Warfare
Today we have words
on warfare. But they are so incredibly
unusual words of warfare. This is
actually a really neat chapter.
Sure, we first get
the part about not being afraid because God goes out to fight with us. That is absolutely true and we should take
comfort in that fact. I don’t mean to gloss
over that point. It is very important,
but also very self-explanatory.
Turning Soldiers Back From the Field
For me, what is neat
about God’s Word concerning warfare is what follows. Those who have a house but haven’t dedicated
it, those who are betrothed but not yet in a consummated marriage, those who
have a vineyard that hasn’t fruited – all of these people are to return
home. Don’t you find that a bit unusual?
How many times has
America gone off to war? I don’t ever
recall any of our military leaders using these stipulations. In fact, these stipulations would turn away
the ones that the world normally sends out to war. Those with new houses, new brides, new
vineyards, etc are often the young and recently mature – although it certainly
need not be this way. America – and all
worldly powers – sends its young generations off to war.
God would send them
home in an act of grace to enjoy life before potentially risking it in
warfare. Humanity has routinely sent the
young into warfare and wiped out generations.
God has a plan here to preserve the young and allow those with experience
to fight.
Fear
Furthermore, notice
that the officers will come into the midst of the people and send anyone who is
afraid home. Now, I don’t know about
you, but I don’t know many soldiers preparing for battle who don’t feel some fear
at some level. But this passage is
actually about confidence being unable to overcome the fear. Those who are overcome with fear lack the
belief that God can lead them into victory.
Since they lack the confidence, they are sent home lest they convince
others of their doubt.
I think there are two
great concepts that we can learn here for ministry.
- First, the young are often great tools in ministry. They have all kinds of willingness and energy. But often it is the veterans who have the experience that makes the profound changes in the lives of others. The youth bring much needed energy and a vibrancy of life and their participation is absolutely needed and desired! But without the experience of the veterans, youth in ministry is often misguided and easily foiled and squandered.
- Second, this passage reminds me that it is best to do ministry with a confident few than a wavering horde. This point is quite profound – and I will do some serious contemplation about this point today. How many people in the world want a church with many people? No, I’d rather have a serious minority than an unconfident majority.
Relations In Warfare
The next paragraph in
this text is about proper warfare. Notice
the order given. First, offer terms of
peace so that those who accept it may serve as servants. Then those who refuse terms of peace are to
be fought against and the men are to be put to the sword. Again I find this a really cool parallel to
ministry. Think about what God did through
Christ. Through Jesus Christ, God has
offered us terms of peace. Those who
accept those terms of peace are allowed to serve God. God besieges those who reject the terms. Should they never accept the terms of peace,
they will be put to God’s sword of judgment.
I think that’s
another really cool perspective on interacting with the world. As the priests of Jesus Christ, we are to
offer the terms of peace to the world.
But we are to do it knowing that some may accept it and many will reject
it. Again, it goes back to Jesus’
teaching. Some will receive our peace
and some will reject our peace. See Matthew
10:5-15.
Against those who do
not accept those terms of peace we are engaged in a spiritual war. We may not like to think about it that way –
because we may have friends and business associates and even family who fall
into that category. But it is
true. Paul knows this truth when he writes
2 Corinthians 10:4. “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have
divine power to destroy strongholds.” (ESV)
We are in a spiritual war against those who refuse to accept God’s terms
of peace.
Trees and Warfare
Finally, we reach a prohibition against cutting down fruit
trees in the midst of warfare. This part
of the passage really made me pause.
You’ll notice that while this is specifically in the context of siege
warfare, God certainly draws a clear contrast between fruit trees and other
trees. It makes me wonder how God feels
about us making furniture out of cherry woods.
Or what about all the crosses and crucifixes that we have out of olive
wood? Just so you all know I point the
finger at myself, I have a beautiful
cutting of the Last Supper out of olive wood sitting on my desk.
Are these verses here a simple rule to keep the besieging
army in a supply of fruit so they don’t go hungry? Or is this a greater and broader thought to
make us respect that which is upon this world that God has given the ability to
support life?
I’m not suggesting we should get rid of our cherry furniture
and toss out our olive wood figures – or anything else made of the wood of
fruiting trees. I’m not suggesting that
we should go to those extremes. But I am
saying that we should stop for a moment and consider what God means here. Those trees are first and foremost for the
sustaining of life and they deserve our respect. Maybe there is something better to do with
them than turn them into furniture and knickknacks.
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