"The LORD is a Man of War. Jehovah is His Name"

It is getting increasingly difficult to bury your head in the sand. The world is at war; whether officially declared or not. Russia, China, the United States, Israel, Ukraine, Iran ... the drumbeats of war are sounding. The reality of what we're looking at in the world is causing a good amount of fear and anxiety among all peoples. That includes Christians, even though we should all be familiar with this verse in Matthew 24:6: You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place... (Matthew 24:6). 

Throughout history, as portrayed in the Bible, it is clear that war is inevitable when the world is filled with sinful people. And we must not confuse killing with murder. We cannot apply God's command of Thou shalt not kill to the prospect of war. That holy commandment refers to the "intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice; in other words, murder. We can agree that war is never preferable, but sometimes it is unavoidable in order to protect innocent people, or to uphold a righteous cause. Consider WWII, when Hitler and his evil plan of extermination of the Jews had to be stopped. Or think of our own Civil War, when the evil institution of slavery was only going to come to an end through war. 

If you study the history of those two wars, you will find that years of appeasing and compromise did not stop the evil happening against innocent people. It is calculated that 70-85 million people died in WWII, and a conservative estimate of 650-750,000 Americans died in the Civil War. There is no questioning that war is a terrible thing, and God grieves the loss of life, while He hates the sin that leads to war. But He often uses it to see His will done when men refuse to follow His ways. And obviously, some wars are more "just" than others, but we must acknowledge that war is always the result of sin.

King Solomon, who received God's wisdom [until he sinned by following after his pagan wives' religions], declared that God has created different times and seasons in mankind's existence: There's a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. As Christians we are not to desire war, and as citizens of both the world and the Kingdom of Heaven, we are to represent Jesus, showing His love, and offering Peace as an option to war. Paul reminds us, in Romans 12:18, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all". Sometimes, peace isn't possible. War is part of the reality of living in a fallen world, and evil people make war inescapable, and we must take a stand. 

Yes, Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but He is not a Pacifist and He and the Father were in agreement when King David was sent to war against the Philistines. David declares "Blessed be the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle...". In his youth, David's hands and fingers were trained for the shepherd's hook and the musician's harp. But when he answered the Lord's calling to lead His people, David understood the Lord had a different purpose for him, and was training him for wars in the natural world and battles in the spiritual realms. 

So, when it comes to the subject of War in the Bible, there are a couple of things that I think we must consider. While we know that God never changes, Jesus makes it clear that He and the Father are one (John 10:30), and that He could do nothing by Himself; only what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). So we can be assured that Jesus's teachings and actions perfectly align with God's unchanging character. And yes, Jesus is the Prince of Peace. But He's also the Lord of Hosts; the commander-in-chief of Heaven's armies. 

Pacifists like to point out that Jesus taught us to "turn the other cheek", and spoke that "Blessed are the Peacemakers" in the Beatitudes (Mark 5). They often cite the Biblical concept of Shalom as the guiding principle of the Lord's pacifism. But to understand Jesus's teachings on peace, it is important to understand that there is a deeper meaning to Shalom than just "peace".  The word comes from the Hebrew root shalem, signifying wholeness, harmony, and restoration -- its meaning extending far beyond the idea of peace as tranquility or the absence of conflict. Again, the restoration part of Shalom is in perfect alignment with God's plan of redemption and reconciliation with sinful mankind through Jesus's payment [on the Cross] for our sins. He broke the power of sin and offered us the way to our personal restoration with God. That is true Shalom! 

But let us not forget that Jesus is also the Lord of Hosts. He didn't promote Shalom by avoiding conflict, but by confronting [and defeating] evil. Take note of His statement, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34)..  This sword isn't to be used for physical violence, but rather division; causing men to make a choice between sin/evil and justice/righteousness. He backs that first statement up with another: "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division" (Luke 12:51). Remember, He used a whip to drive the money changers out of the Temple; He overturned their tables; and publicly rebuked them as a den of thieves. 

And as much as many modern-day Christians hope they will be raptured out of the world, and escape the coming wrath and judgment against Evil, we cannot ignore Revelation 19:11-16. Jesus will come as a Warrior-King, leading Heaven's armies in a final battle to destroy Evil and to manifest eternal Shalom ... "With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His Name is the Word of God". 

So, war is part of the reality of living in a fallen world, and there are times it may be necessary to wage it in order to prevent more atrocities and deeper levels of Evil. We can see in the Old Testament that God would use warriors like Joshua, David, Gideon, and Deborah to act as His instruments to secure His justice and establish peace. He never changes, so we can rest in the knowledge that it may be necessary for Him to raise up warriors in our time to engage in conflict in order to ultimately secure justice and establish peace. That does not mean that every leader who wages war has been appointed by God to do so. The Bible is also full of examples of unrighteous warrior kings who acted for Satan. Jeroboam, Ahab, Manasseh, the King of Tyre come to mind.

In summary, as we face an uncertain future amidst the tensions that come with the beginnings of the prophesied birth pains (see Matthew 24:3-8), we need to come to terms with War in the world. It's inevitable and can be used for God's plan of redemption. It is also a tool of the Enemy, and when unrighteous, must be confronted with righteous force, while pursuing the mercy and peace that pours from God's victory.  As difficult as it is, when we see the wickedness and brutality of war, we need to model Jesus. We need to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44), while standing firm against evil. That portrays the spirit of Jesus and the heart of the Father. May we receive the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to follow their example.

I leave you with these final thoughts: Only God knows when that time or season of His appointment to the Final War will take place. But I cannot dismiss that we may [or will] experience a cataclysmic war on the way to our ultimate Victory against Satan and Evil. I only know that however or whenever war comes, I must remain steadfast in my hope and trust in the Lord. I will proclaim His Greatness, Mercy, Love, Glory, Justice, and Righteousness in all the circumstances that may befall our nation. I am ready to receive His judgment as well as His compassion and to represent Him to foe and friend alike, to the best of my abilities. I will take captive all thoughts of fear and anxiety; any feelings of hate or revenge, and I will endeavor to stay focused on the Holy Spirit [in me] to guide me in the ways of my Deliverer. Lord, let me stand ready to fight, or to lay down my sword -- whatever You command me. Just let Your Goodness and Your Peace cover this world. We are growing weary of the Enemy and his dominance over men's hearts. We long to see You manifest in the earth once more. Come, Lord Jesus, Come! 

I invite you to click on the link to this article, which inspired me as I wrote this blog.

Joel 3:9-10.     Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, "I am a warrior." 
   

Have We Neutered God? We Can't Ignore The Lord of Hosts!

     Please don't be offended by the title of this blog post. It is not intended to be a witty or clever way to gain your attention. Rather, it is a very real question that must be asked in light of the condition of the world under the stewardship of Christians and "the Church". Let me explain.
     Any serious student of the Bible knows that names are important; they have meaning and power, and are prophetic. The name Abram means "exalted [or high] father", but God changed his name to Abraham, which means "father of many". The name Daniel contains "el", generic for god, but means "God is my judge", indicating that the God who revealed himself to the Israelites is Daniel's judge. Again, that same God is revealed in the name of Elijah, [containing both "el" and "jah", or "yah", a shortened version of Yahweh], and means "My God is Yahweh".
     In the same way, God reveals His character and how He wants to be perceived and experienced through the names He goes by. And He is known by many names in the Bible. But when Moses asked Him [in the burning bush] who he should say sent him to the Israelites, the answer was, "I am has sent you". From that moment a tradition was born that His name was too sacred and divine to be uttered. So YHWH, [or Yahweh, or Jehovah] became the accepted name for God, speaking of His immediacy and His presence. It appears in the Bible over 6500 times according to the Jesus Film Project, an organization founded by Campus for Crusade founder Bill Bright.
     I honestly don't know the exact number of names for God in the Bible, but I see over 20, and the ones we are most familiar with include Jehovah [Lord], Adonai, [Lord, Master], El Shaddai [The Lord Almighty] and Jehovah Shalom [The Lord is Peace]. But there is another name that is important to remember and know. It is Jehovah Sabaoth, or The Lord of Hosts. This is the character of God that we most desperately need to recognize in today's world environment.
      The word Sabaoth is translated "hosts" or "armies". In its most literal sense, it means “horde.” The name Jehovah Sabaoth designates God as the commander of the armies of the earth, the stars in the heaven, and invisible heavenly angels. Ultimately, all things, both seen and unseen, are under His command. Another accepted translation is "The Lord of Armies". This name denotes His universal sovereignty over every army, both spiritual and earthly. The Lord of Hosts is the king of all heaven and earth.
     In 1 Samuel 17:45, David recognized Him .... David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts [Jehovah Sabaoth], the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. He appears again in Isaiah 3:15, What do you mean by crushing My people And grinding the face of the poor? Declares the Lord God of hosts, and in Jeremiah 48:1, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,
“Woe (judgment is coming) to [the city of] Nebo, for it has been destroyed! Kiriathaim has been shamed, it has been captured; Misgab [the high fortress] has been shamed, broken down and crushed. And Psalm 24:10 provides a clear picture of Jehovah Sabaoth: You ask, “Who is this King of Glory?” He is the Lord of Victory, armed and ready for battle, the Mighty One, the invincible commander of heaven’s hosts! Yes, he is the King of Glory! This is our powerful God! 
     In all, various Bible scholars note the name Jehovah Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts, appears approximately 276-295  times in Scripture -- nearly 10 times more than any other name.  Author and founder of In Christ's Image Ministry, Francis Frangipane says, "From the sheer number of references alone, we see that 'the Lord of Hosts' [or the God of Armies] is the revelation of the God Most High most frequently demonstrated to mankind in the Bible". Author Dean Briggs states, "Lord Sabaoth paints God in the bold military colors of a divine warrior ... He is a real and present threat to evil expressed in the ascendancy of justice, righteousness, truth and salvation."
     Yet many of our Bible translations substitute "Lord Almighty" [NIV, for instance] for "Lord of Hosts [Armies]" and we lose the sense of Him as our Commander in our spiritual battles. The Israelites certainly saw Him this way when He destroyed Pharoah's army at the Red Sea. Elisha's servant certainly understood who He was when the LORD of Hosts opened his eyes and he saw that the mountain was full of "horses and chariots of fire". 
     Throughout the Bible God reveals Himself as a warrior; a champion who wars on behalf of His people to dethrone other nations and their gods. Jehovah Sabaoth fights to destroy earthly kingdoms and strongholds, and to restore justice for all those under the oppression of the god of this world, Satan. So He fights on behalf of us as a loving God who wages war against our Enemy. His warfare is an expression of His love and His covenant with us. 
     Yet, if He is the Commander of Heaven's army, and our Commander in our spiritual battles, shouldn't we be fighting alongside Him as Believers, striking fear in the heart of those who serve Satan? After all, we are the living army of God! Shouldn't the kings of this earth dread our prayers to the Lord of Hosts and fear our service to Him? And if we're not, what is the problem? 
     Can you agree with me that we live in a society of "political correctness"?  As followers of Christ, we have made no real impact on the cultural battlefield.  We can't even claim we've won the battle in our church buildings! How many denominations won't take a stand against abortion, homosexuality, corruption in politics, or the deterioration of the family unit and marriage? Have we forgotten our Commander's battle cry? Those who put forth Satan's agenda on abortion, sexual perversion, sexual confusion, and all other ungodly strategies have rendered us nearly impotent in the war for righteousness and justice. We don't fight back in the arena of public opinion because we're only supposed to exhibit God's loving traits, isn't that right? 
     The men of the Old Testament were called "valient men", "valient warriors" and often depicted as "arrayed for battle". Lord Sabaoth told them to go to war! Yet, we of the New Testament covenant somehow think that the God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow -- the God who never changes -- has somehow changed!  No! Jesus came, as God, to increase YHWH's government on the earth. He came to conquer "the works of the devil" on behalf of the powerless.  James 5:4 tells us, Listen! Can’t you hear the cries of the laborers over the wages you fraudulently held back from those who worked for you? The cries for justice of those you’ve cheated have reached the ears of the Lord of armies! Jesus came as Lord Sabaoth to wage war on Satan, and to defend those who have no power of their own [no reputation, no rights, and no recourse] in the hope of restoring justice and peace to the earth.  
     But what is our role? There is a time to stand up and to fight alongside Lord Sabaoth's angelic army to defeat the hordes of Satan's army. Seeking peace from an Enemy who doesn't know the meaning of that word will only lead to slaughter. As author Dean Briggs writes in Ekklesia Rising, "Don't be fooled. The promise of peace will not occur by robbing God's victorious army of its weapons... Lord Sabaoth does not emasculate His people to achieve peace. He empowers them. We must avoid human sentimentality in our conception of God's shalom. Peace is not some gauzy, idealized pacifist notion where everybody mutually agrees to lay down arms. Don't kid yourself. Satan will never have an ounce of restraint, kindness, or due process. He must be forcibly restrained."
     Jesus came to restore dominion of the earth back to man, and I can guarantee you Satan won't give it up without a fight! We must realize that we have the full resource of Heaven's army at our disposal. Jesus told us to "Occupy" until He comes. That means we have to be in full battle mode, with our spiritual armor on, and ready to defeat all his weapons of war: tyranny, cruelty, trafficking, murder, pornography, war, famine, and disease. We must listen with an alert spirit for His commands and strategies, and battle plans. It's time we hearken to the voice of Lord Sabaoth! We've abandoned the battlefield for too long, and our nation and the world is paying the price. The prophet Micah tells us "the mountain of the house of the Lord" will be established in the latter days. Lord Sabaoth will reign supreme and we shall never again have to train for war. Until then, we must occupy!

Micah 4:4    Each of them shall sit [in security and peace] under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of the [omnipotent] Lord of hosts has spoken it.