war.
Throughout the history of the United States our army has traditionally been ill-equipped to wage war. Only after we experienced appalling casualties did our national spirit arise to mobilize a magnificent army to meet an enemy on two fronts in World War II. That army crossed the Rhine and liberated Europe in 1945; that army amphibiously assaulted countless Japanese-held islands in the Pacific. Had that army with its massive power and efficiency remained under arms as a deterrent to communist aggression, there might not have been a Korean War, a Cuban crisis, or a Vietnam. The United States might have realized a Pax Americana, a tranquil period akin to the Pax Romana, “Roman peace,” the longest duration of peace and prosperity in world history.34
How ironic that something so cruel and brutal as warfare should be the means for preserving freedom and peace, but armies both defend and destroy freedom. Violence is justified as the sole deterrent against violent aggression. If the army of a free nation deters or prevails over an aggressor, freedom is perpetuated and peace reigns.
Military Failure Manifests National Degeneracy
Failure on the battlefield often reflects a general lack of respect for authority and lack of spiritual and establishment incentives among the leaders and people of a nation. Zedekiah and the populace of Judah illustrate this point (2 Chron. 36:11-21; Jer. 34:8-11). Zedekiah had no regard for the spiritual authority of the prophet Jeremiah and disobeyed God’s command to “bring its [the nation] neck under the yoke of” (Jer. 27:11), the suzerain, Nebuchadnezzar. The people of Judah had turned away from the Lord, especially in their violation of Deuteronomy 15:12 (cf., Jer. 34:12-16). When the nation denied and flaunted the Word and warnings of God as proclaimed by Jeremiah, the justice of the Lord severely punished Judah for their rampant rebellion against the king of Babylon (Jer. 5:15-17, 21-22; cf., Ps. 119:75; Prov. 3:12; Heb. 12:6). Rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar was rebellion against God (Jer. 27:9-10; 28:16; 38:2-3). The Jewish defeat of 587-586 B.C. can be directly attributed to the defiance of the king and his subjects and their spiritual and moral decline. Rejection of authority and spiritual decay are primary ingredients for military defeat on the battlefield and destruction of personal freedom and national independence.
Only God’s grace can deliver a nation in the eleventh hour. Such a deliverance demands the spiritual solution: a resurgence of Bible doctrine resident and functioning in the souls of believers to counteract degeneracy. This does not mean that believers should lay down their arms and look piously heavenward in pseudospiritual entreaty. Christians in a client nation operating on doctrine will never disregard the importance of the military in preserving freedom. They will heed the biblical exhortations that a nation must maintain a strong defense force. Thank God for mature believers and dedicated professional soldiers who persevere in their convictions despite personal pressure, political animosity, and antimilitary sentiment.
Universal Military Training
Success on the battlefield so crucial for national survival requires military training (Num. 31:3-5). Therefore, a maximum number of men in each generation must be comprehensively instructed—instilled with individual and group discipline, team coordination, technical skills, tactical and strategical proficiency. Such intensive training is necessary to develop every soldier’s ability to act under the stress of combat. Accomplishing this task demands a faculty of professional officers skilled in the art of war.
“Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel [with his military staff] whether he is strong [well trained] enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?” (Luke 14:31)
Initially, the Jewish client nation subscribed to the concept of universal military training (Num. 1:3ff.).
Only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly. (Judg. 3:2)
This verse directs that the nation “be taught” how to fight. Wars cannot be won with untrained soldiers. The obligation of a nation dedicated to preserving its sovereignty is to instruct every generation of young men for war. With the passing years, however, Israel lapsed into spiritual decay, idolatry, and moral relativism (Judg. 2:11-23; cf., 17:6), ignoring the army until it virtually ceased to exist and suffering the consequences of military defeat.
A nucleus of professional soldiers, expert in their specialized field, must be perpetuated to school new recruits. Who should serve? The Scripture delineates certain qualifications. War is for adults. In Numbers 1:2-3 and 26:4 God instructed Moses to draft all suitable males twenty years and over for the Israelite army. This establishes the biblical standard for draftees. Several exceptions were noted.
“When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out with the army, nor be charged with any duty; he shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness [שָׂמַח, samach] to his wife whom he has taken.” (Deut. 24:5)
A newly married man should not go to war for the most obvious reason: He cannot concentrate on making war. At this point in life his responsibility is exclusively to “give happiness to his wife.” Therefore, “he shall be free [to remain] at home one year.” The verb “give happiness,” the piel imperative of samach, means “to cause his wife to be happy”—to lavish her with undivided attention, engage her in conversation, and make love to her for a year. This initial year of respite and intense concentration on mutual fulfillment christens and bonds the relationship for wonderful years ahead.
“The officers also shall speak to the people, saying, ‘Who is the man that has built a new house and has not dedicated it? [He has a new wife and a new house.] Let him depart and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it.’ ” (Deut. 20:5)
A man consumed with love is not focused on military matters. His mental attitude is not conducive to either moral or battle courage. Quite naturally, his beloved bride and his new house captivate his attention. Preoccupied and self-absorbed he would not be an effective part of a combat team. He could easily become a casualty or cause others to become casualties.
“And who is the man that has planted a vineyard [started a new business] and has not begun to use its fruit? [He has not secured the first year’s profits.] Let him depart and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man begin to use its fruit.” (Deut. 20:6)
A new business also distracts a man from military service. While concentrating on his personal responsibilities, he could not function efficiently as a member of a combat team.
“And who is the man that is engaged to a woman and has not married her? Let him depart and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man marry her.” (Deut. 20:7)
A man on the brink of matrimony is, likewise, preoccupied, unable to concentrate in a combat situation. He should be released from military duty as undependable and unstable for the pressure of combat.
“Then the officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted [a coward]? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.’ ” (Deut. 20:8)
The Mosaic Law directed that officers in command of the army determine whether a man was qualified to be a soldier after he had completed basic training. Cowards in the ranks were discharged. In a combat situation cowardice in a few men can infect an entire unit with unreasoning fear. “Fainthearted” recruits had to be discharged to maintain the morale, effectiveness, and safety of those troops going into battle.
How blessed [אַשְׁרֵי, ’ashere] are the people who know the joyful sound [of the trumpet—answering the call of military training]!
O LORD, they walk [march and advance] in the light [Word of God] of Thy countenance. (Ps. 89:15)
Great blessing characterizes the nation that continues to respond to the call of the military bugle. The plural of the Hebrew noun אֶשֶׁר (’esher), “blessed,” has a twofold connotation. First, universal military training raises the quality of young men in any generation. Soldiers learn self-discipline, team discipline, respect for authority, polish and poise so necessary in life. Whether the training is used in combat or not, the discipline, authority orientation, and motivation learned from military instruction are invaluable for any personal endeavor and for the stability of the nation in war and peace. Second, when the quality of the men improve, women and children are blessed by association. Eligible men must be trained continually and molded into a well-motivated, well-disciplined fighting force ready for war.
Discipline And Training Are Obligatory For Effective Military Operations
The discipline of military training is the dividing line between victory and defeat—the iron in the blood of the soldier that sustains him through every adverse circumstance of warfare. Discipline and training keep fatigued and hungry troops on their feet and fighting. Discipline and training make bold strategy and timely tactics feasible. A military machine runs on the fuel of discipline and the mechanics of training.
The history of warfare does not give the nod to the heaviest battalions but to the best-disciplined and trained battalions. Relying on iron discipline Epaminondas with his few Thebians successfully attacked the mighty Spartan phalanxes on the field of Leuctra (371 B.C.). The steadfast regimen of the Roman legions under the able leadership of Julius Caesar conquered Gaul (58-50 B.C.). A handful of well-schooled Swedes under Gustavus Adolphus vanquished Germany in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). The disciplined drill of the army of Frederick the Great brought Prussia to the forefront of eighteenth century Europe. The disciplined and unbroken British squares at Waterloo shattered Napoleon’s Imperial Army (1815). Without discipline and training no military force can hope for success on the field of battle.
If the manpower of a nation is degenerate and corrupt, crippled by antiauthority attitudes, military training is ineffective. When a nation becomes decadent, it no longer has the means or will to defend itself. The law of volitional responsibility and divine discipline prescribe military defeat,35 the harbinger of the “fifth cycle of discipline” to a client nation—death, slavery, and dispersion. Not only were the Jews defeated but the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Persians, and Romans were ultimately conquered as their military prowess eroded.
The Jews of the Exodus illustrate the importance of military training. Few men in Israel had military experience during the generations of Egyptian bondage. Moses, Caleb, and Joshua were notable exceptions. When the migrating nation faced combat for the first time (Ex. 17:8-13), Moses ordered Joshua to “choose men for us, and go out, fight against Amalek” (v. 9b). Moses’ directive implies that Joshua had formed a cadre to train the Israelites for war during their desert sojourn. Now, Joshua as the commanding general must select those men best prepared to fight. With spiritual encouragement from Moses and training instilled by Joshua the valiant Israelite troops achieved victory over the Amalekites at Rephidim. Schooling in tactics and weaponry was instrumental in preserving the independence of the fledgling nation.
Leadership and Personal Integrity Are Essential
During training soldiers come to respect unit leaders and adopt their beliefs about how to fight. They also embrace their leader’s professional values of loyalty, responsibility, and selfless service. These shared beliefs and values become norms and standards that influence discipline, cohesiveness, and the will to fight.36
Military history clearly shows that troops should be trained in tactics and the use of weapons and indoctrinated with essential character traits vital to performance as a soldier: courage, competence, candor, and commitment. These qualities that leadership inculcates by instruction and by example will vastly increase the chances of a unit’s effectiveness in crisis situations.
Throughout the course of world history certain nations cultivate excellent military leadership; other nations compile a record of poor military leadership but exhibit a citizenry with exceptional discipline and character. From the time of Frederick William of Prussia, the Great Elector, through World War I (1620-1918) the German army generally exhibited excellent leadership. The officer corps demonstrated phenomenal discipline and intellectual acumen. In the British army junior officers and enlisted men who displayed character, discipline, and fortitude often managed to ‘muddle through’ the mistakes of their senior commanders. But the principle for military success remains the same. The preservation of freedom depends on the caliber of leadership as well as the discipline displayed by the civilian population, especially those who become soldiers.
Prepare [military] plans by consultation,
And make war by wise guidance [of leadership].
(Prov. 20:18)
Warfare is planned and executed through professional expertise and the astute decisions of leadership. Therefore, the United States must continue to develop military leaders; to cultivate men who can formulate strategic and tactical plans, who can give wise counsel to civilian leaders, who can make war effectively.
Regardless of technical advances, the human element still predominates over the tide of battle. The decisions and actions of individuals remain the fundamental instrument of war. The most indispensable ingredient in preparing and maintaining this human element is leadership, whose requisite integrity results from building certain fundamentals of character.
Maturity—the ability to make wise decisions based on reason and moral principle;
Will—the perseverance to accomplish a goal, regardless of seemingly insurmountable obstacles;
Self-discipline—doing your duty regardless of fatigue or other factors;
Flexibility—making timely and appropriate changes in thinking, plans, or methods when you see a better way;
Confidence—the assurance to be successful in all endeavors;
Endurance—mental, spiritual, and physical stamina;
Decisiveness—sound judgment in making good decisions at the proper time;
Poise under stress—confident control of emotions under adverse conditions;
Initiative—the ability to take action without waiting for orders or supervision;
Justice—the fair treatment of all people regardless of race, religion, color, gender, age, or national origin;
Self-improvement—the readiness to read, study, seek challenges, and work to strengthen beliefs, values, ethics, knowledge, and skills;
Assertiveness—taking charge when necessary;
Compassion—sensitivity to the feelings, values, interests, and well-being of others;
Sense of humor—not taking yourself too seriously;
Creativity—thinking of innovative and better ideas, programs, and solutions to problems;
Bearing—posture, overall appearance, and manner of physical movement;
Humility—teachability; correcting weaknesses or imperfections in your character, knowledge, and skills.37
A well-schooled army develops proficient commanders from top to bottom. Competent leadership can attain victory; inept leadership can spell defeat. Bible doctrine in the soul develops and perpetuates the traits of superb leadership.
Spiritual Decline Foreshadows Military Disaster
A progressively feeble military and the subsequent threat to freedom begin with apostasy in the souls of believers. Abandonment of God’s truth eroded the spiritual life of the Israelites in the days of the Judges. With spiritual apostasy came a failure to learn the art of war. As a result, the Jews repeatedly became enslaved to other nations.
“New [false] gods [apostasy] were chosen [by their own volition];
Then war was in the gates.
Not a shield or a spear was seen
Among forty thousand in Israel.” (Judg. 5:8)
Confronted with conflict, why was Israel not armed for war? Because the military had deteriorated as a result of spiritual desertion. Apostasy always decimates divine viewpoint and the divine establishment attitude of believers.
Your men will fall by the sword [death in combat],
And your mighty ones in battle.
And her gates will lament and mourn;
And deserted she will sit on the ground. (Isa. 3:25-26)
The result of apostasy is divine discipline in the form of military disaster. Women grieve because husbands, brothers, and sons perish in battle. Cities lie destitute. The civilian populace suffers intensely—women especially are in agony, at the mercy of a rapacious conquering army (Isa. 3:17-24).
“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart [right lobe of the mature believer] is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this [apostasy]. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars [divine discipline].” (2 Chron. 16:9)
God is on constant reconnaissance to protect and preserve believers operating on divine viewpoint. When enough mature believers exist in a national entity, God also protects and preserves the nation. Believers of a client nation who reject doctrine “will surely have wars” and be defeated.
How does a believer acquire God’s viewpoint? Every believer possesses the spiritual apparatus I call “Operation Z” for learning, understanding, and applying Bible doctrine. Operation Z is empowered by means of the filling of the Holy Spirit, acquired at salvation and maintained through the rebound technique (1 John 1:9),38 in conjunction with the human spirit (1 Cor. 2:11-12; cf., Heb. 4:12), also acquired at regeneration. Initially, Bible doctrine is communicated by a pastor-teacher to the human spirit though the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). This spiritual phenomena, πνευματικός (pneumatikos in the Greek of 1 Cor. 2:13), transfers from the human spirit to the left lobe νοῦς (nous) or staging area of the soul as academic knowledge, γνῶσις (gnosis).
