The Ten Commandments

The Sin of Refusing to Fight - 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Biblical Law

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2014-08-31

Synopsis: John Weaver continues his exposition of Numbers 32:23, arguing that it is a sin to refuse to fight when lives are in danger. He demonstrates from Scripture that God commands defense of self and others, that prayer without action is insufficient when fighting is required, and that failing to intervene brings God's curse. The sermon calls believers to recover a warrior spirit, emulating God who defends His people and takes life in their defense.

[John Weaver] Numbers 32 and verse 23. Here's part two of the sin of refusing to fight. Notice, if you would, verse 23, the Bible says, but if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out. Now, last week we saw the context of Numbers chapter 32 and verse 23 and observed that the sin that would find us out specifically was a sinner refusing to fight. So last week, I endeavored to answer two questions. The first one was, when is it a sin to fight? And the answer comes back. It's a sin to fight when God is not commanded to fight or when the fight is contrary to clearly defined scriptural principles.

[John Weaver] Usually you find that fights for resources, Control, power and dominion are condemned in scripture. The second question that was asked is when is a sin to refuse to fight? And again, the answer was very clearly given to us in scripture. It's a sin to refuse to fight when God commands us to fight and we refuse to fight.

[John Weaver] Now, you have to understand that God does not speak today the way he did in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, of course, the Lord used prophets. He used dreams and trances, even the Urim and the Thummim. But those things are no more, because now we have the completed, full, and final revelation of God that is given to us. But God does speak in His Word, and God does speak through principles. And these principles are clearly enunciated, and there are areas in which we are commanded to fight.

[John Weaver] And I gave you some examples last week. We must fight for our Christian faith, for our culture, for our heritage, for our society. We must fight for truth and righteousness. You have to remember that tyranny always seeks to destroy those things. And consequently, we must always fight against tyranny and evil in every form. It was in Psalm 94 and verse 16 that I quoted last week that God asked, Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?

[John Weaver] And who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? So very clearly God is asking for someone to fight for him. And it is a declaration of war upon the wicked. So today I want to come to the second truth in Numbers chapter 32 and verse 23. Because last week I shared with you one point. It is a sin to refuse to fight when God commands us to fight. And we look at a number of passages in the Bible where God did command his people to fight. But secondly, today, I want you to understand it is a sin to refuse to fight when lives are in danger or in jeopardy. It's a sin to refuse to fight when lives were in danger and in jeopardy.

[John Weaver] By that, I mean your life and the life of your family, the life of your friends, and your neighbors. Now, as you look at Numbers chapter 32, let me ask this question. What would be one of the sins of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh? And here's the answer. It would be the sin of failing to protect and fight for the lives of their brethren. In other words, the other tribes were going to war.

[John Weaver] They had yet to subdue their enemies and have their inheritance. They needed help. They needed armed help. They needed men that would fight. And should these two and a half tribes sit back and not fight, it would be sin on their part.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to again look at Numbers 32 and let's begin with verse 20 and see what God said specifically to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He said this, And Moses said unto them, If you will do this thing, if you go armed before the Lord to war, and will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him, and the land be subdued before the Lord, then afterward you shall return and be guiltless before the Lord and before Israel, And this land shall be your possession before the Lord. But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to notice very carefully that in this passage that I just read, there was absolutely nothing in the text about them praying for their brethren or just simply wishing their brethren well. Now, I am certainly not minimizing prayer. Prayer is needed and necessary. And I can assure you of one thing. That if I'm going to be fighting, I'm going to be praying. And I can assure you of another thing. If I'm going to be fighting, I want everybody praying for me that would pray for me. So I'm certainly not minimizing prayer at this particular point. However, I want you to understand at this point in time, it was not prayer that was needed.

[John Weaver] It was men who were willing to fight. Also, I'm not minimizing benevolent desires. We should certainly want our brethren to have the best that is sure. But if you simply wish someone well when they need help. That's not cutting it, according to the word of God. Praying might be mixed with fighting. But prayer without fighting when it's absolutely necessary is useless. Let me show you. I want you to hold Numbers chapter 32, but look in your Bibles to Numbers chapter 25, and I want to take the time to read the first 13 verses, and I want you to see this in the context. Notice if you would, Numbers chapter 25, beginning with verse 1. I've just made the statement that prayer is worthless when fighting is mandatory. You can't just pray and refuse to fight. Now watch. Numbers chapter 25 in verse 1, And Israel abode in Shittim.

[John Weaver] And the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people into the sacrifices of their gods. And the people did eat and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun. that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. Now watch. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one of his men that were joined unto Baal Peor. And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

[John Weaver] And when Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand. And he went after the man of Israel into the tin and thrust both of them through the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel, and those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, hath turned away my wrath from the children of Israel. While he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consume not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

[John Weaver] Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace, and he shall have it. And they seek after him even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood because he was zealous for his God that made an atonement for the children of Israel.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note something very clearly. I want you to note where Moses and all of the elders of Israel were. Look in verse six. And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought into the brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Now undoubtedly they were praying while they were weeping there. You will find many times in scriptures it was Moses, Aaron and some of the others who were always there praying. They were weeping and praying because of the sin of the children of Israel. But when this one man brought this Midianitish woman into the camp, Phineas, who was also there, ceased praying, took a spear or javelin, went in and slew both of them. In other words, there was a time to quit praying and quit weeping and do the fighting. And that's exactly what Phineas did.

[John Weaver] And notice, if you would, God blessed him for doing so. God gave him a covenant of peace, and God said he will have it forever. I want you to understand that there are times when fighting is absolutely required and demanded. You must remember that David was a fighter and a warrior, and he fought the Lord's battles. Abigail said this to David in 1 Samuel 25 and verse 28.

[John Weaver] She said, I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid, For the Lord will certainly make my Lord a sure house, because he fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days." Note what she said, because David fighteth the battles of the Lord. So you have to understand that David, when he was fighting the battles of the Lord, was fighting physically.

[John Weaver] He was destroying the Philistines. And those who fought against the Lord and those who fought against His people. So David then was a mighty warrior. And he learned to fight under the protection and under the blessings of the Lord. He understood one particular truth. Now listen. In reality, each battle and every battle belongs to the Lord. Or all battles belong to the Lord. David learned this early when he fought Goliath.

[John Weaver] Do you remember what he said in 1 Samuel 17, verse 47? Listen. David said in this assembly shall know that the Lord say that not with sword or spear for the battle is the Lord's. And he will give you and our hands, he was talking to Goliath, but he said this assembly is going to know God does not necessarily need to say with sword or spear. Why? Because the battle is the Lord and he's going to give you into our hand. So David then leaned upon the Lord and he trusted in the Lord. The battle belonged to the Lord.

[John Weaver] And here's an interesting thing. The Bible teaches us that God preserved David everywhere he went. I have no idea how many battles David was in. He was in a multitude of battles. Do you realize, and let me just quote these for you, do you realize at least four times in the Bible, at least four times, the Bible specifically states that God preserved the life of David as he was fighting the battles of the Lord.

[John Weaver] Listen, 2 Samuel 8 in verse 6. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David, whithersoever he went. 2 Samuel 8, verse 14. And he, David, put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the Lord preserved David, whithersoever he went. In 1 Chronicles 18, verse 6. Then David put garrisons in Syria, Damascus, and the Syrians became David's servants and brought gifts. Thus, the Lord preserved David, whithersoever he went. And then in First Chronicles 18 and verse 13, and he put garrisons in Edom and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus, the Lord preserved David, whithersoever he went. So four times. The Bible specifically says that while David was fighting, it didn't matter where he was, God sovereignly preserved him and protected him. It was later on that David wrote Psalm 24. Listen to Psalm 24 in verse 8. David asks, Who is this king of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

[John Weaver] So David says the Lord is mighty in battle. So consequently, David then learned to confess and acknowledge it was God who sustained him, preserved him and protected him throughout all of his battles. He said it like this in 2 Samuel 22 and verse 40. He says, For thou hast girded me with strength to battle them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. Notice what he said, For thou hast girded me with strength to battle. Them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to listen to what I'm about to say. I read all those scriptures to tell you this. We have a problem in our country. We have a problem in our churches. We have a problem in our families. And we have a problem in individual lives. What is that problem? Here it is. We have lost our warrior spirit. We have lost our fighting spirit. Do you realize we are unwilling to face our enemies? We're unwilling to engage our enemies and just plain scared and unwilling to fight. What do you say that's not so bad? Oh. Until you understand that the curse of God is upon such a nation, such a church, such a family and such an individual. You see, when God commands us to fight. And we refuse to fight, it's not only sin, the curse of God comes upon us.

[John Weaver] I want you to hold numbers 32, but I want you to turn to Jeremiah chapter 48 and look at verse 10. Jeremiah 48 and verse 10. Here's a very interesting verse. Look what God says, Jeremiah 48 and verse 10. Jeremiah 48, verse 10, God says this, Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. Whoa.

[John Weaver] Wait a minute, did I read that right? God says you're under the curse if you do the work of God deceitfully, and you're under the curse if you keep back your sword from blood.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to understand in the context of Jeremiah 48, God had pronounced His wrath and His judgment upon Moab. He had sent His army to destroy Moab. Look in verse 8. Jeremiah 48 and verse 8, God says, And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape. The valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord hath spoken. Now skip down to verse 10 again. Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. So what is God saying? God said, I've ordained this war. I've ordained this fight. I've sent you to destroy these people and these cities and these plains because of their sin and because of their wickedness. This is my judgment. And if you do the work of God deceitfully, it's not only sin, but you're under the curse. And if you hold back your sword from blood, you're under my curse as well. Wow.

[John Weaver] You say, how in the world would this even apply to us today? Well, I'm going to show you. But I want you to think about this. Not a week goes by if you read the news, whether paper or on the Internet, but not a week goes by that you do not read of individuals that are being attacked by gangs and mobs and even rampaging teenagers. And what do bystanders and onlookers do when they see an individual being attacked? Well, they do what is expected.

[John Weaver] They stand by and they look on. And that's about it. The most any of them will do is use their cell phone and call 911 Or they'll use their cell phone and video the fight, but they would not lift one simple finger to help the individual that's being beaten to a pulp. You know why? That attitude is, I don't want to get involved. I don't want to get involved. I don't want to get hurt. And thus, we'll let someone be beaten absolutely to death. and not do one thing. And it's a sin. And it's a curse.

[John Weaver] Let me give you a quote. I want you to listen to this. Brandon Smith wrote a column. And he said this in three short paragraphs and two of the paragraphs he is quoting Gandhi. You know, Gandhi was the pacifist, the Indian guru. But I want you to listen to what he said. He wrote, There is a rather insane notion within modern activist movements that self-defense represents an abandonment of control.

[John Weaver] They argue that to fight is to automatically lose and to prepare for conflict is extreme. I would say that self-defense is actually the highest principle one can value, for without the courage to physically resist tyranny, Without the will required to put one's life at risk, to stand against the evils of the world, all other principles will be lost.

[John Weaver] Now listen, even Gandhi, the man often idolized by pacifists and nonviolent activists, recognized this fact. Now listen to what Gandhi said. He quotes, hence also do I advocate training in arms for those who believe in the method of violence. I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honor than she should be in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonor. When violence is offered in self-defense or for the defense of the defenseless, it is an act of bravery far better than an act of cowardly submission. That was Gandhi. Now, let me tell you, I am not a follower of Gandhi. Gandhi certainly was right in these two instances, but I'm not a follower of Gandhi. I'm a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the sovereign God of heaven and earth.

[John Weaver] And I can assure you of one thing. It is never wrong to emulate our heavenly Father. So you have to ask yourself this question. Would God fight? Or as The world used to say, what would Jesus do? Well, I will tell you this, Jesus would take a scourge of cords and run them out of the temple. Yes, he would fight. He would fight. Let me go a little bit further. Would God fight? We can ask it like this. Would God go so far as to take lives?

[John Weaver] in defending his people and in defending his great and dreadful name. Is it wrong to defend ourselves? Is it wrong to defend our families, our neighborhood, our friends? Is it wrong to kill in order to preserve life? I can assure you again that it's never wrong to emulate our heavenly father. We can always follow his example and be assured that we're right. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2nd Kings chapter 19. And then we're going to the book of Isaiah, so if you want to hold the book of Isaiah as you turn from Jeremiah. And go to 2nd Kings chapter 19. And I want you to see what God said to King Hezekiah. 2 Kings chapter 19, we'll look at two passages in 2 Kings and we'll go to Isaiah. 2 Kings chapter 19, notice if you would please, verse 34. 2 Kings 19, verse 34. Here is what God said to King Hezekiah.

[John Weaver] For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake and for my servant David's sake. Now look what God said, for I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake and for my servant David's sake.

[John Weaver] Now God tells King Hezekiah of Judah that he is going to defend Jerusalem and his people from the king of Assyria. Hezekiah does not need to worry because God is going to undertake his defense. If self-defense And if defense in the lives of others happen to be wrong and wicked and vile, I can assure you that God Himself would never engage in it. But God is saying, I'm going to defend my people. I'm going to defend my city and I'm going to defend my holy name.

[John Weaver] If you look in 2 Kings 20 and verse 6. Again, God says this to Hezekiah. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years, and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for mine own sake and for my servant David's sake." That's twice that God has said that. If you would turn to Isaiah 31. Isaiah 31 and look if you would please at verse 5. Isaiah 31 and verse 5. Look what God says. Isaiah 31 and verse 5. God says, as birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending also He will deliver it, and passing over He will preserve it. So God says this now for the third time. If you look in Isaiah 37 and verse 35. Isaiah 37 and verse 35. Here God says this, For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake and for my servant David's sake. That is four times that God has said this. Then if you look in Isaiah 38 and verse 6, again God says, And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.

[John Weaver] Five times God says, I'm going to defend this city. I'll defend it for David's sake. I'll defend it for my own honor's sake. But I'm going to defend this city. Now, the question has to be asked, did God defend Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem? Yes, he did. Let's ask another question. Did God take lives in defending Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem? And the answer is yes.

[John Weaver] If you look in Isaiah 37 and verse 36. In fact, let's read verse 35 again, he says, For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake and for my servant David's sake. Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty five thousand. And when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

[John Weaver] So those few Assyrian soldiers that were alive. Woke up to 185,000 dead corpses in their camp. Did God take life? And the answer is absolutely yes.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you another question. I don't want you to think about this. Could God have delivered Jerusalem without taking lives. And the answer is yes. He had done it before. If you would look in your Bibles to Second Kings, Chapter seven, Second Kings, Chapter seven, let me show you how you previously had saved them. Second Kings, Chapter seven. And let's begin reading with verse three, Second Kings seven. And verse three, watch. Second Kings seven, verse three.

[John Weaver] And there were four left first minute, the entering into the gate. And they said one to another, why sit we here until we die? If we say we will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city and we shall die there. And if we sit still here, we shall die also.

[John Weaver] Now, therefore, come and let us fall into the host of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we shall live, and if they will kill us, we will but die. And they rose up in the twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians, who had encircled Jerusalem. And when they came to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host. And they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to come upon us. Wherefore, they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and left their horses, and left their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their lives."

[John Weaver] So what did God do? God just simply caused them to hear a noise. And they said, it's the noise of a great army and they're coming after us. The king has hired all these people against us and they ran. Could God have done the same thing in Isaiah 37? Well, of course he could have, but he didn't. He killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Now, here's my question. Is anyone going to be so blasphemous As to charge God with murder. Could God have delivered Jerusalem? Without killing these 185,000, yes.

[John Weaver] But he did not choose to do so. Although God is above his law. And God is not bound by his law. God does not violate his law. He is the infinitely holy one and whatever he does is right. You have to understand that David, along with other saints, confesses and acknowledges that God is our defense. David said in Psalm 7 and verse 10, he said, My defense is of God who saveth the upright in heart. David claims God as his defender. I could multiply passages, for instance, in Psalm 59 and verse 9. In Psalm 59 verses 16 and 17. In Psalm 62 verse 6 and verse 2. In Psalm 94 and verse 2. And in verse 22 it is. David repeats over and over that God is his defense. He relied totally and completely upon the mercy and the power of God. David said in Psalm 89 and verse 18, For the Lord is our defense. And the Holy One of Israel is our king. Please take note of the fact that David claimed God as his defender, and we may rightly conclude that God not only defends his people.

[John Weaver] But he defends his name and his honor as well, so. As I said earlier, it is never wrong to emulate our Heavenly Father when lives must be taken in self-defense. Or in the defense of others, it is not murder, it is not wrong, it is not wicked, it is not sin. Let me show you. I want you to turn to 1 Samuel 14. 1 Samuel 14. And show you a verse. In 1 Samuel chapter 14, Jonathan and his armor bearer show themselves to the Philistines.

[John Weaver] There's a battle going on. And Jonathan said, if they call us and tell us to come to them, then God has delivered them in our hands. And so if you will notice, beginning there with verse. Let's see, first Samuel 14 and. Let's begin looking at about verse. Oh, let's see. Yeah. Verse 11. Verse 10, he said, but they say this come up into us, then we will go up for the Lord to deliver, deliver them into our hand and this shall be a sign of this.

[John Weaver] And both of them discovered themselves in the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they have hid themselves. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, come up to us and we will show you things. And Jonathan said unto his armor bearer, The Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel and Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet and his armor bearer after him, and they fell before Jonathan and his armor bearer slew after him. And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about 20 men within, as it were, a half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to watch. Jonathan and his armor bearer has killed about 20 men. What happens next? Look in verse 15, and there was a trembling in the host, that is, in the host of the Philistines, in the field, and among all the people, the garrison and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked. So it was a very great trembling. And the watchman of Saul and Benjamin looked on, and behold, a multitude melted away, and they went on beating one another down."

[John Weaver] Notice, if you would please, God sent an earthquake. The people became so frightened, they turned against each other.

[John Weaver] Now, if you'll skip down to verse 23, the Bible says this,"'So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle passed over into Beth-Avon.'" Notice, if you would, Jonathan and his armor-bearer only killed about 20. The rest of them God killed. And what few were killed afterwards when Israel chased them was still nothing in comparison to those that God killed. So God was defending His people.

[John Weaver] If you would turn in your Bibles to 1 Chronicles chapter 14. 1 and 2 Kings. 1 and 2 Chronicles. Go to 1 Chronicles chapter 14, and look if you would please beginning there with verse 14. 1 Chronicles chapter 14 and verse 14. You see, David, the mighty warrior, always relied upon God for wisdom and direction. David always usually asked permission to fight. He asked what God's will would be. In First Chronicles chapter 14 there, beginning with verse 14, therefore, David inquired again of God and God said of him, Go not up after them, turn away from them and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. So God is directing him how to attack the Philistines. And it shall be when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees that then thou shalt go out to battle, for God is going forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. David, therefore, did as God commanded, and they smoked the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.

[John Weaver] Note, if you would, David again, the mighty warrior, got directions from God. If you would turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel, chapter 23. Again, David asked permission to fight, and I want you to note If you would, in this instance, that David is not being attacked. David's men are not attacked. Here, a city is attacked. It's being attacked by men who are looters and robbers. Notice, if you would, 1 Samuel 23. Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floors. So here, the town of Keilah is being attacked. Therefore, David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go and smite the Philistines and save Keilah. None of you would. David asked permission. God said, Yes, go. Why? Because you're defending lives. You're preserving lives. Go. It is lawful to fight against those who are wicked and those who are maliciously attacking others. It is biblical. and lawful to take life even if necessary in such instances.

[John Weaver] Now, let me remind you of two principles. I want you to think about this. First of all, we must remember the wickedness of the wicked. What do I mean by that? We must remember the wickedness of the wicked. The wicked think absolutely nothing of violating God's law. They think absolutely nothing of murder, of theft, of rape. I want you to look in Psalm 14 and verse 4 at a verse. You talking about an illuminating verse? Look in Psalm 14 and verse 4 where God is talking about the wicked and listen to what he says. And this is what I mean when I say we must remember the wicked is the wicked. Psalm 14, verse four. Psalm 14, verse four, God says, God, I have all the workers of iniquity, no knowledge who eat up my people as they bread and call not upon the name of the Lord. Watch have all the workers of iniquity, no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread. and call not upon the Lord." I want you to pay careful attention to this one little phrase where God says that the wicked eat up His people as they eat bread.

[John Weaver] I want to give you what John Gill in his commentary said on this verse. Just one paragraph. Listen carefully. John Gill writes, who eats bread Not David's people, but the Lord's people whom he chose for his people, who were his covenant people and who professed his name and were called by his name. These, the workers of iniquity, ate up, devoured and consumed by reproaching and persecuting them, doing injury to their persons, property and character. They devoured their persons by using them cruelly and putting them to death. They devoured their substance by spoiling them of it and converting it to their own use.

[John Weaver] As the Pharisees are said to devour widows' houses, and they destroyed their good names and characters with devouring words. And this they did with as much ease and as much delight and as much pleasure and without any remorse of conscience as constantly as a man eats bread. I want you to stop and think about that. The wicked think no more of violating God's law and doing wickedly than they do of thinking of taking up a piece of bread and eating it.

[John Weaver] You see, this verse, Psalm 14, verse four. Also teaches us that there is the inclination in the wicked to devour the saints, that is what they're inclined to do, just like they're inclined to eat. It's nothing to them. What does a hungry man do? He devours his food. What does the wicked man do? He devours the righteous. That's why God asked, have the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as they eat bread? So we have to remember the wickedness of the wicked.

[John Weaver] Secondly, we have to remember that every negative has a positive. I've taught you this before, but you remember the sixth commandment, thou shalt not kill. The sixth commandment is a negative, but every negative has a positive. So the positive side of the sixth commandment is thou shalt preserve life. So we have a duty, we have an obligation, not only to preserve our lives, but the lives of others if we're going to keep the sixth commandment.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 22, and let's begin reading there with verse 23. Deuteronomy 22 and verse 23. Let me show you how clearly this is taught in Scripture. Notice Deuteronomy 22, and let's begin there with verse 23. Watch. Deuteronomy 22, verse 23. If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, that is, she's actually engaged to be married, but you've got to remember, betrothal in the Bible, they were actually counted as husband and wife before they ever came together as husband and wife.

[John Weaver] So it was a serious thing. So he says, if a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city and lie with her, then you shall bring them both out into the gate of that city. And you shall stone them with stones that they die. The damsel, because she cried not, being in the city, and the man because he had humbled his neighbor's wife, so thou shalt put away evil from among you. But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her and lie with her, then the man only that lay with her shall die. But in the damsel shalt thou do nothing. There is in the damsel no sin worthy of death, For as when a man rises up against his neighbor and slays him, even so it is in this matter. For he found her in the field, and the troth damsel cried, and there was none to save her."

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note the differences between verses 23 and 24 and 25 and 26. In verses 23 and 24, the woman was in the city. And what did God say? God said, you take the man and the woman and you bring them to the gate of the city and you stone them with stones. Well, now, wait a minute. You say the man forced the woman. Well, you have to understand this. The Bible says she being in the city cried not. That means if she had not been consenting to the sin and consenting to the crime, she would have cried out. Well, what does that imply?

[John Weaver] It implies anyone who hurt her would have been duty bound and obligated to save her. Because she was in the city, a multitude of people were around. When you get, however, to verses 25 and 26, now the woman is in the field and the Bible says she cried out and none was there to save her. So the man only was to be put to death and not the woman. So you have here A very clear distinction between someone who could help and someone who could not get help. If you hear the cry of distress, if you hear the cry of danger, if someone's life is in danger, according to Deuteronomy 22, you're duty bound, you're obligated to do whatever is necessary to save that life. That's obvious, that's clear. That's why it's wicked and wrong for onlookers and bystanders to stand by and look on while people are being beaten and killed.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn in your Bibles to Acts chapter 7. Acts chapter 7. Acts chapter 7. And let me show you something beginning here. with verse 22, Acts chapter 7, verse 22. Acts chapter 7, verse 22. Are you there? OK, here we go. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds. And when he was full 40 years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel, and seeing one of them suffer wrong, Now watch, and seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him and avenged him that was oppressed and smote the Egyptian. For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them, but they understood not. And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove and would have set them at one again, saying, Sir, as your brethren, why do you wrong one another? But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

[John Weaver] Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at the saying, And was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.

[John Weaver] Now, let's just stop there just for a moment. I want you to note the Bible says in verse 24 that he saw one of his brethren being In other words, his life was in danger. And what did Moses do? The Bible says that he defended the Israelite, and in defending him, he killed the Egyptian. Now, I want you to understand something. Moses is never condemned, either in the Old Testament or in the New Testament, for killing the Egyptian. In fact, You could say that Moses was commended for doing that because he is listed in Hebrews chapter 11 as one of the heroes of faith. You say, but wait a minute. The Bible also tells us that Moses had to flee into Egypt or had to flee from Egypt.

[John Weaver] Yes, but the reason he fled was not because he had violated God's law. He fled again in obedience to God's law. because Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, was seeking to take his life because he had taken the life of an Egyptian. And so Moses fled in order to preserve his life, which again is very clear in obedience to the sixth commandment. So Moses did not violate the law of God at all. Moses was fleeing to preserve his life to keep Pharaoh from violating the law of God as well. What the Bible teaches us, yes, it is right to defend life. It's right to defend your life. It's right to defend the lives of others. And if other people lose their lives. Then it is not a violation of the law of God. If you have to take life to save life now.

[John Weaver] Here's the point that I want to emphasize. Because we're living, I believe, in extremely dangerous times. And we see people and we read of people being attacked, even the knockout game. We read this all the time. You go to YouTube and you will see people being beaten. While 30 and 40 folks look on and nobody lifts a finger to help them. Do you realize that's a sin? That's a sin. We're under the curse of God when we fail to obey the law of God. God condemns those that are at ease in Zion. Listen to this application. God condemns those that are at ease in Zion when they should be fighting. In Amos 6 and verse 1, the Bible says this, Woe to them that are at ease in Zion and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came." Now listen to that again. Let me read it again. Woe to them that are eased in Zion and trust in the mountain of Samaria.

[John Weaver] Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom. Samaria was the government. So here's what God is saying. Woe to them that are eased and trust in the government. What? Well, the police will come in and resolve this conflict. Yes. After the man is beaten to death. They can draw a chalk line around the body. But you could have saved his life. By intervening. You could have saved his life by picking up a baseball bat and hitting the attacker in the head, but you didn't. And so God says, warn to them that are at ease in Zion and that trust in the mountains of Samaria. No. What is it? When seconds count, the police are only 30 minutes away. Yeah. You have a responsibility under God to preserve life.

[John Weaver] Listen to Zephaniah chapter 1 and verse 12. Listen carefully. God said, And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with candles and punish the men that are settled on their leaves That say in their heart, the Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil. Now, God says he's going to punish the men who are settled on their lease, who say in their heart, God's not going to do good or God's not going to do evil. In other words, God's not going to judge me for what I've done or what I haven't done. God's just not going to do it. You see. This expression, these men that are settled on their lease. Is an expression Taken from making wine.

[John Weaver] The dregs in the bottom would be the lees. And the longer the wine sets on the lees, the more harsh and bitter it becomes. And so God says these men that are sitting on their lees becoming more defiled and more hardened in their heart. And thus, they're saying, God's not going to judge me one way or the other. God will not do good. God will not do evil.

[John Weaver] What we need to understand, folks, is this. What Moses said in Numbers 32 and verse 23, but if you will not do so, be sure your sin will find you out. The sin was refusing to fight When God had commanded us to fight. It is a sin to sit by and allow your life or the lives of your loved ones. Or the lives of your friends to be taken.

[John Weaver] And you do absolutely nothing. There's a time to pray. There's a time to wish each other well. And there's a time to fight. And when it's time to fight, you better be prayed up. Because you will not usually have prayer time except saying, Lord, help me. It's a sin. To refuse to fight when fighting is necessary. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day.

[John Weaver] We thank you for your love. Thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. And we pray that you will teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, help us in Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen. This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weber's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 ABRICORN, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N STREET suite 705 PMB 175 Savannah Georgia 31406 or give us a call at 912-925-0995.

[John Weaver] You can also visit our website at

The Sin of Refusing to Fight - 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	93020122217728
Subject	Biblical Law
Course	The Ten Commandments
Genre	Sermon
Date	2014-08-31
Dictation Name
Book	Book 047: The Sin of Refusing to Fight — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	72

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the context of Numbers 32:23 and the previous sermon's two questions: when it is a sin to fight and when it is a sin to refuse to fight.

Numbers 32 and verse 23. Here's part two of "The Sin of Refusing to Fight." Notice, if you would, verse 23, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Numbers 32:23

"But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out."

Now, last week we saw the context of Numbers chapter 32 and verse 23 and observed that the sin that would find us out specifically was a sinner refusing to fight. So last week, I endeavored to answer two questions. The first one was, when is it a sin to fight? And the answer comes back: It's a sin to fight when God has not commanded to fight or when the fight is contrary to clearly defined scriptural principles. Usually you find that fights for resources, control, power, and dominion are condemned in Scripture. The second question that was asked is, when is it a sin to refuse to fight? And again, the answer was very clearly given to us in Scripture. It's a sin to refuse to fight when God commands us to fight and we refuse to fight.

God Commands Fighting Today Through His Word

God no longer speaks through prophets or dreams but through Scripture, which commands fighting for faith, culture, truth, and against tyranny.

Now, you have to understand that God does not speak today the way He did in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, of course, the Lord used prophets. He used dreams and trances, even the Urim and the Thummim. But those things are no more, because now we have the completed, full, and final revelation of God that is given to us. But God does speak in His Word, and God does speak through principles. And these principles are clearly enunciated, and there are areas in which we are commanded to fight. And I gave you some examples last week. We must fight for our Christian faith, for our culture, for our heritage, for our society. We must fight for truth and righteousness. You have to remember that tyranny always seeks to destroy those things. And consequently, we must always fight against tyranny and evil in every form. It was in Psalm 94 and verse 16 that I quoted last week that God asked, "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?"

It Is a Sin to Refuse to Fight When Lives Are in Danger

The second main point: refusing to fight when lives—your own, family, friends, neighbors—are in jeopardy is sin, as illustrated by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh.

And who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? So very clearly God is asking for someone to fight for Him. And it is a declaration of war upon the wicked. So today I want to come to the second truth in Numbers chapter 32 and verse 23. Because last week I shared with you one point: It is a sin to refuse to fight when God commands us to fight. And we looked at a number of passages in the Bible where God did command His people to fight. But secondly, today, I want you to understand it is a sin to refuse to fight when lives are in danger or in jeopardy. It's a sin to refuse to fight when lives are in danger and in jeopardy.

By that, I mean your life and the life of your family, the life of your friends, and your neighbors. Now, as you look at Numbers chapter 32, let me ask this question. What would be one of the sins of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh? And here's the answer. It would be the sin of failing to protect and fight for the lives of their brethren. In other words, the other tribes were going to war. They had yet to subdue their enemies and have their inheritance. They needed help. They needed armed help. They needed men that would fight. And should these two and a half tribes sit back and not fight, it would be sin on their part.

Prayer Without Fighting Is Useless When Fighting Is Mandatory

Using Numbers 25, Weaver shows that Phinehas stopped praying and took action to stop sin, demonstrating that there are times when fighting is required over prayer.

It was men who were willing to fight. Also, I'm not minimizing benevolent desires. We should certainly want our brethren to have the best that is sure. But if you simply wish someone well when they need help, that's not cutting it, according to the Word of God. Praying might be mixed with fighting. But prayer without fighting when it's absolutely necessary is useless. Let me show you. I want you to hold Numbers chapter 32, but look in your Bibles to Numbers chapter 25, and I want to take the time to read the first 13 verses, and I want you to see this in the context. Notice, if you would, Numbers chapter 25, beginning with verse 1. I've just made the statement that prayer is worthless when fighting is mandatory. You can't just pray and refuse to fight. Now watch. Numbers chapter 25 and verse 1, "And Israel abode in Shittim."

"And the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people into the sacrifices of their gods. And the people did eat and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel." Now watch. "And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one of his men that were joined unto Baal Peor. And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."

"And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand. And he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel, and those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, hath turned away my wrath from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consume not the children of Israel in my jealousy." "Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace, and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel."

Now, I want you to note something very clearly. I want you to note where Moses and all of the elders of Israel were. Look in verse 6. "And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." Now undoubtedly they were praying while they were weeping there. You will find many times in Scriptures it was Moses, Aaron, and some of the others who were always there praying. They were weeping and praying because of the sin of the children of Israel. But when this one man brought this Midianitish woman into the camp, Phinehas, who was also there, ceased praying, took a spear or javelin, went in and slew both of them. In other words, there was a time to quit praying and quit weeping and do the fighting. And that's exactly what Phinehas did.

And notice, if you would, God blessed him for doing so. God gave him a covenant of peace, and God said he will have it forever. I want you to understand that there are times when fighting is absolutely required and demanded. You must remember that David was a fighter and a warrior, and he fought the Lord's battles. Abigail said this to David in 1 Samuel 25 and verse 28. She said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 25:28

"I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days."

Note what she said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 25:28

"because David fighteth the battles of the Lord."

So you have to understand that David, when he was fighting the battles of the Lord, was fighting physically.

David as a Model of Fighting the Lord's Battles

David fought physically, trusted God, and was preserved by God in battle, acknowledging the Lord as his defense.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 25:28

"I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days."

Note what she said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 25:28

"because David fighteth the battles of the Lord."

So you have to understand that David, when he was fighting the battles of the Lord, was fighting physically.

He was destroying the Philistines, and those who fought against the Lord and those who fought against His people. So David then was a mighty warrior. And he learned to fight under the protection and under the blessings of the Lord. He understood one particular truth. Now listen. In reality, each battle and every battle belongs to the Lord. Or all battles belong to the Lord. David learned this early when he fought Goliath.

Do you remember what he said in 1 Samuel 17, verse 47? Listen. David said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 17:47

"And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."

He was talking to Goliath, but he said this assembly is going to know God does not necessarily need to save with sword or spear. Why? Because the battle is the Lord's and He's going to give you into our hand. So David then leaned upon the Lord and he trusted in the Lord. The battle belonged to the Lord.

And here's an interesting thing. The Bible teaches us that God preserved David everywhere he went. I have no idea how many battles David was in. He was in a multitude of battles. Do you realize, and let me just quote these for you, do you realize at least four times in the Bible, at least four times, the Bible specifically states that God preserved the life of David as he was fighting the battles of the Lord. Listen, 2 Samuel 8 and verse 6.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:6, 13

"Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went."

2 Samuel 8, verse 14.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:6, 13

"And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went."

In 1 Chronicles 18, verse 6.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:6, 13

"Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went."

And then in 1 Chronicles 18 and verse 13,

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:6, 13

"And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went."

So four times. The Bible specifically says that while David was fighting, it didn't matter where he was, God sovereignly preserved him and protected him. It was later on that David wrote Psalm 24. Listen to Psalm 24 in verse 8. David asks, "Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."

So David says the Lord is mighty in battle. So consequently, David then learned to confess and acknowledge it was God who sustained him, preserved him, and protected him throughout all of his battles. He said it like this in 2 Samuel 22 and verse 40. He says, "For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me." Notice what he said, "For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me."

The Curse of Refusing to Fight

Jeremiah 48:10 pronounces a curse on those who hold back from bloodshed when God commands war; modern bystanders who fail to help are under this curse.

I want you to hold Numbers 32, but I want you to turn to Jeremiah chapter 48 and look at verse 10. Jeremiah 48 and verse 10. Here's a very interesting verse. Look what God says, Jeremiah 48 and verse 10. Jeremiah 48, verse 10, God says this, "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood." Whoa. Wait a minute, did I read that right? God says you're under the curse if you do the work of God deceitfully, and you're under the curse if you keep back your sword from blood.

Now, I want you to understand in the context of Jeremiah 48, God had pronounced His wrath and His judgment upon Moab. He had sent His army to destroy Moab. Look in verse 8. Jeremiah 48 and verse 8, God says, "And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord hath spoken." Now skip down to verse 10 again.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 48:10

"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood."

So what is God saying? God said, I've ordained this war. I've ordained this fight. I've sent you to destroy these people and these cities and these plains because of their sin and because of their wickedness. This is my judgment. And if you do the work of God deceitfully, it's not only sin, but you're under the curse. And if you hold back your sword from blood, you're under my curse as well. Wow.

You say, how in the world would this even apply to us today? Well, I'm going to show you. But I want you to think about this. Not a week goes by if you read the news, whether paper or on the Internet, but not a week goes by that you do not read of individuals that are being attacked by gangs and mobs and even rampaging teenagers. And what do bystanders and onlookers do when they see an individual being attacked? Well, they do what is expected. They stand by and they look on. And that's about it. The most any of them will do is use their cell phone and call 911. Or they'll use their cell phone and video the fight, but they would not lift one simple finger to help the individual that's being beaten to a pulp. You know why? That attitude is, "I don't want to get involved. I don't want to get involved. I don't want to get hurt." And thus, we'll let someone be beaten absolutely to death and not do one thing. And it's a sin. And it's a curse.

God Defends His People and Takes Lives in Their Defense

God repeatedly promised to defend Jerusalem and did so by killing 185,000 Assyrians, proving that taking life in defense is not murder but emulating God.

in defending His people and in defending His great and dreadful name. Is it wrong to defend ourselves? Is it wrong to defend our families, our neighborhood, our friends? Is it wrong to kill in order to preserve life? I can assure you again that it's never wrong to emulate our heavenly Father. We can always follow His example and be assured that we're right. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 19. And then we're going to the book of Isaiah, so if you want to hold the book of Isaiah as you turn from Jeremiah. And go to 2 Kings chapter 19. And I want you to see what God said to King Hezekiah. 2 Kings chapter 19, we'll look at two passages in 2 Kings and we'll go to Isaiah. 2 Kings chapter 19, notice if you would please, verse 34. 2 Kings 19, verse 34. Here is what God said to King Hezekiah.

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

"For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

Now look what God said,

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

"For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

Now God tells King Hezekiah of Judah that He is going to defend Jerusalem and His people from the king of Assyria. Hezekiah does not need to worry because God is going to undertake his defense. If self-defense and if defense of the lives of others happen to be wrong and wicked and vile, I can assure you that God Himself would never engage in it. But God is saying, I'm going to defend my people. I'm going to defend my city and I'm going to defend my holy name. If you look in 2 Kings 20 and verse 6. Again, God says this to Hezekiah.

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

"And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

That's twice that God has said that. If you would turn to Isaiah 31. Isaiah 31 and look if you would please at verse 5. Isaiah 31 and verse 5. Look what God says. Isaiah 31 and verse 5. God says, "As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also He will deliver it; and passing over He will preserve it." So God says this now for the third time. If you look in Isaiah 37 and verse 35. Isaiah 37 and verse 35. Here God says this,

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

"For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

That is four times that God has said this. Then if you look in Isaiah 38 and verse 6, again God says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

"And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city."

Five times God says, "I'm going to defend this city. I'll defend it for David's sake. I'll defend it for my own honor's sake. But I'm going to defend this city." Now, the question has to be asked, did God defend Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem? Yes, He did. Let's ask another question. Did God take lives in defending Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem? And the answer is yes.

If you look in Isaiah 37 and verse 36. In fact, let's read verse 35 again, He says, "For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 37:36

Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty five thousand. And when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

So those few Assyrian soldiers that were alive woke up to 185,000 dead corpses in their camp. Did God take life? And the answer is absolutely yes.

Now, let me ask you another question. I want you to think about this. Could God have delivered Jerusalem without taking lives? And the answer is yes. He had done it before. If you would look in your Bibles to 2 Kings, chapter 7. 2 Kings, chapter 7, let me show you how He previously had saved them. 2 Kings, chapter 7. And let's begin reading with verse 3. 2 Kings 7, and verse 3, watch. 2 Kings 7, verse 3.

Biblical Duty to Preserve Life

The positive side of the sixth commandment is to preserve life; Deuteronomy 22 and Acts 7 show the obligation to intervene when lives are threatened.

Secondly, we have to remember that every negative has a positive. I've taught you this before, but you remember the sixth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill." The sixth commandment is a negative, but every negative has a positive. So the positive side of the sixth commandment is "Thou shalt preserve life." So we have a duty, we have an obligation, not only to preserve our lives, but the lives of others if we're going to keep the sixth commandment. Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 22, and let's begin reading there with verse 23. Deuteronomy 22 and verse 23. Let me show you how clearly this is taught in Scripture. Notice Deuteronomy 22, and let's begin there with verse 23. Watch. Deuteronomy 22, verse 23. "If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband"—that is, she's actually engaged to be married, but you've got to remember, betrothal in the Bible, they were actually counted as husband and wife before they ever came together as husband and wife.

So it was a serious thing. So he says, "If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: but unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: for he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her."

Now, I want you to note the differences between verses 23 and 24 and 25 and 26. In verses 23 and 24, the woman was in the city. And what did God say? God said, you take the man and the woman and you bring them to the gate of the city and you stone them with stones. Well, now, wait a minute. You say the man forced the woman. Well, you have to understand this. The Bible says she being in the city cried not. That means if she had not been consenting to the sin and consenting to the crime, she would have cried out. Well, what does that imply?

It implies anyone who heard her would have been duty bound and obligated to save her. Because she was in the city, a multitude of people were around. When you get, however, to verses 25 and 26, now the woman is in the field and the Bible says she cried out and none was there to save her. So the man only was to be put to death and not the woman. So you have here a very clear distinction between someone who could help and someone who could not get help. If you hear the cry of distress, if you hear the cry of danger, if someone's life is in danger, according to Deuteronomy 22, you're duty bound, you're obligated to do whatever is necessary to save that life. That's obvious, that's clear. That's why it's wicked and wrong for onlookers and bystanders to stand by and look on while people are being beaten and killed.

I want you to turn in your Bibles to Acts chapter 7. Acts chapter 7. Acts chapter 7. And let me show you something beginning here with verse 22, Acts chapter 7, verse 22. Acts chapter 7, verse 22. Are you there? OK, here we go.

Scripture Reading — Acts 7:22-29

"And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong"

—now watch—

Scripture Reading — Acts 7:22-29

"and seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?"

"Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons." Now, let's just stop there just for a moment. I want you to note the Bible says in verse 24 that he saw one of his brethren being wronged. In other words, his life was in danger. And what did Moses do? The Bible says that he defended the Israelite, and in defending him, he killed the Egyptian. Now, I want you to understand something. Moses is never condemned, either in the Old Testament or in the New Testament, for killing the Egyptian. In fact, you could say that Moses was commended for doing that because he is listed in Hebrews chapter 11 as one of the heroes of faith. You say, but wait a minute. The Bible also tells us that Moses had to flee from Egypt.

Yes, but the reason he fled was not because he had violated God's law. He fled again in obedience to God's law, because Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, was seeking to take his life because he had taken the life of an Egyptian. And so Moses fled in order to preserve his life, which again is very clear in obedience to the sixth commandment. So Moses did not violate the law of God at all. Moses was fleeing to preserve his life to keep Pharaoh from violating the law of God as well. What the Bible teaches us, yes, it is right to defend life. It's right to defend your life. It's right to defend the lives of others. And if other people lose their lives, then it is not a violation of the law of God if you have to take life to save life.

Application: Woe to Those at Ease in Zion

God condemns those who trust in government instead of acting to save lives; believers must fight when necessary, not sit idly by.

Now, here's the point that I want to emphasize. Because we're living, I believe, in extremely dangerous times. And we see people and we read of people being attacked, even the knockout game. We read this all the time. You go to YouTube and you will see people being beaten while 30 and 40 folks look on and nobody lifts a finger to help them. Do you realize that's a sin? That's a sin. We're under the curse of God when we fail to obey the law of God. God condemns those that are at ease in Zion. Listen to this application. God condemns those that are at ease in Zion when they should be fighting. In Amos 6 and verse 1, the Bible says this, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!" Now listen to that again. Let me read it again. "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria."

Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom. Samaria was the government. So here's what God is saying. Woe to them that are at ease and trust in the government. What? Well, the police will come in and resolve this conflict. Yes. After the man is beaten to death. They can draw a chalk line around the body. But you could have saved his life by intervening. You could have saved his life by picking up a baseball bat and hitting the attacker in the head, but you didn't. And so God says, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and that trust in the mountain of Samaria." No. What is it? When seconds count, the police are only 30 minutes away. Yeah. You have a responsibility under God to preserve life.

Listen to Zephaniah chapter 1 and verse 12. Listen carefully. God said, "And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil." Now, God says He's going to punish the men who are settled on their lees, who say in their heart, "God's not going to do good or God's not going to do evil." In other words, God's not going to judge me for what I've done or what I haven't done. God's just not going to do it. You see, this expression, "these men that are settled on their lees," is an expression taken from making wine. The dregs in the bottom would be the lees. And the longer the wine sets on the lees, the more harsh and bitter it becomes. And so God says these men that are sitting on their lees becoming more defiled and more hardened in their heart. And thus, they're saying, "God's not going to judge me one way or the other. God will not do good. God will not do evil."

What we need to understand, folks, is this. What Moses said in Numbers 32 and verse 23, "But if you will not do so, be sure your sin will find you out." The sin was refusing to fight when God had commanded us to fight. It is a sin to sit by and allow your life or the lives of your loved ones or the lives of your friends to be taken.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Sin of refusing to fight when lives are in danger

Summary: It is a sin to refuse to fight when your life, your family's lives, or others' lives are in jeopardy, as exemplified by the tribes who would have sinned by not helping their brethren in battle.

Evidence: What would be one of the sins of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh? And here's the answer. It would be the sin of failing to protect and fight for the lives of their brethren.

Prayer is insufficient without action when fighting is required

Summary: Prayer and good wishes are not enough when physical fighting is necessary; Phinehas stopped praying and took violent action to stop sin and plague.

Evidence: Prayer without fighting when it's absolutely necessary is useless. ... Phinehas, who was also there, ceased praying, took a spear or javelin, went in and slew both of them.

God as the defender who takes life

Summary: God defends His people and His honor, and He takes lives in their defense, demonstrating that killing in defense is not murder but righteous action.

Evidence: Could God have delivered Jerusalem without killing these 185,000? Yes. But He did not choose to do so. ... When lives must be taken in self-defense or in the defense of others, it is not murder, it is not wrong, it is not wicked, it is not sin.

Curse upon those who refuse to fight

Summary: Jeremiah 48:10 pronounces a curse on those who do God's work deceitfully or hold back from bloodshed when God commands war; modern bystanders who fail to intervene are under this curse.

Evidence: Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

Loss of warrior spirit in the church and nation

Summary: The church and nation have lost the willingness to face and engage enemies, leading to cowardice and sin.

Evidence: We have lost our warrior spirit. We have lost our fighting spirit. Do you realize we are unwilling to face our enemies? We're unwilling to engage our enemies and just plain scared and unwilling to fight.

Duty to preserve life as the positive side of the sixth commandment

Summary: The sixth commandment's negative 'Thou shalt not kill' implies the positive duty to preserve life, obligating intervention when lives are threatened.

Evidence: The sixth commandment is a negative, but every negative has a positive. So the positive side of the sixth commandment is 'Thou shalt preserve life.'

Key Arguments

Refusing to fight when lives are in danger is sin

Summary: The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh would have sinned by not fighting alongside their brethren, showing that failure to protect lives is sin.

Evidence: What would be one of the sins of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh? ... It would be the sin of failing to protect and fight for the lives of their brethren.

Prayer cannot replace fighting when fighting is commanded

Summary: Phinehas's action in Numbers 25 proves that there are times when prayer must cease and physical fighting must begin to stop evil.

Evidence: Phinehas, who was also there, ceased praying, took a spear or javelin, went in and slew both of them. In other words, there was a time to quit praying and quit weeping and do the fighting.

God's curse is on those who hold back from necessary violence

Summary: Jeremiah 48:10 explicitly curses those who keep back their sword from blood when God has ordained judgment, applying to modern failures to defend the helpless.

Evidence: Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

God's example of taking life in defense justifies self-defense

Summary: God's killing of 185,000 Assyrians to defend Jerusalem shows that taking life in defense is not murder; emulating God is never wrong.

Evidence: When lives must be taken in self-defense or in the defense of others, it is not murder, it is not wrong, it is not wicked, it is not sin.

Scripture commands intervention to save lives

Summary: Deuteronomy 22 distinguishes between cases where help was possible and where it was not, implying a duty to intervene when one hears a cry of distress.

Evidence: If you hear the cry of distress, if you hear the cry of danger, if someone's life is in danger, according to Deuteronomy 22, you're duty bound, you're obligated to do whatever is necessary to save that life.

Moses' killing of the Egyptian was righteous defense

Summary: Moses killed an Egyptian to defend an Israelite and is never condemned for it; his flight was to preserve his own life, not because he sinned.

Evidence: Moses is never condemned, either in the Old Testament or in the New Testament, for killing the Egyptian. In fact, you could say that Moses was commended for doing that because he is listed in Hebrews chapter 11 as one of the heroes of faith.

Scripture References

Numbers 32:23

Context: The key verse of the sermon: 'But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out.'

Numbers 32:20-23

Context: Moses' condition for the tribes: they must go armed to war or sin; prayer and good wishes are not mentioned as sufficient.

Numbers 25:1-13

Context: Phinehas stops praying and kills the sinful couple, turning away God's wrath; illustrates that action, not just prayer, is sometimes required.

Psalm 94:16

Context: God asks, 'Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?' showing God seeks fighters.

1 Samuel 25:28

Context: Abigail says David fights the battles of the Lord, indicating physical fighting for God's cause.

1 Samuel 17:47

Context: David declares the battle is the Lord's, showing reliance on God in physical combat.

2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:6, 13

Context: Four times the Bible says the Lord preserved David wherever he went in battle.

Psalm 24:8

Context: David asks, 'Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.'

2 Samuel 22:40

Context: David acknowledges God girded him with strength for battle.

Jeremiah 48:10

Context: Cursed is he who does the Lord's work deceitfully and who keeps back his sword from blood.

2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

Context: God repeatedly promises to defend Jerusalem for His own sake and David's sake.

Isaiah 37:36

Context: The angel of the Lord kills 185,000 Assyrians in defense of Jerusalem.

2 Kings 7:3-7

Context: God previously delivered Jerusalem without bloodshed by causing the Syrians to hear a noise and flee.

Psalm 7:10; 59:9, 16-17; 62:2, 6; 94:2, 22; 89:18

Context: David repeatedly claims God as his defense.

1 Samuel 14:11-15, 23

Context: Jonathan and his armor-bearer kill about 20 men; God sends an earthquake and causes the enemy to fight each other, defending Israel.

1 Chronicles 14:14-16

Context: David inquires of God and obeys His battle strategy; God goes before him to smite the Philistines.

1 Samuel 23:1-2

Context: David asks God if he should fight to save Keilah from looters; God commands him to go and save the city.

Psalm 14:4

Context: The wicked eat up God's people as they eat bread, showing their casual cruelty.

Deuteronomy 22:23-27

Context: Law distinguishes between a woman who could have been saved in the city and one who could not in the field, implying a duty to rescue.

Acts 7:22-29

Context: Moses defends an Israelite by killing an Egyptian; he is not condemned and is listed in Hebrews 11 as a hero of faith.

Historical References

Gandhi's quote on self-defense

Context: Weaver quotes Gandhi via Brandon Smith's column to show even a pacifist advocated armed self-defense over cowardly submission.

John Gill's commentary on Psalm 14:4

Context: Weaver reads Gill's explanation that the wicked devour the righteous with as little remorse as eating bread.

Important Quotes

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

Significance: This verse from Jeremiah 48:10 is the central proof text that God curses those who refuse to fight when He commands it.

We have lost our warrior spirit. We have lost our fighting spirit. Do you realize we are unwilling to face our enemies? We're unwilling to engage our enemies and just plain scared and unwilling to fight.

Significance: Weaver diagnoses the core problem in the church and nation: a loss of courage and willingness to confront evil.

When lives must be taken in self-defense or in the defense of others, it is not murder, it is not wrong, it is not wicked, it is not sin.

Significance: A clear statement that killing in defense is biblically justified and not a violation of the sixth commandment.

Prayer without fighting when it's absolutely necessary is useless.

Significance: Weaver emphasizes that prayer cannot substitute for physical action when fighting is required.

If you hear the cry of distress, if you hear the cry of danger, if someone's life is in danger, according to Deuteronomy 22, you're duty bound, you're obligated to do whatever is necessary to save that life.

Significance: Weaver derives a clear moral obligation from the law to intervene when lives are threatened.

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria.

Significance: Weaver applies Amos 6:1 to condemn those who trust in government instead of taking personal responsibility to defend others.

Discussion Questions

In what situations today might God be commanding us to fight, and how can we discern those from situations where fighting would be sinful?

Context: Weaver distinguishes between fights for resources/control (sinful) and fights for faith, truth, and defense of lives (commanded).

How do we balance the call to prayer with the call to physical action in defending others?

Context: Weaver says prayer is necessary but useless without fighting when fighting is mandatory, using Phinehas as an example.

What does it mean to have a 'warrior spirit' as a Christian, and how can we cultivate it without becoming un-Christlike?

Context: Weaver laments the loss of warrior spirit and points to David and God Himself as models of righteous fighting.

How should Jeremiah 48:10 shape our understanding of God's judgment on inaction in the face of evil?

Context: Weaver applies the curse on those who keep back from bloodshed to modern bystanders who fail to help victims.

In what ways does God's defense of Jerusalem (killing 185,000) inform our ethics of self-defense and defense of others?

Context: Weaver argues that since God takes life in defense, it is not murder for us to do so in similar circumstances.

What practical steps can we take to fulfill the positive duty of the sixth commandment to preserve life in our communities?

Context: Weaver teaches that the sixth commandment implies a duty to preserve life, citing Deuteronomy 22 and Acts 7.

How do we avoid the condemnation of being 'at ease in Zion' while trusting in government to handle all threats?

Context: Weaver warns against trusting in 'the mountain of Samaria' (government) instead of taking personal responsibility to defend.

Applications

Be willing to physically defend yourself and others when lives are in danger

Summary: When you or others are under attack, it is a sin to stand by and do nothing; you must be prepared to fight to preserve life.

Evidence: It is a sin to sit by and allow your life or the lives of your loved ones or the lives of your friends to be taken. And you do absolutely nothing.

Do not substitute prayer for action when fighting is required

Summary: Prayer is essential but cannot replace physical intervention when someone's life is in immediate danger; follow Phinehas's example of acting decisively.

Evidence: Prayer without fighting when it's absolutely necessary is useless. ... Phinehas, who was also there, ceased praying, took a spear or javelin, went in and slew both of them.

Recover a biblical warrior spirit

Summary: Christians must overcome fear and passivity, emulating David and God Himself who fight for righteousness and defend the helpless.

Evidence: We have lost our warrior spirit. ... Do you realize we are unwilling to face our enemies?

Understand that taking life in defense is not murder

Summary: When necessary to save life, killing an attacker is biblically justified and not a sin; God's own actions confirm this.

Evidence: When lives must be taken in self-defense or in the defense of others, it is not murder, it is not wrong, it is not wicked, it is not sin.

Intervene when you hear cries of distress

Summary: Deuteronomy 22 teaches that if you are in a position to help someone in danger, you are obligated to do whatever is necessary to save them.

Do not trust in government to be your sole defender

Summary: God pronounces woe on those who are at ease and trust in human institutions instead of taking personal responsibility to protect lives.

Evidence: Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T15:38:17Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T05:23:01Z

Clean Transcript

The Sin of Refusing to Fight - 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Numbers 32 and verse 23. Here's part two of "The Sin of Refusing to Fight." Notice, if you would, verse 23, the Bible says, "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out." Now, last week we saw the context of Numbers chapter 32 and verse 23 and observed that the sin that would find us out specifically was a sinner refusing to fight. So last week, I endeavored to answer two questions. The first one was, when is it a sin to fight? And the answer comes back: It's a sin to fight when God has not commanded to fight or when the fight is contrary to clearly defined scriptural principles.
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Usually you find that fights for resources, control, power, and dominion are condemned in Scripture. The second question that was asked is, when is it a sin to refuse to fight? And again, the answer was very clearly given to us in Scripture. It's a sin to refuse to fight when God commands us to fight and we refuse to fight.
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Now, you have to understand that God does not speak today the way He did in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, of course, the Lord used prophets. He used dreams and trances, even the Urim and the Thummim. But those things are no more, because now we have the completed, full, and final revelation of God that is given to us. But God does speak in His Word, and God does speak through principles. And these principles are clearly enunciated, and there are areas in which we are commanded to fight.
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And I gave you some examples last week. We must fight for our Christian faith, for our culture, for our heritage, for our society. We must fight for truth and righteousness. You have to remember that tyranny always seeks to destroy those things. And consequently, we must always fight against tyranny and evil in every form. It was in Psalm 94 and verse 16 that I quoted last week that God asked, "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?"
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And who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? So very clearly God is asking for someone to fight for Him. And it is a declaration of war upon the wicked. So today I want to come to the second truth in Numbers chapter 32 and verse 23. Because last week I shared with you one point: It is a sin to refuse to fight when God commands us to fight. And we looked at a number of passages in the Bible where God did command His people to fight. But secondly, today, I want you to understand it is a sin to refuse to fight when lives are in danger or in jeopardy. It's a sin to refuse to fight when lives are in danger and in jeopardy.
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By that, I mean your life and the life of your family, the life of your friends, and your neighbors. Now, as you look at Numbers chapter 32, let me ask this question. What would be one of the sins of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh? And here's the answer. It would be the sin of failing to protect and fight for the lives of their brethren. In other words, the other tribes were going to war.
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They had yet to subdue their enemies and have their inheritance. They needed help. They needed armed help. They needed men that would fight. And should these two and a half tribes sit back and not fight, it would be sin on their part.
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Now, I want you to again look at Numbers 32 and let's begin with verse 20 and see what God said specifically to Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He said this, "And Moses said unto them, If you will do this thing, if you go armed before the Lord to war, and will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord, until He hath driven out His enemies from before Him, and the land be subdued before the Lord, then afterward you shall return and be guiltless before the Lord and before Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the Lord. But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out."
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Now, I want you to notice very carefully that in this passage that I just read, there was absolutely nothing in the text about them praying for their brethren or just simply wishing their brethren well. Now, I am certainly not minimizing prayer. Prayer is needed and necessary. And I can assure you of one thing: that if I'm going to be fighting, I'm going to be praying. And I can assure you of another thing: if I'm going to be fighting, I want everybody praying for me that would pray for me. So I'm certainly not minimizing prayer at this particular point. However, I want you to understand at this point in time, it was not prayer that was needed.
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It was men who were willing to fight. Also, I'm not minimizing benevolent desires. We should certainly want our brethren to have the best that is sure. But if you simply wish someone well when they need help, that's not cutting it, according to the Word of God. Praying might be mixed with fighting. But prayer without fighting when it's absolutely necessary is useless. Let me show you. I want you to hold Numbers chapter 32, but look in your Bibles to Numbers chapter 25, and I want to take the time to read the first 13 verses, and I want you to see this in the context. Notice, if you would, Numbers chapter 25, beginning with verse 1. I've just made the statement that prayer is worthless when fighting is mandatory. You can't just pray and refuse to fight. Now watch. Numbers chapter 25 and verse 1, "And Israel abode in Shittim."
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"And the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people into the sacrifices of their gods. And the people did eat and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel." Now watch. "And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one of his men that were joined unto Baal Peor. And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."
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"And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand. And he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel, and those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, hath turned away my wrath from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consume not the children of Israel in my jealousy."
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"Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace, and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel."
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Now, I want you to note something very clearly. I want you to note where Moses and all of the elders of Israel were. Look in verse 6. "And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." Now undoubtedly they were praying while they were weeping there. You will find many times in Scriptures it was Moses, Aaron, and some of the others who were always there praying. They were weeping and praying because of the sin of the children of Israel. But when this one man brought this Midianitish woman into the camp, Phinehas, who was also there, ceased praying, took a spear or javelin, went in and slew both of them. In other words, there was a time to quit praying and quit weeping and do the fighting. And that's exactly what Phinehas did.
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And notice, if you would, God blessed him for doing so. God gave him a covenant of peace, and God said he will have it forever. I want you to understand that there are times when fighting is absolutely required and demanded. You must remember that David was a fighter and a warrior, and he fought the Lord's battles. Abigail said this to David in 1 Samuel 25 and verse 28.
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She said, "I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days." Note what she said, "because David fighteth the battles of the Lord." So you have to understand that David, when he was fighting the battles of the Lord, was fighting physically.
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He was destroying the Philistines, and those who fought against the Lord and those who fought against His people. So David then was a mighty warrior. And he learned to fight under the protection and under the blessings of the Lord. He understood one particular truth. Now listen. In reality, each battle and every battle belongs to the Lord. Or all battles belong to the Lord. David learned this early when he fought Goliath.
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Do you remember what he said in 1 Samuel 17, verse 47? Listen. David said, "And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands." He was talking to Goliath, but he said this assembly is going to know God does not necessarily need to save with sword or spear. Why? Because the battle is the Lord's and He's going to give you into our hand. So David then leaned upon the Lord and he trusted in the Lord. The battle belonged to the Lord.
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And here's an interesting thing. The Bible teaches us that God preserved David everywhere he went. I have no idea how many battles David was in. He was in a multitude of battles. Do you realize, and let me just quote these for you, do you realize at least four times in the Bible, at least four times, the Bible specifically states that God preserved the life of David as he was fighting the battles of the Lord.
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Listen, 2 Samuel 8 and verse 6. "Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went." 2 Samuel 8, verse 14. "And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went." In 1 Chronicles 18, verse 6. "Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went." And then in 1 Chronicles 18 and verse 13, "And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went." So four times. The Bible specifically says that while David was fighting, it didn't matter where he was, God sovereignly preserved him and protected him. It was later on that David wrote Psalm 24. Listen to Psalm 24 in verse 8. David asks, "Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."
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So David says the Lord is mighty in battle. So consequently, David then learned to confess and acknowledge it was God who sustained him, preserved him, and protected him throughout all of his battles. He said it like this in 2 Samuel 22 and verse 40. He says, "For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me." Notice what he said, "For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me."
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Now, I want you to listen to what I'm about to say. I read all those scriptures to tell you this. We have a problem in our country. We have a problem in our churches. We have a problem in our families. And we have a problem in individual lives. What is that problem? Here it is. We have lost our warrior spirit. We have lost our fighting spirit. Do you realize we are unwilling to face our enemies? We're unwilling to engage our enemies and just plain scared and unwilling to fight. What do you say? That's not so bad? Oh. Until you understand that the curse of God is upon such a nation, such a church, such a family, and such an individual. You see, when God commands us to fight, and we refuse to fight, it's not only sin, the curse of God comes upon us.
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I want you to hold Numbers 32, but I want you to turn to Jeremiah chapter 48 and look at verse 10. Jeremiah 48 and verse 10. Here's a very interesting verse. Look what God says, Jeremiah 48 and verse 10. Jeremiah 48, verse 10, God says this, "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood." Whoa.
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Wait a minute, did I read that right? God says you're under the curse if you do the work of God deceitfully, and you're under the curse if you keep back your sword from blood.
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Now, I want you to understand in the context of Jeremiah 48, God had pronounced His wrath and His judgment upon Moab. He had sent His army to destroy Moab. Look in verse 8. Jeremiah 48 and verse 8, God says, "And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord hath spoken." Now skip down to verse 10 again. "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood." So what is God saying? God said, I've ordained this war. I've ordained this fight. I've sent you to destroy these people and these cities and these plains because of their sin and because of their wickedness. This is my judgment. And if you do the work of God deceitfully, it's not only sin, but you're under the curse. And if you hold back your sword from blood, you're under my curse as well. Wow.
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You say, how in the world would this even apply to us today? Well, I'm going to show you. But I want you to think about this. Not a week goes by if you read the news, whether paper or on the Internet, but not a week goes by that you do not read of individuals that are being attacked by gangs and mobs and even rampaging teenagers. And what do bystanders and onlookers do when they see an individual being attacked? Well, they do what is expected.
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They stand by and they look on. And that's about it. The most any of them will do is use their cell phone and call 911. Or they'll use their cell phone and video the fight, but they would not lift one simple finger to help the individual that's being beaten to a pulp. You know why? That attitude is, "I don't want to get involved. I don't want to get involved. I don't want to get hurt." And thus, we'll let someone be beaten absolutely to death and not do one thing. And it's a sin. And it's a curse.
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Let me give you a quote. I want you to listen to this. Brandon Smith wrote a column. And he said this in three short paragraphs and two of the paragraphs he is quoting Gandhi. You know, Gandhi was the pacifist, the Indian guru. But I want you to listen to what he said. He wrote, "There is a rather insane notion within modern activist movements that self-defense represents an abandonment of control."
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"They argue that to fight is to automatically lose and to prepare for conflict is extreme. I would say that self-defense is actually the highest principle one can value, for without the courage to physically resist tyranny, without the will required to put one's life at risk, to stand against the evils of the world, all other principles will be lost."
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Now listen, even Gandhi, the man often idolized by pacifists and nonviolent activists, recognized this fact. Now listen to what Gandhi said. He quotes, "Hence also do I advocate training in arms for those who believe in the method of violence. I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honor than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonor. When violence is offered in self-defense or for the defense of the defenseless, it is an act of bravery far better than an act of cowardly submission." That was Gandhi. Now, let me tell you, I am not a follower of Gandhi. Gandhi certainly was right in these two instances, but I'm not a follower of Gandhi. I'm a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the sovereign God of heaven and earth.
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And I can assure you of one thing. It is never wrong to emulate our heavenly Father. So you have to ask yourself this question. Would God fight? Or as the world used to say, what would Jesus do? Well, I will tell you this, Jesus would take a scourge of cords and run them out of the temple. Yes, He would fight. He would fight. Let me go a little bit further. Would God fight? We can ask it like this. Would God go so far as to take lives?
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in defending His people and in defending His great and dreadful name. Is it wrong to defend ourselves? Is it wrong to defend our families, our neighborhood, our friends? Is it wrong to kill in order to preserve life? I can assure you again that it's never wrong to emulate our heavenly Father. We can always follow His example and be assured that we're right. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 19. And then we're going to the book of Isaiah, so if you want to hold the book of Isaiah as you turn from Jeremiah. And go to 2 Kings chapter 19. And I want you to see what God said to King Hezekiah. 2 Kings chapter 19, we'll look at two passages in 2 Kings and we'll go to Isaiah. 2 Kings chapter 19, notice if you would please, verse 34. 2 Kings 19, verse 34. Here is what God said to King Hezekiah.
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"For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake." Now look what God said, "For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."
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Now God tells King Hezekiah of Judah that He is going to defend Jerusalem and His people from the king of Assyria. Hezekiah does not need to worry because God is going to undertake his defense. If self-defense and if defense of the lives of others happen to be wrong and wicked and vile, I can assure you that God Himself would never engage in it. But God is saying, I'm going to defend my people. I'm going to defend my city and I'm going to defend my holy name.
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If you look in 2 Kings 20 and verse 6. Again, God says this to Hezekiah. "And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake." That's twice that God has said that. If you would turn to Isaiah 31. Isaiah 31 and look if you would please at verse 5. Isaiah 31 and verse 5. Look what God says. Isaiah 31 and verse 5. God says, "As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also He will deliver it; and passing over He will preserve it." So God says this now for the third time. If you look in Isaiah 37 and verse 35. Isaiah 37 and verse 35. Here God says this, "For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake." That is four times that God has said this. Then if you look in Isaiah 38 and verse 6, again God says, "And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city."
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Five times God says, "I'm going to defend this city. I'll defend it for David's sake. I'll defend it for my own honor's sake. But I'm going to defend this city." Now, the question has to be asked, did God defend Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem? Yes, He did. Let's ask another question. Did God take lives in defending Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem? And the answer is yes.
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If you look in Isaiah 37 and verse 36. In fact, let's read verse 35 again, He says, "For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake." Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty five thousand. And when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
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So those few Assyrian soldiers that were alive woke up to 185,000 dead corpses in their camp. Did God take life? And the answer is absolutely yes.
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Now, let me ask you another question. I want you to think about this. Could God have delivered Jerusalem without taking lives? And the answer is yes. He had done it before. If you would look in your Bibles to 2 Kings, chapter 7. 2 Kings, chapter 7, let me show you how He previously had saved them. 2 Kings, chapter 7. And let's begin reading with verse 3. 2 Kings 7, and verse 3, watch. 2 Kings 7, verse 3.
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"And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also."
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"Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. And they rose up in the twilight to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their lives."
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So what did God do? God just simply caused them to hear a noise. And they said, "It's the noise of a great army and they're coming after us. The king has hired all these people against us," and they ran. Could God have done the same thing in Isaiah 37? Well, of course He could have, but He didn't. He killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Now, here's my question. Is anyone going to be so blasphemous as to charge God with murder? Could God have delivered Jerusalem without killing these 185,000? Yes.
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But He did not choose to do so. Although God is above His law, and God is not bound by His law, God does not violate His law. He is the infinitely holy one and whatever He does is right. You have to understand that David, along with other saints, confesses and acknowledges that God is our defense. David said in Psalm 7 and verse 10, he said, "My defense is of God which saveth the upright in heart." David claims God as his defender. I could multiply passages, for instance, in Psalm 59 and verse 9. In Psalm 59 verses 16 and 17. In Psalm 62 verse 6 and verse 2. In Psalm 94 and verse 2. And in verse 22 it is. David repeats over and over that God is his defense. He relied totally and completely upon the mercy and the power of God. David said in Psalm 89 and verse 18, "For the Lord is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our king." Please take note of the fact that David claimed God as his defender, and we may rightly conclude that God not only defends His people,
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but He defends His name and His honor as well. So, as I said earlier, it is never wrong to emulate our heavenly Father. When lives must be taken in self-defense or in the defense of others, it is not murder, it is not wrong, it is not wicked, it is not sin. Let me show you. I want you to turn to 1 Samuel 14. 1 Samuel 14. And show you a verse. In 1 Samuel chapter 14, Jonathan and his armor bearer show themselves to the Philistines.
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There's a battle going on. And Jonathan said, "If they call us and tell us to come to them, then God has delivered them into our hands." And so if you will notice, beginning there with verse—let's see, 1 Samuel 14 and let's begin looking at about verse—oh, let's see. Yeah. Verse 11. Verse 10, he said, "But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us."
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"And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow."
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Now, I want you to watch. Jonathan and his armor bearer have killed about 20 men. What happens next? Look in verse 15, "And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling. And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another."
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Notice, if you would please, God sent an earthquake. The people became so frightened, they turned against each other.
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Now, if you'll skip down to verse 23, the Bible says this, "So the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven." Notice, if you would, Jonathan and his armor-bearer only killed about 20. The rest of them God killed. And what few were killed afterwards when Israel chased them was still nothing in comparison to those that God killed. So God was defending His people.
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If you would turn in your Bibles to 1 Chronicles chapter 14. 1 and 2 Kings. 1 and 2 Chronicles. Go to 1 Chronicles chapter 14, and look if you would please beginning there with verse 14. 1 Chronicles chapter 14 and verse 14. You see, David, the mighty warrior, always relied upon God for wisdom and direction. David always usually asked permission to fight. He asked what God's will would be. In 1 Chronicles chapter 14 there, beginning with verse 14, "Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. David therefore did as God commanded him; and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer."
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Note, if you would, David again, the mighty warrior, got directions from God. If you would turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel, chapter 23. Again, David asked permission to fight, and I want you to note, if you would, in this instance, that David is not being attacked. David's men are not attacked. Here, a city is attacked. It's being attacked by men who are looters and robbers. Notice, if you would, 1 Samuel 23. "Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors." So here, the town of Keilah is being attacked. "Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah." None of you would. David asked permission. God said, "Yes, go." Why? Because you're defending lives. You're preserving lives. Go. It is lawful to fight against those who are wicked and those who are maliciously attacking others. It is biblical and lawful to take life even if necessary in such instances.
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Now, let me remind you of two principles. I want you to think about this. First of all, we must remember the wickedness of the wicked. What do I mean by that? We must remember the wickedness of the wicked. The wicked think absolutely nothing of violating God's law. They think absolutely nothing of murder, of theft, of rape. I want you to look in Psalm 14 and verse 4 at a verse. You talking about an illuminating verse? Look in Psalm 14 and verse 4 where God is talking about the wicked and listen to what He says. And this is what I mean when I say we must remember the wickedness of the wicked. Psalm 14, verse 4. Psalm 14, verse 4, God says, "Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord." Watch: "Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord." I want you to pay careful attention to this one little phrase where God says that the wicked eat up His people as they eat bread.
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I want to give you what John Gill in his commentary said on this verse. Just one paragraph. Listen carefully. John Gill writes, "who eat up my people as they eat bread"—not David's people, but the Lord's people whom He chose for His people, who were His covenant people and who professed His name and were called by His name. These, the workers of iniquity, ate up, devoured and consumed by reproaching and persecuting them, doing injury to their persons, property and character. They devoured their persons by using them cruelly and putting them to death. They devoured their substance by spoiling them of it and converting it to their own use.
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As the Pharisees are said to devour widows' houses, and they destroyed their good names and characters with devouring words. And this they did with as much ease and as much delight and as much pleasure and without any remorse of conscience as constantly as a man eats bread. I want you to stop and think about that. The wicked think no more of violating God's law and doing wickedly than they do of thinking of taking up a piece of bread and eating it.
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You see, this verse, Psalm 14, verse 4, also teaches us that there is the inclination in the wicked to devour the saints, that is what they're inclined to do, just like they're inclined to eat. It's nothing to them. What does a hungry man do? He devours his food. What does the wicked man do? He devours the righteous. That's why God asked, "Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread?" So we have to remember the wickedness of the wicked.
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Secondly, we have to remember that every negative has a positive. I've taught you this before, but you remember the sixth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill." The sixth commandment is a negative, but every negative has a positive. So the positive side of the sixth commandment is "Thou shalt preserve life." So we have a duty, we have an obligation, not only to preserve our lives, but the lives of others if we're going to keep the sixth commandment.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 22, and let's begin reading there with verse 23. Deuteronomy 22 and verse 23. Let me show you how clearly this is taught in Scripture. Notice Deuteronomy 22, and let's begin there with verse 23. Watch. Deuteronomy 22, verse 23. "If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband"—that is, she's actually engaged to be married, but you've got to remember, betrothal in the Bible, they were actually counted as husband and wife before they ever came together as husband and wife.
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So it was a serious thing. So he says, "If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: but unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: for he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her."
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Now, I want you to note the differences between verses 23 and 24 and 25 and 26. In verses 23 and 24, the woman was in the city. And what did God say? God said, you take the man and the woman and you bring them to the gate of the city and you stone them with stones. Well, now, wait a minute. You say the man forced the woman. Well, you have to understand this. The Bible says she being in the city cried not. That means if she had not been consenting to the sin and consenting to the crime, she would have cried out. Well, what does that imply?
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It implies anyone who heard her would have been duty bound and obligated to save her. Because she was in the city, a multitude of people were around. When you get, however, to verses 25 and 26, now the woman is in the field and the Bible says she cried out and none was there to save her. So the man only was to be put to death and not the woman. So you have here a very clear distinction between someone who could help and someone who could not get help. If you hear the cry of distress, if you hear the cry of danger, if someone's life is in danger, according to Deuteronomy 22, you're duty bound, you're obligated to do whatever is necessary to save that life. That's obvious, that's clear. That's why it's wicked and wrong for onlookers and bystanders to stand by and look on while people are being beaten and killed.
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I want you to turn in your Bibles to Acts chapter 7. Acts chapter 7. Acts chapter 7. And let me show you something beginning here with verse 22, Acts chapter 7, verse 22. Acts chapter 7, verse 22. Are you there? OK, here we go. "And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong"—now watch—"and seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?"
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"Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons."
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Now, let's just stop there just for a moment. I want you to note the Bible says in verse 24 that he saw one of his brethren being wronged. In other words, his life was in danger. And what did Moses do? The Bible says that he defended the Israelite, and in defending him, he killed the Egyptian. Now, I want you to understand something. Moses is never condemned, either in the Old Testament or in the New Testament, for killing the Egyptian. In fact, you could say that Moses was commended for doing that because he is listed in Hebrews chapter 11 as one of the heroes of faith. You say, but wait a minute. The Bible also tells us that Moses had to flee from Egypt.
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Yes, but the reason he fled was not because he had violated God's law. He fled again in obedience to God's law, because Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, was seeking to take his life because he had taken the life of an Egyptian. And so Moses fled in order to preserve his life, which again is very clear in obedience to the sixth commandment. So Moses did not violate the law of God at all. Moses was fleeing to preserve his life to keep Pharaoh from violating the law of God as well. What the Bible teaches us, yes, it is right to defend life. It's right to defend your life. It's right to defend the lives of others. And if other people lose their lives, then it is not a violation of the law of God if you have to take life to save life.
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Now, here's the point that I want to emphasize. Because we're living, I believe, in extremely dangerous times. And we see people and we read of people being attacked, even the knockout game. We read this all the time. You go to YouTube and you will see people being beaten while 30 and 40 folks look on and nobody lifts a finger to help them. Do you realize that's a sin? That's a sin. We're under the curse of God when we fail to obey the law of God. God condemns those that are at ease in Zion. Listen to this application. God condemns those that are at ease in Zion when they should be fighting. In Amos 6 and verse 1, the Bible says this, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!" Now listen to that again. Let me read it again. "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria."
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Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom. Samaria was the government. So here's what God is saying. Woe to them that are at ease and trust in the government. What? Well, the police will come in and resolve this conflict. Yes. After the man is beaten to death. They can draw a chalk line around the body. But you could have saved his life by intervening. You could have saved his life by picking up a baseball bat and hitting the attacker in the head, but you didn't. And so God says, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and that trust in the mountain of Samaria." No. What is it? When seconds count, the police are only 30 minutes away. Yeah. You have a responsibility under God to preserve life.
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Listen to Zephaniah chapter 1 and verse 12. Listen carefully. God said, "And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil." Now, God says He's going to punish the men who are settled on their lees, who say in their heart, "God's not going to do good or God's not going to do evil." In other words, God's not going to judge me for what I've done or what I haven't done. God's just not going to do it. You see, this expression, "these men that are settled on their lees," is an expression taken from making wine.
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The dregs in the bottom would be the lees. And the longer the wine sets on the lees, the more harsh and bitter it becomes. And so God says these men that are sitting on their lees becoming more defiled and more hardened in their heart. And thus, they're saying, "God's not going to judge me one way or the other. God will not do good. God will not do evil."
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What we need to understand, folks, is this. What Moses said in Numbers 32 and verse 23, "But if you will not do so, be sure your sin will find you out." The sin was refusing to fight when God had commanded us to fight. It is a sin to sit by and allow your life or the lives of your loved ones or the lives of your friends to be taken.
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And you do absolutely nothing. There's a time to pray. There's a time to wish each other well. And there's a time to fight. And when it's time to fight, you better be prayed up. Because you will not usually have prayer time except saying, "Lord, help me." It's a sin to refuse to fight when fighting is necessary. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee this day.
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We thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. And we pray that You will teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, help us in Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen. This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N Street, suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia 31406, or give us a call at 912-925-0995.
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You can also visit our website at
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T15:38:17Z

The Sin of Refusing to Fight - 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver continues his exposition of Numbers 32:23, arguing that it is a sin to refuse to fight when lives are in danger. He demonstrates from Scripture that God commands defense of self and others, that prayer without action is insufficient when fighting is required, and that failing to intervene brings God's curse. The sermon calls believers to recover a warrior spirit, emulating God who defends His people and takes life in their defense.

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the context of Numbers 32:23 and the previous sermon's two questions: when it is a sin to fight and when it is a sin to refuse to fight.

Numbers 32 and verse 23. Here's part two of "The Sin of Refusing to Fight." Notice, if you would, verse 23, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Numbers 32:23

"But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out."

God Commands Fighting Today Through His Word

God no longer speaks through prophets or dreams but through Scripture, which commands fighting for faith, culture, truth, and against tyranny.

It Is a Sin to Refuse to Fight When Lives Are in Danger

The second main point: refusing to fight when lives—your own, family, friends, neighbors—are in jeopardy is sin, as illustrated by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh.

Prayer Without Fighting Is Useless When Fighting Is Mandatory

Using Numbers 25, Weaver shows that Phinehas stopped praying and took action to stop sin, demonstrating that there are times when fighting is required over prayer.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 25:28

"I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days."

Note what she said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 25:28

"because David fighteth the battles of the Lord."

So you have to understand that David, when he was fighting the battles of the Lord, was fighting physically.

David as a Model of Fighting the Lord's Battles

David fought physically, trusted God, and was preserved by God in battle, acknowledging the Lord as his defense.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 25:28

"I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days."

Note what she said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 25:28

"because David fighteth the battles of the Lord."

So you have to understand that David, when he was fighting the battles of the Lord, was fighting physically.

Do you remember what he said in 1 Samuel 17, verse 47? Listen. David said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 17:47

"And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:6, 13

"Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went."

2 Samuel 8, verse 14.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:6, 13

"And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went."

In 1 Chronicles 18, verse 6.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:6, 13

"Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went."

And then in 1 Chronicles 18 and verse 13,

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:6, 13

"And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went."

The Curse of Refusing to Fight

Jeremiah 48:10 pronounces a curse on those who hold back from bloodshed when God commands war; modern bystanders who fail to help are under this curse.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 48:10

"Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood."

God Defends His People and Takes Lives in Their Defense

God repeatedly promised to defend Jerusalem and did so by killing 185,000 Assyrians, proving that taking life in defense is not murder but emulating God.

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

"For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

Now look what God said,

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

"For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

"And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

"For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

That is four times that God has said this. Then if you look in Isaiah 38 and verse 6, again God says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6

"And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city."

If you look in Isaiah 37 and verse 36. In fact, let's read verse 35 again, He says, "For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake."

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 37:36

Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty five thousand. And when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

So those few Assyrian soldiers that were alive woke up to 185,000 dead corpses in their camp. Did God take life? And the answer is absolutely yes.

Biblical Duty to Preserve Life

The positive side of the sixth commandment is to preserve life; Deuteronomy 22 and Acts 7 show the obligation to intervene when lives are threatened.

Scripture Reading — Acts 7:22-29

"And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong"

—now watch—

Scripture Reading — Acts 7:22-29

"and seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: for he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?"

Application: Woe to Those at Ease in Zion

God condemns those who trust in government instead of acting to save lives; believers must fight when necessary, not sit idly by.

The Sin of Refusing to Fight - 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	93020122217728
Subject	Biblical Law
Course	The Ten Commandments
Genre	Sermon
Date	2014-08-31
Dictation Name
Book	Book 047: The Sin of Refusing to Fight — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	72

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the context of Numbers 32:23 and the previous sermon's two questions: when it is a sin to fight and when it is a sin to refuse to fight.
God Commands Fighting Today Through His Word: God no longer speaks through prophets or dreams but through Scripture, which commands fighting for faith, culture, truth, and against tyranny.
It Is a Sin to Refuse to Fight When Lives Are in Danger: The second main point: refusing to fight when lives—your own, family, friends, neighbors—are in jeopardy is sin, as illustrated by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh.
Prayer Without Fighting Is Useless When Fighting Is Mandatory: Using Numbers 25, Weaver shows that Phinehas stopped praying and took action to stop sin, demonstrating that there are times when fighting is required over prayer.
David as a Model of Fighting the Lord's Battles: David fought physically, trusted God, and was preserved by God in battle, acknowledging the Lord as his defense.
The Curse of Refusing to Fight: Jeremiah 48:10 pronounces a curse on those who hold back from bloodshed when God commands war; modern bystanders who fail to help are under this curse.
God Defends His People and Takes Lives in Their Defense: God repeatedly promised to defend Jerusalem and did so by killing 185,000 Assyrians, proving that taking life in defense is not murder but emulating God.
Biblical Duty to Preserve Life: The positive side of the sixth commandment is to preserve life; Deuteronomy 22 and Acts 7 show the obligation to intervene when lives are threatened.
Application: Woe to Those at Ease in Zion: God condemns those who trust in government instead of acting to save lives; believers must fight when necessary, not sit idly by.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Refusing to fight when lives are in danger is sin

The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh would have sinned by not fighting alongside their brethren, showing that failure to protect lives is sin.

What would be one of the sins of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh? ... It would be the sin of failing to protect and fight for the lives of their brethren.

Prayer cannot replace fighting when fighting is commanded

Phinehas's action in Numbers 25 proves that there are times when prayer must cease and physical fighting must begin to stop evil.

Phinehas, who was also there, ceased praying, took a spear or javelin, went in and slew both of them. In other words, there was a time to quit praying and quit weeping and do the fighting.

God's curse is on those who hold back from necessary violence

Jeremiah 48:10 explicitly curses those who keep back their sword from blood when God has ordained judgment, applying to modern failures to defend the helpless.

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

God's example of taking life in defense justifies self-defense

God's killing of 185,000 Assyrians to defend Jerusalem shows that taking life in defense is not murder; emulating God is never wrong.

When lives must be taken in self-defense or in the defense of others, it is not murder, it is not wrong, it is not wicked, it is not sin.

Scripture commands intervention to save lives

Deuteronomy 22 distinguishes between cases where help was possible and where it was not, implying a duty to intervene when one hears a cry of distress.

If you hear the cry of distress, if you hear the cry of danger, if someone's life is in danger, according to Deuteronomy 22, you're duty bound, you're obligated to do whatever is necessary to save that life.

Moses' killing of the Egyptian was righteous defense

Moses killed an Egyptian to defend an Israelite and is never condemned for it; his flight was to preserve his own life, not because he sinned.

Moses is never condemned, either in the Old Testament or in the New Testament, for killing the Egyptian. In fact, you could say that Moses was commended for doing that because he is listed in Hebrews chapter 11 as one of the heroes of faith.

Scripture References

Numbers 32:23: The key verse of the sermon: 'But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out.'
Numbers 32:20-23: Moses' condition for the tribes: they must go armed to war or sin; prayer and good wishes are not mentioned as sufficient.
Numbers 25:1-13: Phinehas stops praying and kills the sinful couple, turning away God's wrath; illustrates that action, not just prayer, is sometimes required.
Psalm 94:16: God asks, 'Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?' showing God seeks fighters.
1 Samuel 25:28: Abigail says David fights the battles of the Lord, indicating physical fighting for God's cause.
1 Samuel 17:47: David declares the battle is the Lord's, showing reliance on God in physical combat.
2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:6, 13: Four times the Bible says the Lord preserved David wherever he went in battle.
Psalm 24:8: David asks, 'Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.'
2 Samuel 22:40: David acknowledges God girded him with strength for battle.
Jeremiah 48:10: Cursed is he who does the Lord's work deceitfully and who keeps back his sword from blood.
2 Kings 19:34; 20:6; Isaiah 31:5; 37:35; 38:6: God repeatedly promises to defend Jerusalem for His own sake and David's sake.
Isaiah 37:36: The angel of the Lord kills 185,000 Assyrians in defense of Jerusalem.
2 Kings 7:3-7: God previously delivered Jerusalem without bloodshed by causing the Syrians to hear a noise and flee.
Psalm 7:10; 59:9, 16-17; 62:2, 6; 94:2, 22; 89:18: David repeatedly claims God as his defense.
1 Samuel 14:11-15, 23: Jonathan and his armor-bearer kill about 20 men; God sends an earthquake and causes the enemy to fight each other, defending Israel.
1 Chronicles 14:14-16: David inquires of God and obeys His battle strategy; God goes before him to smite the Philistines.
1 Samuel 23:1-2: David asks God if he should fight to save Keilah from looters; God commands him to go and save the city.
Psalm 14:4: The wicked eat up God's people as they eat bread, showing their casual cruelty.
Deuteronomy 22:23-27: Law distinguishes between a woman who could have been saved in the city and one who could not in the field, implying a duty to rescue.
Acts 7:22-29: Moses defends an Israelite by killing an Egyptian; he is not condemned and is listed in Hebrews 11 as a hero of faith.

Historical References

Gandhi's quote on self-defense: Weaver quotes Gandhi via Brandon Smith's column to show even a pacifist advocated armed self-defense over cowardly submission.
John Gill's commentary on Psalm 14:4: Weaver reads Gill's explanation that the wicked devour the righteous with as little remorse as eating bread.

Important Quotes

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

This verse from Jeremiah 48:10 is the central proof text that God curses those who refuse to fight when He commands it.

We have lost our warrior spirit. We have lost our fighting spirit. Do you realize we are unwilling to face our enemies? We're unwilling to engage our enemies and just plain scared and unwilling to fight.

Weaver diagnoses the core problem in the church and nation: a loss of courage and willingness to confront evil.

When lives must be taken in self-defense or in the defense of others, it is not murder, it is not wrong, it is not wicked, it is not sin.

A clear statement that killing in defense is biblically justified and not a violation of the sixth commandment.

Prayer without fighting when it's absolutely necessary is useless.

Weaver emphasizes that prayer cannot substitute for physical action when fighting is required.

If you hear the cry of distress, if you hear the cry of danger, if someone's life is in danger, according to Deuteronomy 22, you're duty bound, you're obligated to do whatever is necessary to save that life.

Weaver derives a clear moral obligation from the law to intervene when lives are threatened.

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria.

Weaver applies Amos 6:1 to condemn those who trust in government instead of taking personal responsibility to defend others.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what situations today might God be commanding us to fight, and how can we discern those from situations where fighting would be sinful?

[Context]

Weaver distinguishes between fights for resources/control (sinful) and fights for faith, truth, and defense of lives (commanded).

[Question]

How do we balance the call to prayer with the call to physical action in defending others?

[Context]

Weaver says prayer is necessary but useless without fighting when fighting is mandatory, using Phinehas as an example.

[Question]

What does it mean to have a 'warrior spirit' as a Christian, and how can we cultivate it without becoming un-Christlike?

[Context]

Weaver laments the loss of warrior spirit and points to David and God Himself as models of righteous fighting.

[Question]

How should Jeremiah 48:10 shape our understanding of God's judgment on inaction in the face of evil?

[Context]

Weaver applies the curse on those who keep back from bloodshed to modern bystanders who fail to help victims.

[Question]

In what ways does God's defense of Jerusalem (killing 185,000) inform our ethics of self-defense and defense of others?

[Context]

Weaver argues that since God takes life in defense, it is not murder for us to do so in similar circumstances.

[Question]

What practical steps can we take to fulfill the positive duty of the sixth commandment to preserve life in our communities?

[Context]

Weaver teaches that the sixth commandment implies a duty to preserve life, citing Deuteronomy 22 and Acts 7.

[Question]

How do we avoid the condemnation of being 'at ease in Zion' while trusting in government to handle all threats?

[Context]

Weaver warns against trusting in 'the mountain of Samaria' (government) instead of taking personal responsibility to defend.

Applications

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