Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God

Total Warfare

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2008-02-24

Synopsis: John Weaver lays down principles for understanding David's dominion in Psalm 18:37-50, arguing that there is a time for mercy and a time for no mercy, and that total warfare—the complete annihilation of enemies—is sometimes lawful and right when commanded by God. He applies these principles to Christ's return, when He will show no mercy and wage total war against His enemies, urging believers to be grateful for mercy received and to warn others of coming wrath.

[John Weaver] Psalm 18, and let's begin reading with verse 37, and we're going to read through verse 50. Psalm 18, verse 37. David says, I have pursued mine enemies and overtaken them. Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I've wounded them that were not able to rise. They are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle and has subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of my enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

[John Weaver] They cried, but there was none to save them, even to the Lord, but He answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I did cast them out as the dirt into the streets. Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people, and Thou hast made me the head of the heathen. A people whom I have not known shall serve me.

[John Weaver] As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me. The stranger shall submit themselves to me. The stranger shall fade away and be afraid out of their close places. The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the people under me. He delivered me from mine enemies, yea, from thou lifted me up above those that rise up against me. Thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

[John Weaver] Great deliverance giveth he to his king, and showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed forevermore." Now, let me just tell you very quickly, although I read all of those verses today, we're not going to cover those verses today. In fact, we won't even cover one of those verses today because I'm going to lay down some principles before we look at those verses in detail. So let me tell you where we are and how we got here in Psalm 18. We've been looking at this psalm, taking it verse by verse and point by point. And in verses 1 and 2, we saw David's determination where he said, I will love the old Lord.

[John Weaver] And of course, I pointed out how biblical love consists of an attitude, affection and action. Then we saw, secondly, David's distress in verses 3 through 6. God had him backed up against the wall, and he cried to the Lord, and he said, the Lord heard me and delivered me. And then we see David's deliverer in verses 7 through 19, and I showed you the pictures there that David gave, how God responded instantly and immediately, and how God came down to deliver him. Then in verses 20 through 28, we saw David's deportment or I titled that message David's deportment or how to act if we want to be delivered because David then behaved himself biblically and scripturally. And then in verses 29 through 33, we saw David's defense and how God empowered him, enabled him, to fight the battles that he did. And then in verse 34, we looked at one point that is David's discipline when he said he teaches my hands to war so that a bow of steel is broken in mine arms.

[John Weaver] So David learned the discipline of war. He learned the art of war from God himself. And then verses 35 through 36, We saw David's designation, that is his designation of praise for he gives God all the honor and glory for everything that God has done for him and everything that God has taught him. Now today we come to verse 37 and we begin what I'm going to call David's dominion.

[John Weaver] And I will make this statement and I hope that you will remember it because I will say it again. This dominion that David is able to exercise is a picture of the dominion of Jesus Christ. So as we read Psalm 18 verses 37 through 50. We saw that David defeated his enemies. Let me just tell you with God's help. The defeat of our enemies is absolutely certain. And as you read these verses, it's not that just David did in times past defeat his enemies.

[John Weaver] But it also speaks of a present and a continuous delivery. That is, we are delivered from our enemies and able to defeat them by the grace of God. When David was preserved in battle, it enabled him to continue to fight. Let me put it like this. The preservation of the saints of God bodes ill for their adversaries. It was true in David's case. It is certainly true in our case as well.

[John Weaver] So before I begin an exposition of these verses, I want to lay down some principles that most people have never grasped and never understood from the Bible. I would venture to say this, that most Christians have no earthly idea of the principles that I'm going to enunciate today. Because if you don't understand these principles, You're not going to understand what David means when he says, for instance, look in verse 37, I pursued mine enemies and overtaken them.

[John Weaver] Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. What did he do? He totally, completely destroyed his enemies. I can show you verse after verse. And unless you grasp the principles, I'm going to enunciate. You're going to think that boy, David must have been a mean wicked man. No, he was not. The very first principle I want you to understand is this. Listen carefully, we must understand that there is a time for mercy. And a time to show no mercy. We must understand that there was a time for mercy and a time to show no mercy.

[John Weaver] Now, let me begin by telling you what the unscriptural mentality is. It is the same unscriptural mentality that always offers an objection. And it says this, but are we not always to be merciful? And then it follows up with this question, is not God always merciful? And the answer to both questions is a resounding no. We're not always to be merciful, and God is not always merciful.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just point out the fact there are general principles that are taught in the Bible. One of those general principles is concerning mercy. And yes, generally speaking, we are to be merciful individuals. What did our Lord say in Matthew 5 and verse 7? He said, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Certainly, we should be characterized and we should be known for mercy. James chapter 2 and verse 13 says, For he shall have judgment without mercy that showed no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. So once again, we are to be merciful people. If you would hold Psalm 18, look if you would please in the book of Matthew chapter 18, and let me show you a principle, and once again this is a general principle, that we who have received mercy should indeed show mercy most of the time. Look at Matthew chapter 18 beginning there verse 23.

[John Weaver] Here's the passage that very easily grasp. Matthew chapter 18 verse 23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king which would take account of his servants. And when he begun to reckon, one was brought unto him who owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had in payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence. And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou ow'st. And the fellow servant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay thee all. And he would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt.

[John Weaver] So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry and came and told unto their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord, after he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desirest me. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on my fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

[John Weaver] Now, notice what the application is. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their transpenses.

[John Weaver] Now, the principle is very simple. If we have received mercy, we should be merciful. If we receive forgiveness, we should be forgiving. That's a general principle. We should be characterized by mercy. Do you realize that one of the greatest crimes that God cried out against in the Old Testament was the crime and the sin of a lack of mercy? In Hosea chapter 4 and verse 1, here's what the Bible says. Listen carefully.

[John Weaver] Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel. Now listen, for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. God is entering into a controversy with Israel. Why? Here's why. Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. Wow. God says, you want to get me angry? You want to get me upset? There's no truth. There's no mercy. There's no knowledge of God in the land.

[John Weaver] Everyone in this room knows the story of the Good Samaritan. Hmm? And you remember what our Lord said in Luke 10 in verse 37. He was making the application and He said this, He that showed mercy on him, then said Jesus to the man, go and do thou likewise. In other words, mercy. We are to be characterized, generally speaking, as merciful individuals. Did you know that even The wicked kings of Israel. Were often known for their mercy.

[John Weaver] For instance, I want you to turn in your Bibles. The first King Chapter 20. I want to show you this passage. Because from this passage I want to begin the point that I'm going to make. Notice first King Chapter 20. There had been a war between Ahab the king of Israel, and you remember that Ahab was a wicked, ungodly reprobate. So there was this war between Ahab, king of Israel, and Ben-Hadad, king of Syria. In fact, Ben-Hadad had begun the war. He started the war. And Ahab defeated him. And the king and several of his men had fled for their lives. So look in 1 Kings chapter 20 and verse, let's begin reading there with verse 30. In fact, let's read verse 29. And they pitched one over against the other seven days, and so it was that in the seventh day the battle was joined, and the children of Israel slew the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day. So 100,000 Syrian soldiers were killed in one day. Watch verse 30.

[John Weaver] But the rest fled to Aphek and to the city, and there a wall fell upon 20,000 and 7,000 of the men that were left. And Ben-Hadad fled and came into the city and into an inner chamber. So now there have been 127,000 soldiers killed. Watch what his servants say to Ben-Hadad. And his servants said unto him, Behold now, We have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel.

[John Weaver] Peradventure, he will save thy life. So they said, let's go begging for mercy. We've heard that they were. The kings of Israel were merciful.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you before we look at the rest of the story. I hope you know it. Did Ahab spare Ben-Hadad's life? Was Ahab merciful to Ben-Hadad? And the answer is yes. He not only allowed Ben-Hadad to live, he even entered into a covenant with Ben-Hadad. They parted friends. You say, isn't that wonderful? Isn't that a blessing? I mean, here's an old wicked king attacking another wicked king, and the one wicked king is merciful to the other, and he pardons him, and they part friends. Isn't that just peachy? And the answer is no.

[John Weaver] There's a very serious problem. What is the problem? The problem is God did not want Ahab to be merciful to Ben-Hadad. He wanted Ben-Hadad dead. What? Well, let's look at the story. Let's begin reading there with verse 34. Skip down to verse 34. And Ben-Hadad said unto him, that is, Ahab, the cities which my father took from thy father I will restore. And thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So I made a covenant with him and sent him away. So then a dad restored the city, named streets after Ahab. Isn't that wonderful? Watch verse 35.

[John Weaver] But a certain man of the sons of the prophet said unto his neighbor, in the word of the Lord, smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite. Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him. Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him. So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face. As the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man unto me and said, Keep this man, and if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

[John Weaver] And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be, thyself hast decided it. And he, the prophet, hastened and took the ashes away from his face. And the king of Israel discerned him, that he was one of the prophets. And he said unto him, Ahab, thus saith the Lord, because thou hast let go out of thine hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction. Therefore, thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. And the king of Israel went to his house heavy in displeas, and came to Samaria."

[John Weaver] Now what did God say? God said you had mercy on someone I did not want you to have mercy on. You let him go. So your life for his life. Your people for his people.

[John Weaver] Now let me just simply point out. There are times that God demands that we be unmerciful and without pity. It is true Generally speaking, we're to be characterized by mercy. But there are times that we are to be unmerciful and without pity. Let me show you some. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 19. Deuteronomy chapter 19. Deuteronomy 19. And notice, if you would please, verse 13. Look what God says concerning someone who's been guilty of premeditated murder. Notice Deuteronomy chapter 19 and verse 13. God says concerning the murderer, thine eyes shall not pity him.

[John Weaver] But thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel that it may go with thee. Thine eye shall not pity him. If you read the context, what is God saying? God is saying you take that man and you deliver him to the avenger of blood that he may put to death. Don't have any pity on him. I don't have any pity on someone who's guilty of premeditated murder. Murder? If someone says, well, we'll give them life in prison. No, you don't give them life in prison. You put them to death.

[John Weaver] Skip down if you would, please. In verse 21, Deuteronomy 19, here he's speaking to the judges. Look what he says. Verse 18, And the judges shall make diligent inquisition.

[John Weaver] Now verse 19, Then shall you do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother, so shalt thou put evil away from among you, that those which remain shall hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more evil, such evil among you. And thine eye shall not pity, but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, Hand for hand and foot for foot. What is God saying? You are not to have pity and you're not to have mercy upon individuals who deserve death. Moreover, there are times when God demands.

[John Weaver] That we not be merciful towards his enemies. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 7. Deuteronomy 7. And look what God told the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 7, verses 1 and 2.

[John Weaver] Now, this may surprise you, but there are times when we are not to be merciful and we're to have absolutely no pity. Deuteronomy 7, verse 1. When the Lord by God shall bring thee into the land where thou goest to possess it. and has cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou. Note, and when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee, thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them." Isn't that amazing? God says you don't show mercy under them. Look in Deuteronomy 23. Deuteronomy 23 and notice verse 6. Deuteronomy 23 verse 6. Here God is referring to the Ammonites and the Moabites. And notice what he says, Deuteronomy 23 and verse 6. God says thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days forever. You're not to seek the peace of the Ammonites of the Moabites.

[John Weaver] Verse three, they're named. You're not to seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days forever.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you. If God forbids you to help someone, aid someone, support someone, encourage someone, translated, does that not mean you're to have no mercy upon them? Well, of course. He says don't seek their peace. Don't seek their prosperity. Don't try to help them. No mercy. Someone's going to say, oh, but Brother Wheat, There may be times in the Bible that Christians are supposed to be unmerciful and without pity, but certainly God is always merciful. No. No.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 9, and I want you to notice very plainly what the Apostle Paul teaches us. You've got to remember that God is absolutely sovereign. When we talk about God's sovereignty, it means this, that God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, and always as He pleases, because He's God. God owes no one anything at any time. His mercy is His own. His grace is His own. Look in Romans chapter 9, if you would, beginning there with verse 15. Look what God says to Moses. So we could quote this back from the book of Exodus, but here it is in Romans 9. Romans 9 verse 15, for he said to Moses, here's what God said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. God says my mercy is mine. My compassion is mine. I will show my mercy on whomever I will be merciful to.

[John Weaver] I'll show my compassion on whomever I'll have compassion about. So it doesn't matter what a man does, whether he wills or whether he runs. No, no, no. It has nothing to do with the creature. It has everything to do with God.

[John Weaver] Now, if you want that explained, look in verse 17. After he says, So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Here's the illustration. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Are you watching? Therefore have thee mercy on whom ye will have mercy, and whom ye will he hardeneth. Did God have mercy on Pharaoh? No, he did not. Did God harden his heart? Oh yes. Did God harden the heart of Og and Sihon? Oh yes. Look in your Bibles back to Exodus 34 and verse 7. Just showing you that God does not have mercy all of the time. Look in Exodus chapter 34 verse 7.

[John Weaver] And then let me ask you a question concerning this passage. Exodus 34 verse 7. In fact, let's read verse 6 just so that you can see we're talking about the one true and the living God. Exodus 34 verse 6 and the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed the Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth.

[John Weaver] Now look what he says in verse 7 keeping mercy for thousands. Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. Now watch. And that will by no means clear the guilty. Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children upon the children's children unto the third and the fourth generation. Wow. Let me ask you a question. If God will by no means clear the guilty. Are you listening? Here's my question. Is it not the guilty who need mercy?

[John Weaver] Well, of course it is. How does God deal with his enemies? Does he show them mercy? And the answer is no. He does not show them mercy. He destroys his enemies. Let me just give you a few quotes. You don't have to turn to these passages. But this is Hosea 1 in verse 6. Israel, you know, rebelled against God, went into idolatry, became God's enemy. So in Hosea 1 in verse 6, God says this concerning Hosea's wife. As she conceived again and bear a daughter in God's synonym, call her name Lurahama, for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away. Wow. I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel. I will utterly take them away. In Jeremiah 13 in verse 14, God says this. Now listen carefully.

[John Weaver] And I will dash them one against the other. Even the fathers and the sons together, said the Lord, I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but will destroy them. That's God speaking. God said I'll dash them together. I'll dash them to pieces. I will not pity, I will not have mercy, I will not spare, but I will destroy them. In Jeremiah 21 verse 7. Jeremiah 21 verse 7.

[John Weaver] In fact, let's turn there. It won't take you but a second. Look in Jeremiah 21 verse 7. Jeremiah 21, look in verse 7. This is a very interesting verse. In fact, look what God says. Let's begin reading with verse 4. Zedekiah was a wicked king of Judah. Look what God says. God is warning King Zedekiah through Jeremiah the prophet. In Jeremiah 21 in verse 4, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands where you're fighting against Nebuchadnezzar, whom I've given this land. So he says, I'm going to turn back the weapons of war in your hands. Where would you fight against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls?

[John Weaver] And I will assemble them into the midst of this city. And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger and in fury and in great wrath. and I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast, they shall die of a great pestilence. And afterwards, saith the Lord, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their And he, that is Nebuchadnezzar, shall smite them with the edge of the sword.

[John Weaver] He shall not spare them, neither have pity nor have mercy." Someone says, oh, but Brother Weaver, that's Nebuchadnezzar not having pity or mercy. Oh, may I ask who it was that turned them over into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar? It was God. God did it so that they would not have mercy or pity shown to them. Is God always merciful? The answer is no. You don't have to turn to this passage, but in Zechariah 1 and verse 12. Zechariah 1 verse 12. Listen to this.

[John Weaver] Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years, the seventy years Judah was in captivity. God had no mercy upon that city. That's what the Scripture says. Anyone who takes the Scripture seriously, anyone who believes the Word of God cannot say that God is always merciful. He is not always merciful. He is not merciful to those he dooms and destroys. If you say that doom and destruction are mercy, I don't want that kind of mercy. I can assure you. No, God destroys his enemies. Now listen carefully. Scripture does not demand that Christians be merciful to everyone. I cannot be merciful toward those who obstinately disobey the law of God. I can't. God forbids it.

[John Weaver] Let me give you a classic illustration. Here's a verse everyone in this room can quote. In 2 Thessalonians 3, verse 10, the Apostle Paul said, even when we were with you, We commanded you, help me out now, that if any will not work, neither should he eat. So if I look around and here's a lazy, into the sluggard who refuses to work in my vicinity and say, oh, that poor man, he must be hungry.

[John Weaver] Let me buy him something. No, God says don't do that. If he will not work, don't let him eat. Guess what? He'll either go hungry and get impetus enough to get up and go to work or he'll starve and die out.

[John Weaver] If he's not going to work, neither should he. All I'm trying to show you is this. There is a time for mercy. There's a time to have no mercy. Christians are not always to be merciful to everyone without exception. Nor is God always merciful to everyone. Here's the second principle. This one's going to be hard to swallow. But I'm going to show it to you. It's in the Bible. The second principle is there are times when total warfare. That is the complete annihilation of one's enemies is lawful and right.

[John Weaver] Now, let me say that again. There are times when total warfare, that is, and I'm defining total warfare, the complete annihilation of one's enemies is total and right.

[John Weaver] Now, let me begin by once again giving you the general principle of Scripture. And you've got to understand there are always exceptions to general principles. I could give you illustration after illustration. For instance, beat thy child with a rod. If thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt deliver his soul from hell. Does that mean that every child that's ever been whipped is going to heaven? Of course not. That's a general principle.

[John Weaver] But with the blessing of God upon that discipline, that child's most likely to be converted. But that doesn't mean that every child's ever been whipped or ever whipped consistently is going to end up in heaven. Doesn't mean that at all. I give you another general principle. He that giveth a wife giveth a good thing, and obtaineth mercy of the Lord. I know some men that got a wife didn't get a good thing, and some women got a husband didn't get a good thing. You see, those are general principles. They're exceptions to them. A general principle of Scripture is this, that in warfare we do not harm women and children.

[John Weaver] I could even broaden it. In warfare, we do not fight against civilians. That's a general principle. Here's another general principle. You'll find it in the book of Deuteronomy. You don't make war against creation. You make war against God's enemies. You make war against sinners. You don't fight against God's creation. You don't just try to destroy the world. Do you remember in 1 Samuel chapter 15? And we'll look at it in just a minute. But God had sent King Saul to fight against the Amalekites.

[John Weaver] But when he got there, here the Kenites were mingled in and they were in the way. And God had not told Saul to fight against the Kenites. So in verse 6, Saul righteously and rightly and correctly told the Kenites, look, I've got no battle with you. But I do with the Amalekites.

[John Weaver] Now you need to get out of the way so you won't get hurt. And they got out of the way. Now that is right. Here's the general principle. Generally speaking, you don't make war against civilians and women and children. However, I'm going to show you. There are exceptions to that. There are exceptions. in the fact that God at times told his people to destroy men, women, children, even the animals.

[John Weaver] Now let me point out and let me emphasize this. This total warfare is to be regulated and controlled and directed by God himself.

[John Weaver] Now, you'll remember I hope that you will remember, anyhow, that God told Saul, in fact, go back there. Let's turn there. Let's look in 1 Samuel. I tell you what, go to Deuteronomy 7 first. Let me just point this out again. I quoted it one time, but let me just point it out again, then we'll work our way over. Look at Deuteronomy chapter 7. Deuteronomy 7, verse 2. Let me read this verse again in light of this passage. Note what God says talking about all those enemies. And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them unto thee, thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, neither shalt thou show mercy unto them. Note God said thou shalt totally or utterly, completely destroy them. So what is he talking about?

[John Weaver] He's talking about literally wiping out a group of people, men, women and children. Now to demonstrate that, go back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 2. Deuteronomy chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 30. Deuteronomy 2 verse 30. Deuteronomy 2 verse 30. But Sihon, king of Heshbon, would not let us pass by him. Why? For the Lord thy God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate.

[John Weaver] Remember, he'll have mercy on whom he'll have mercy and whom he will he hardens. For the Lord thy God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate that he might deliver him into thine hand as appeared this day. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee. Begin to possess it that thou mayest inherit his land. Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, divided Jahaz. And the Lord our God delivered him before us, and we smote him and his sons and all his people.

[John Weaver] And we took all his cities at that time and utterly destroyed the men and the women and the little ones of every city. We left none to remain. Only the cattle we took for a prey in ourselves. And the spoil of the cities which we took. Now, they killed everything. Man, woman, child. May I ask you who delivered them into their hands? It was God. And God had said he wanted them totally annihilated.

[John Weaver] Now look in chapter three. At verse six. In fact, let's begin reading their verse three. Talking about Og now. So the Lord our God delivered into our hands also the king of Bashan and all his people. And we smote him until none was left to him remaining. And we took all the cities at that time. There was not a city which we took not from them. Three scored cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og and Bashan. All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars, besides unwalled towns and a great many, and we utterly destroyed them as we did unto Sihon, king of Eshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children of every city. Who was it that delivered them into God's hands? Into their hands? It was God Himself. Is there a time when total warfare is mandated by God? The answer is yes. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 15. 1 Samuel 15. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. 1 Samuel 15 verse 1.

[John Weaver] 1 Samuel 15 verse 1. Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel.

[John Weaver] Now, therefore, hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord." Now, Samuel the prophet said, Saul, God has got a command for you. God has sent me to tell you something. Now, you listen to God's words. Now, I want you to look and see what God's words are. Verse 2, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. Now let me ask you something, folks. Is that total warfare?

[John Weaver] That is the annihilation of one. Who was it that sent Saul to do it? God did. May I ask you a question? How did Saul get in trouble for disobeying God, for allowing Agag and the best of the sheep and the best of the oxen to live? And God took the kingdom away from him. And God sent King Saul to death because of this.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm just pointing out the fact Generally speaking, you can say in a time of war, yes, civilians are not to be harmed, women and children not to be harmed. But there comes a time when a people are so wicked and so vile and so ungodly, God says, destroy them all. Man, woman, child, ox, suckling ass, anything and everything.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you another passage, I want you to turn to Psalm 137, and I told you this is a hard. Hard truth to grasp, it's not a hard truth to grasp, it's just hard to receive because we're not used to thinking like this. Boy, here's a passage that will blow your mind. Look in Psalm 137. Psalm 137.

[John Weaver] And I want us to begin reading there with verse 7. Psalm 137, verse 7. We're going to read through verse 9. Psalm 137. Look what the psalmist says. Here's a prayer. Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said, Raise it, raise it, even to the foundation thereof. The word raise means to destroy, to burn, to annihilate, to mutilate. So they're saying destroy it, destroy it, even if the foundation of the world is to whack Jerusalem off the face of the map. And then look what God says concerning these Babylonians, these Chalkeans, O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed. Are you looking?

[John Weaver] Happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones. Now wait a minute. Verse 8, O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, happy shall it be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall it be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm not going to try to mince words. I'm not trying to be purposely vile, but I'll tell you this, what that means is they take the babies by the heels and beat their brains out against the rocks. That's basically what it means. And God says, happy shall he be that does that.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to give you a couple of comments, I want to show you how the old testament, how the old commentators understood this. I want to give you a quote by Gill and Spurgeon and listen carefully. Here's what John Gill says, commenting on Psalm 137 verses 8 and 9, that takes the infants from their mother's breast or out of their arms and dashes out their brains against a rock, as the word signifies, which though it may seem a piece of cruelty, was but a just retaliation.

[John Weaver] The Babylonians having done the same to Israel's children, and his foretold elsewhere should be done to theirs, Isaiah 13, 16. Nor is this desired from a spirit of revenge, but for the glory of divine justice, and that such a generation of cruel creatures might be rooted out of the earth. Now listen to what he said, and that such a generation of cruel creatures might be rooted out of the earth.

[John Weaver] Alice and I have some friends who live up north. And they're godly people. And for the longest, she was a school teacher taught in public schools. She had to quit. She had to get out because of the vileness and the wickedness. And she told us, you would not believe the language and the temperament and the immorality of first graders. First graders. She said, after having taught, I understand now why God would have the children wiped out as well, because the children begin at an early age, repeating the sins of the parents.

[John Weaver] I want you to listen to what Spurgeon said. Here it is. Spurgeon commented on Psalm 137 verses 8 and 9 said this, the avenger would be fulfilling an honorable calling in overthrowing a power so brutal, so inhuman. Assyrian and Chaldean armies had been boastfully brutal in their conquest. It was meek that their conduct should be measured back into their own bosoms. No awards of punishment can be more unanswerably just than those which closely follow the Lex Talionis, that is the law of retribution, even to the letter.

[John Weaver] Babylon must fall as she caused Jerusalem to fall, and her sack and slaughter must be such as she appointed for other cities. The patriot poet, sitting sorrowfully in his exile, finds a solace in the prospect of the overthrow of the emperor's city, which holds him in bondage, and he accounts Cyrus right happy to be ordained to such a righteous work. The whole earth would bless the conquest for ridding the nation of a tyrant. Future generations would call him blessed for enabling men to breathe again and for once more making liberty possible upon the earth.

[John Weaver] We may rest assured that every unrighteous power is doomed to destruction, and that from the throne of God justice will be measured out to all those whose law is force, whose rule is selfishness, and whose policy is oppression. Happy is the man who shall help in the overthrow of the spiritual Babylon, which, despite its riches and power, is to be destroyed. Happier still shall he be, who shall see it sink like a millstone into the flood, never to rise again." What that spiritual Babylon is, none need inquire.

[John Weaver] There is but one city upon the earth which can answer to that name. That was Charles Adams Spurgeon. He says, happy shall be the man who engages in the overthrow of such wickedness and such tyranny. It is amazing to me that God says that the man or the men whom God ordains to overthrow tyranny and despotism when they destroy such a wicked empire shall be counted happy, shall be counted blessed, shall be extolled and celebrated because they are delivering people and the world from a grievous, wicked tormentor.

[John Weaver] Now, whether we like it or not, folks, the Scripture does teach Number one, there's a time to be merciful and a time not to be merciful. The Scripture does teach that there is a time for total warfare where the annihilation of one's enemies is completely lawful and right. And here's the third principle that I want to enunciate today. I want you to go back to Psalm 18. Here's the third principle. We must remember that this passage Psalm 18 is directly applied to Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Thus, when he returns, are you listening? He will show no mercy to his enemies and he will wage total warfare against his enemies. This passage applies directly to Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look in Psalm 18 and verse 2. And then turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 2. Psalm 18 verse 2. Hebrews chapter 2. In Psalm 18 verse 2, we read this. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust, my buckler and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. When you get to the book of Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 13, the Bible says this, and again, I will put my trust in Him. quoting from Psalm 18 verse 2, and then Christ says, Behold, I am the children which God has given me. In the context, this is talking about Jesus Christ. So Psalm 18 verse 2 is referring to Christ in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 13. Now turn back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 15 and then go back, if you would, to Psalm 18. Psalm 18. And if you look at verse 49. Psalm 18 verse 49. Psalm 18 verse 49, therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord among the heathen and sing praise unto thy name.

[John Weaver] Then if you look at Romans 15 and verse 9. that the Gentiles might glorify God for this mercy as it is written for this cause, I will confess to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy name. And once again, it has reference to Jesus Christ. In fact, let me just say this. If you look at Psalm 18, for instance, and verse 40, look at Psalm 18, verse 40.

[John Weaver] Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I may destroy them that hate me." Look in verse 43. Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people. Thou hast made me the head of the heathen. A people whom I have not known shall serve me. These verses speak of the dominion of Jesus Christ over and over throughout the New Testament. Wow. So when the scripture is telling us there's a time to have mercy and a time to show no mercy, and there is a time to wage total war against your enemies. That is not only true of David, it's only true in time and history of God's people. Generally, this passage is applied to Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to read to you, listen carefully, please. It's a couple of pages, but it's well worth reading. This is John Calvin's commentary on Psalm 18, and especially these latter verses, which I'm going to deal with next week. But listen to this. Here's what Calvin says. The point on which David insists so much is that showing from the effect or issue that all of his victories were to be traced to the favor of God.

[John Weaver] And from this, it follows that his cause was good and just. God, no doubt, sometimes grants successes even to the ungodly and wicked, but at length He shows by the issue that He was all the while opposed to them and their enemy. It is His servants alone who experience such tokens of His favor as He showed towards David, and He intends by these to testify that they are approved and accepted by Him. We have to think that David here speaks too much after the manner of a soldier in declaring that he will not cease from the work of slaughter until he has destroyed all his enemies, or rather that he's forgotten the gentleness and meekness which ought to shine in all true believers and in which

[John Weaver] they should resemble their Heavenly Father. But as he attempted nothing without the command of God and as his affections were governed and regulated by the by the Holy Spirit, We may be assured that these are not the words of a man who was cruel and who took pleasure in shedding blood, but of a man who faithfully executed the judgment which God had committed to him. And indeed, we know that he was so distinguished for his gentleness of disposition as to abhor the shedding of a single drop of blood, except insofar as duty and the necessity of his office required.

[John Weaver] We must therefore take into consideration David's vocation and also his pure zeal which was free from all perturbation of the flesh. Moreover, it should be particularly attended to the to the psalmist here that calls those as enemies whose indomitable and infatuated obstinacy merited and called forth such vengeance from God. Now, listen carefully as he that is David represented the person of Christ. He inflicted the punishment of death only on those who were so inflexible that they could not be reduced to order by the exercises of mild and humane authority.

[John Weaver] And this of itself shows that there was nothing which he was more delighted than to pardon those who repented and reformed themselves. He thus resembles Christ, who gently allures men to repentance. but breaks in pieces with his iron rod those who obstinately resist him to the last. The sum of these verses is that David, as he fought under the authority of God, being chosen king by him and engaging in no undertaking without his warrant, was assisted by him and rendered invincible against the assaults of all his enemies and enabled even to discomfort vast and very powerful armies. Farther, let us remember that under this type there is shattered forth the invincible character and condition of the kingdom of Christ, who, trusting to be sustained by the power of God, overthrows and destroys his enemies, who in every encounter uniformly comes off victorious, and who continues king in spite of all the resistance which the world makes to his authority and power. Isn't that amazing? Do you realize that everything that Psalm 18 speaks of is speaking of Christ?

[John Weaver] Let me read one other little sentence from Calvin. He says this, Although therefore Christ can only obtain a tranquil kingdom by fighting, let us not on that account be troubled. But let it be enough to satisfy us that the hand of God is always ready to be stretched forth for its preservation. Isn't that interesting that he said that Christ can only obtain a tranquil kingdom by fighting?

[John Weaver] Let me point something out to you. I just simply want to point out that when Christ returns, He will show no mercy. And he will wage total war against his enemies. Let me just ask that you turn to two passages, I want you to look in Second Thessalonians, Chapter one and Revelation, Chapter 19. Second Thessalonians, Chapter one and Revelation 19, and we will look at Second Thessalonians one first. Second Thessalonians. Chapter one.

[John Weaver] And notice, if you would, please. Let's begin reading there with verse seven, second Thessalonians, one verse seven. Look what he says. And to you who are troubled rest with us, in other words, if you're kind of anxious about what's happening and what's going on. And it looks like the wicked, they have the upper hand and looks like they're not going to be punished. He said, you were troubled. Rest with us. Here's something that you can rest in.

[John Weaver] Well, the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He shall come to be glorified in His saints and be admired in all them that believe, because our testimony among you was believed in that day." Notice, when our Lord comes back, He's going to come back in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] He came the first time as a lamb, the second time as a lion. Look in Revelation 19, if you would, beginning there with verse 1. Revelation 19, verse 1. After these things, I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying, hallelujah. salvation and glory and honor and power to the Lord our God for true and righteous are His judgments. For He has judged the great whore who did corrupt the earth with her fornication and avenged the blood of His servants at her hand." And again, they said, hallelujah, and her smoke rose up forever and ever. Skip down to verse 11, and I saw heaven open And behold, a white horse and he that sat upon him was called fateful and true, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.

[John Weaver] His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns. And he had a name written that no man knew but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called the word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, with that he should smite the nations, and that he should rule them with a rod of iron. And he treadeth a winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh the name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."

[John Weaver] Need I remind you that when our Lord comes back It will be without mercy. And in total war against his enemies. The dominion that David was able to acquire. By the grace and the mercy of God that we're seeing in Psalm 18 is a picture of that full and final dominion that God will exercise through his son, Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make just a couple of applications. Here's the first one. Listen carefully. Since God is not obligated to be merciful. And since God is not merciful to everyone. Those of us who have received mercy. Should be eternally thankful and grateful and give him honor and praise and thanksgiving. What a special blessing it is to be a recipient of God's gracious favor. You think of the multitudes in this world that don't even know who Jesus Christ is, that have never seen the Word of God, never heard the Word of God. You think of the multitudes in this country, in America, that are totally, absolutely ignorant of Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] And many of them are in churches. And yet God has had mercy upon you and upon me. It ought to make us eternally grateful and thankful. The second application is this. Since we know that when our Lord returns, He will return in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, we know that He will wage total war against His enemies and destroy them.

[John Weaver] That should give us an impetus to warn our family and our friends and our neighbors, as John the Baptist did when he said, flee from the wrath to come.

[John Weaver] Lastly, Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 6 and verse 2, Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. Christ now speaks in tones of grace and mercy. But when He returns, He will speak in anger and in wrath. My question is this. Which had you rather hear Christ say? Well done, my good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord, or depart from me, ye wicked, I never knew you." We must seek Him, as Scripture says, while He may be found. We must call upon Him while He's near. Let the wicked forsake His way and the unrighteous man his evil thoughts and let him turn to the Lord And what does Scripture say? He'll have mercy. But if you refuse to turn, there's no mercy, only wrath. There's a time to be merciful and a time to show no mercy. It's true with God. It's true with us. Let's pray.

[John Weaver] Father, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, that you would indeed help us and enable us more to grasp and understand these simple principles and truth and help us to see as we look at these verses next week the great dominion that we'll have through Jesus Christ our Lord that was typified in David's fighting and David's warfare. Lord, we pray today for those who've lost loved ones this past week and for those who are in serious condition It looks as if, Lord, they may die. Lord, we just pray for them and ask for Your grace and Your strength for the families and for the friends and for the neighbors. Help us, Lord, to be faithful to Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray, Amen.

Total Warfare

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	42508925460
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2008-02-24
Dictation Name
Book	Book 134: Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification - Volume 1 — Chapter 9
Source Timed Segments	97

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of Psalm 18

Weaver reviews the previous sections of Psalm 18 and introduces the final section on David's dominion, noting that the defeat of our enemies is certain.

Psalm 18, and let's begin reading with verse 37, and we're going to read through verse 50. Psalm 18, verse 37. David says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 18:37-50

"I have pursued mine enemies and overtaken them. Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I've wounded them that were not able to rise. They are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle and has subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of my enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me." "They cried, but there was none to save them, even to the Lord, but He answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I did cast them out as the dirt into the streets. Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people, and Thou hast made me the head of the heathen. A people whom I have not known shall serve me." "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me. The stranger shall submit themselves to me. The stranger shall fade away and be afraid out of their close places. The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the people under me. He delivered me from mine enemies, yea, from thou lifted me up above those that rise up against me. Thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name." "Great deliverance giveth he to his king, and showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed forevermore."

Now, let me just tell you very quickly, although I read all of those verses today, we're not going to cover those verses today. In fact, we won't even cover one of those verses today because I'm going to lay down some principles before we look at those verses in detail. So let me tell you where we are and how we got here in Psalm 18. We've been looking at this psalm, taking it verse by verse and point by point. And in verses 1 and 2, we saw David's determination where he said, "I will love the Lord." And of course, I pointed out how biblical love consists of an attitude, affection and action. Then we saw, secondly, David's distress in verses 3 through 6. God had him backed up against the wall, and he cried to the Lord, and he said, the Lord heard me and delivered me. And then we see David's deliverer in verses 7 through 19, and I showed you the pictures there that David gave, how God responded instantly and immediately, and how God came down to deliver him. Then in verses 20 through 28, we saw David's deportment or I titled that message David's deportment or how to act if we want to be delivered because David then behaved himself biblically and scripturally. And then in verses 29 through 33, we saw David's defense and how God empowered him, enabled him, to fight the battles that he did. And then in verse 34, we looked at one point that is David's discipline when he said he teaches my hands to war so that a bow of steel is broken in mine arms.

So David learned the discipline of war. He learned the art of war from God himself. And then verses 35 through 36, we saw David's designation, that is his designation of praise for he gives God all the honor and glory for everything that God has done for him and everything that God has taught him. Now today we come to verse 37 and we begin what I'm going to call David's dominion. And I will make this statement and I hope that you will remember it because I will say it again. This dominion that David is able to exercise is a picture of the dominion of Jesus Christ. So as we read Psalm 18 verses 37 through 50, we saw that David defeated his enemies. Let me just tell you with God's help, the defeat of our enemies is absolutely certain. And as you read these verses, it's not that just David did in times past defeat his enemies.

But it also speaks of a present and a continuous delivery. That is, we are delivered from our enemies and able to defeat them by the grace of God. When David was preserved in battle, it enabled him to continue to fight. Let me put it like this. The preservation of the saints of God bodes ill for their adversaries. It was true in David's case. It is certainly true in our case as well.

Principle 1: A Time for Mercy and a Time for No Mercy

Weaver argues that while mercy is a general biblical principle, there are times when God commands no mercy, as seen in the case of Ahab and Ben-Hadad.

So before I begin an exposition of these verses, I want to lay down some principles that most people have never grasped and never understood from the Bible. I would venture to say this, that most Christians have no earthly idea of the principles that I'm going to enunciate today. Because if you don't understand these principles, you're not going to understand what David means when he says, for instance, look in verse 37, "I pursued mine enemies and overtaken them." "Neither did I turn again till they were consumed." What did he do? He totally, completely destroyed his enemies. I can show you verse after verse. And unless you grasp the principles I'm going to enunciate, you're going to think that boy, David must have been a mean wicked man. No, he was not. The very first principle I want you to understand is this. Listen carefully, we must understand that there is a time for mercy and a time to show no mercy. We must understand that there was a time for mercy and a time to show no mercy.

Now, let me begin by telling you what the unscriptural mentality is. It is the same unscriptural mentality that always offers an objection. And it says this, but are we not always to be merciful? And then it follows up with this question, is not God always merciful? And the answer to both questions is a resounding no. We're not always to be merciful, and God is not always merciful.

Now, let me just point out the fact there are general principles that are taught in the Bible. One of those general principles is concerning mercy. And yes, generally speaking, we are to be merciful individuals. What did our Lord say in Matthew 5 and verse 7? He said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:7

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

Certainly, we should be characterized and we should be known for mercy. James chapter 2 and verse 13 says, "For he shall have judgment without mercy that showed no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." So once again, we are to be merciful people. If you would hold Psalm 18, look if you would please in the book of Matthew chapter 18, and let me show you a principle, and once again this is a general principle, that we who have received mercy should indeed show mercy most of the time. Look at Matthew chapter 18 beginning there verse 23.

Here's the passage that very easily grasp. Matthew chapter 18 verse 23.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:23-35

"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king which would take account of his servants. And when he begun to reckon, one was brought unto him who owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had in payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence. And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou ow'st. And the fellow servant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay thee all. And he would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt."

"So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry and came and told unto their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord, after he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desirest me. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on my fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him."

Now, notice what the application is. "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses." Now, the principle is very simple. If we have received mercy, we should be merciful. If we receive forgiveness, we should be forgiving. That's a general principle. We should be characterized by mercy. Do you realize that one of the greatest crimes that God cried out against in the Old Testament was the crime and the sin of a lack of mercy? In Hosea chapter 4 and verse 1, here's what the Bible says. Listen carefully.

"Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel. Now listen, for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land." God is entering into a controversy with Israel. Why? Here's why. "Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." Wow. God says, you want to get me angry? You want to get me upset? There's no truth. There's no mercy. There's no knowledge of God in the land.

Everyone in this room knows the story of the Good Samaritan. Hmm? And you remember what our Lord said in Luke 10 in verse 37. He was making the application and He said this, "He that showed mercy on him, then said Jesus to the man, go and do thou likewise." In other words, mercy. We are to be characterized, generally speaking, as merciful individuals. Did you know that even the wicked kings of Israel were often known for their mercy? For instance, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Kings chapter 20. I want to show you this passage. Because from this passage I want to begin the point that I'm going to make. Notice 1 Kings chapter 20. There had been a war between Ahab the king of Israel, and you remember that Ahab was a wicked, ungodly reprobate. So there was this war between Ahab, king of Israel, and Ben-Hadad, king of Syria. In fact, Ben-Hadad had begun the war. He started the war. And Ahab defeated him. And the king and several of his men had fled for their lives. So look in 1 Kings chapter 20 and verse, let's begin reading there with verse 30. In fact, let's read verse 29. "And they pitched one over against the other seven days, and so it was that in the seventh day the battle was joined, and the children of Israel slew the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day." So 100,000 Syrian soldiers were killed in one day. Watch verse 30.

"But the rest fled to Aphek and to the city, and there a wall fell upon 20,000 and 7,000 of the men that were left. And Ben-Hadad fled and came into the city and into an inner chamber." So now there have been 127,000 soldiers killed. Watch what his servants say to Ben-Hadad. "And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel." "Peradventure, he will save thy life." So they said, let's go begging for mercy. We've heard that the kings of Israel were merciful.

Now let me ask you before we look at the rest of the story. I hope you know it. Did Ahab spare Ben-Hadad's life? Was Ahab merciful to Ben-Hadad? And the answer is yes. He not only allowed Ben-Hadad to live, he even entered into a covenant with Ben-Hadad. They parted friends. You say, isn't that wonderful? Isn't that a blessing? I mean, here's an old wicked king attacking another wicked king, and the one wicked king is merciful to the other, and he pardons him, and they part friends. Isn't that just peachy? And the answer is no.

There's a very serious problem. What is the problem? The problem is God did not want Ahab to be merciful to Ben-Hadad. He wanted Ben-Hadad dead. What? Well, let's look at the story. Let's begin reading there with verse 34. Skip down to verse 34. "And Ben-Hadad said unto him, that is, Ahab, the cities which my father took from thy father I will restore. And thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So I made a covenant with him and sent him away." So then Ben-Hadad restored the city, named streets after Ahab. Isn't that wonderful? Watch verse 35.

"But a certain man of the sons of the prophet said unto his neighbor, in the word of the Lord, smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite. Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him. Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him. So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face. As the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man unto me and said, Keep this man, and if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver."

"And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be, thyself hast decided it. And he, the prophet, hastened and took the ashes away from his face. And the king of Israel discerned him, that he was one of the prophets. And he said unto him, Ahab, thus saith the Lord, because thou hast let go out of thine hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction. Therefore, thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. And the king of Israel went to his house heavy in displeasure, and came to Samaria."

Now what did God say? God said you had mercy on someone I did not want you to have mercy on. You let him go. So your life for his life. Your people for his people.

God Is Not Always Merciful

Weaver demonstrates from Scripture that God does not always show mercy, citing Romans 9, Exodus 34, and other passages where God destroys His enemies without pity.

Now let me just simply point out. There are times that God demands that we be unmerciful and without pity. It is true generally speaking, we're to be characterized by mercy. But there are times that we are to be unmerciful and without pity. Let me show you some. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 19. Deuteronomy chapter 19. Deuteronomy 19. And notice, if you would please, verse 13. Look what God says concerning someone who's been guilty of premeditated murder. Notice Deuteronomy chapter 19 and verse 13. God says concerning the murderer, "Thine eyes shall not pity him."

"But thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel that it may go with thee. Thine eye shall not pity him." If you read the context, what is God saying? God is saying you take that man and you deliver him to the avenger of blood that he may put to death. Don't have any pity on him. I don't have any pity on someone who's guilty of premeditated murder. Murder? If someone says, well, we'll give them life in prison. No, you don't give them life in prison. You put them to death.

Skip down if you would, please. In verse 21, Deuteronomy 19, here he's speaking to the judges. Look what he says. Verse 18, "And the judges shall make diligent inquisition." Now verse 19,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 19:13, 21

"Then shall you do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother, so shalt thou put evil away from among you, that those which remain shall hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more evil, such evil among you. And thine eye shall not pity, but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand and foot for foot."

What is God saying? You are not to have pity and you're not to have mercy upon individuals who deserve death. Moreover, there are times when God demands. That we not be merciful towards his enemies. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 7. Deuteronomy 7. And look what God told the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 7, verses 1 and 2.

Now, this may surprise you, but there are times when we are not to be merciful and we're to have absolutely no pity. Deuteronomy 7, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 7:1-2

"When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land where thou goest to possess it, and has cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou. Note, and when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee, thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them."

Isn't that amazing? God says you don't show mercy unto them. Look in Deuteronomy 23. Deuteronomy 23 and notice verse 6. Deuteronomy 23 verse 6. Here God is referring to the Ammonites and the Moabites. And notice what he says, Deuteronomy 23 and verse 6. God says "thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days forever." You're not to seek the peace of the Ammonites or the Moabites.

Verse three, they're named. You're not to seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days forever. Now, let me ask you. If God forbids you to help someone, aid someone, support someone, encourage someone, translated, does that not mean you're to have no mercy upon them? Well, of course. He says don't seek their peace. Don't seek their prosperity. Don't try to help them. No mercy. Someone's going to say, oh, but Brother Weaver, there may be times in the Bible that Christians are supposed to be unmerciful and without pity, but certainly God is always merciful. No. No.

Look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 9, and I want you to notice very plainly what the Apostle Paul teaches us. You've got to remember that God is absolutely sovereign. When we talk about God's sovereignty, it means this, that God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, and always as He pleases, because He's God. God owes no one anything at any time. His mercy is His own. His grace is His own. Look in Romans chapter 9, if you would, beginning there with verse 15. Look what God says to Moses. So we could quote this back from the book of Exodus, but here it is in Romans 9. Romans 9 verse 15, "For he said to Moses, here's what God said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." God says my mercy is mine. My compassion is mine. I will show my mercy on whomever I will be merciful to.

I'll show my compassion on whomever I'll have compassion about. So it doesn't matter what a man does, whether he wills or whether he runs. No, no, no. It has nothing to do with the creature. It has everything to do with God.

Now, if you want that explained, look in verse 17. After he says, "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." Here's the illustration. "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Are you watching? Therefore have thee mercy on whom ye will have mercy, and whom ye will he hardeneth." Did God have mercy on Pharaoh? No, he did not. Did God harden his heart? Oh yes. Did God harden the heart of Og and Sihon? Oh yes. Look in your Bibles back to Exodus 34 and verse 7. Just showing you that God does not have mercy all of the time. Look in Exodus chapter 34 verse 7.

And then let me ask you a question concerning this passage. Exodus 34 verse 7. In fact, let's read verse 6 just so that you can see we're talking about the one true and the living God. Exodus 34 verse 6

Scripture Reading — Exodus 34:6-7

"and the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed the Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth."

Now look what he says in verse 7 "keeping mercy for thousands. Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. Now watch. And that will by no means clear the guilty. Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children upon the children's children unto the third and the fourth generation." Wow. Let me ask you a question. If God will by no means clear the guilty. Are you listening? Here's my question. Is it not the guilty who need mercy?

Well, of course it is. How does God deal with his enemies? Does he show them mercy? And the answer is no. He does not show them mercy. He destroys his enemies. Let me just give you a few quotes. You don't have to turn to these passages. But this is Hosea 1 in verse 6. Israel, you know, rebelled against God, went into idolatry, became God's enemy. So in Hosea 1 in verse 6, God says this concerning Hosea's wife. As she conceived again and bear a daughter and God said unto him, "Call her name Lo-ruhamah, for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away." Wow. I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel. I will utterly take them away. In Jeremiah 13 in verse 14, God says this. Now listen carefully.

"And I will dash them one against the other. Even the fathers and the sons together, said the Lord, I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but will destroy them." That's God speaking. God said I'll dash them together. I'll dash them to pieces. I will not pity, I will not have mercy, I will not spare, but I will destroy them. In Jeremiah 21 verse 7. Jeremiah 21 verse 7.

In fact, let's turn there. It won't take you but a second. Look in Jeremiah 21 verse 7. Jeremiah 21, look in verse 7. This is a very interesting verse. In fact, look what God says. Let's begin reading with verse 4. Zedekiah was a wicked king of Judah. Look what God says. God is warning King Zedekiah through Jeremiah the prophet. In Jeremiah 21 in verse 4, "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands where you're fighting against Nebuchadnezzar, whom I've given this land." So he says, I'm going to turn back the weapons of war in your hands. Where would you fight against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls?

"And I will assemble them into the midst of this city. And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger and in fury and in great wrath. And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast, they shall die of a great pestilence. And afterwards, saith the Lord, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life. And he, that is Nebuchadnezzar, shall smite them with the edge of the sword." "He shall not spare them, neither have pity nor have mercy." Someone says, oh, but Brother Weaver, that's Nebuchadnezzar not having pity or mercy. Oh, may I ask who it was that turned them over into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar? It was God. God did it so that they would not have mercy or pity shown to them. Is God always merciful? The answer is no. You don't have to turn to this passage, but in Zechariah 1 and verse 12. Zechariah 1 verse 12. Listen to this.

"Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years," the seventy years Judah was in captivity. God had no mercy upon that city. That's what the Scripture says. Anyone who takes the Scripture seriously, anyone who believes the Word of God cannot say that God is always merciful. He is not always merciful. He is not merciful to those he dooms and destroys. If you say that doom and destruction are mercy, I don't want that kind of mercy. I can assure you. No, God destroys his enemies. Now listen carefully. Scripture does not demand that Christians be merciful to everyone. I cannot be merciful toward those who obstinately disobey the law of God. I can't. God forbids it.

Let me give you a classic illustration. Here's a verse everyone in this room can quote. In 2 Thessalonians 3, verse 10, the Apostle Paul said,

Scripture Reading — 2 Thessalonians 3:10

"even when we were with you, we commanded you, help me out now, that if any will not work, neither should he eat."

So if I look around and here's a lazy, indolent sluggard who refuses to work in my vicinity and say, oh, that poor man, he must be hungry.

Principle 2: Total Warfare Is Sometimes Lawful and Right

Weaver explains that total warfare, including the destruction of women and children, is sometimes commanded by God, as in the cases of Sihon, Og, and the Amalekites.

Let me buy him something. No, God says don't do that. If he will not work, don't let him eat. Guess what? He'll either go hungry and get impetus enough to get up and go to work or he'll starve and die out.

If he's not going to work, neither should he. All I'm trying to show you is this. There is a time for mercy. There's a time to have no mercy. Christians are not always to be merciful to everyone without exception. Nor is God always merciful to everyone. Here's the second principle. This one's going to be hard to swallow. But I'm going to show it to you. It's in the Bible. The second principle is there are times when total warfare, that is the complete annihilation of one's enemies, is lawful and right.

Now, let me say that again. There are times when total warfare, that is, and I'm defining total warfare, the complete annihilation of one's enemies is lawful and right. Now, let me begin by once again giving you the general principle of Scripture. And you've got to understand there are always exceptions to general principles. I could give you illustration after illustration. For instance, "beat thy child with a rod. If thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt deliver his soul from hell." Does that mean that every child that's ever been whipped is going to heaven? Of course not. That's a general principle.

But with the blessing of God upon that discipline, that child's most likely to be converted. But that doesn't mean that every child's ever been whipped or ever whipped consistently is going to end up in heaven. Doesn't mean that at all. I give you another general principle. "He that giveth a wife giveth a good thing, and obtaineth mercy of the Lord." I know some men that got a wife didn't get a good thing, and some women got a husband didn't get a good thing. You see, those are general principles. They're exceptions to them. A general principle of Scripture is this, that in warfare we do not harm women and children.

I could even broaden it. In warfare, we do not fight against civilians. That's a general principle. Here's another general principle. You'll find it in the book of Deuteronomy. You don't make war against creation. You make war against God's enemies. You make war against sinners. You don't fight against God's creation. You don't just try to destroy the world. Do you remember in 1 Samuel chapter 15? And we'll look at it in just a minute. But God had sent King Saul to fight against the Amalekites.

But when he got there, here the Kenites were mingled in and they were in the way. And God had not told Saul to fight against the Kenites. So in verse 6, Saul righteously and rightly and correctly told the Kenites, look, I've got no battle with you. But I do with the Amalekites.

Now you need to get out of the way so you won't get hurt. And they got out of the way. Now that is right. Here's the general principle. Generally speaking, you don't make war against civilians and women and children. However, I'm going to show you. There are exceptions to that. There are exceptions in the fact that God at times told his people to destroy men, women, children, even the animals.

Now let me point out and let me emphasize this. This total warfare is to be regulated and controlled and directed by God himself. Now, you'll remember I hope that you will remember, anyhow, that God told Saul, in fact, go back there. Let's turn there. Let's look in 1 Samuel. I tell you what, go to Deuteronomy 7 first. Let me just point this out again. I quoted it one time, but let me just point it out again, then we'll work our way over. Look at Deuteronomy chapter 7. Deuteronomy 7, verse 2. Let me read this verse again in light of this passage. Note what God says talking about all those enemies. "And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them unto thee, thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, neither shalt thou show mercy unto them." Note God said thou shalt totally or utterly, completely destroy them. So what is he talking about?

He's talking about literally wiping out a group of people, men, women and children. Now to demonstrate that, go back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 2. Deuteronomy chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 30. Deuteronomy 2 verse 30. Deuteronomy 2 verse 30. "But Sihon, king of Heshbon, would not let us pass by him. Why? For the Lord thy God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate."

Remember, he'll have mercy on whom he'll have mercy and whom he will he hardens. "For the Lord thy God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate that he might deliver him into thine hand as appeared this day. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee. Begin to possess it that thou mayest inherit his land. Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. And the Lord our God delivered him before us, and we smote him and his sons and all his people." "And we took all his cities at that time and utterly destroyed the men and the women and the little ones of every city. We left none to remain. Only the cattle we took for a prey in ourselves. And the spoil of the cities which we took." Now, they killed everything. Man, woman, child. May I ask you who delivered them into their hands? It was God. And God had said he wanted them totally annihilated.

Now look in chapter three. At verse six. In fact, let's begin reading there verse three. Talking about Og now. "So the Lord our God delivered into our hands also Og the king of Bashan and all his people. And we smote him until none was left to him remaining. And we took all the cities at that time. There was not a city which we took not from them. Threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars, besides unwalled towns and a great many, and we utterly destroyed them as we did unto Sihon, king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children of every city." Who was it that delivered them into their hands? It was God Himself. Is there a time when total warfare is mandated by God? The answer is yes. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 15. 1 Samuel 15. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. 1 Samuel 15 verse 1.

1 Samuel 15 verse 1.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 15:1-3

"Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel." "Now, therefore, hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord."

Now, Samuel the prophet said, Saul, God has got a command for you. God has sent me to tell you something. Now, you listen to God's words. Now, I want you to look and see what God's words are. Verse 2,

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 15:1-3

"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass."

Now let me ask you something, folks. Is that total warfare?

That is the annihilation of one. Who was it that sent Saul to do it? God did. May I ask you a question? How did Saul get in trouble for disobeying God, for allowing Agag and the best of the sheep and the best of the oxen to live? And God took the kingdom away from him. And God sent King Saul to death because of this.

Now, I'm just pointing out the fact generally speaking, you can say in a time of war, yes, civilians are not to be harmed, women and children not to be harmed. But there comes a time when a people are so wicked and so vile and so ungodly, God says, destroy them all. Man, woman, child, ox, suckling ass, anything and everything. Now, let me show you another passage, I want you to turn to Psalm 137, and I told you this is a hard truth to grasp, it's not a hard truth to grasp, it's just hard to receive because we're not used to thinking like this. Boy, here's a passage that will blow your mind. Look in Psalm 137. Psalm 137.

Psalm 137 and the Destruction of Babylon's Children

Weaver examines Psalm 137:8-9, where the psalmist pronounces blessing on those who dash Babylon's infants against rocks, citing commentators Gill and Spurgeon to justify this as divine retribution.

Now, let me show you another passage, I want you to turn to Psalm 137, and I told you this is a hard truth to grasp, it's not a hard truth to grasp, it's just hard to receive because we're not used to thinking like this. Boy, here's a passage that will blow your mind. Look in Psalm 137. Psalm 137.

And I want us to begin reading there with verse 7. Psalm 137, verse 7. We're going to read through verse 9. Psalm 137. Look what the psalmist says. Here's a prayer. "Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof." The word rase means to destroy, to burn, to annihilate, to mutilate. So they're saying destroy it, destroy it, even to the foundation thereof, to whack Jerusalem off the face of the map. And then look what God says concerning these Babylonians, these Chaldeans, "O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed. Are you looking?"

"Happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." Now wait a minute. Verse 8, "O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones."

Now, I'm not going to try to mince words. I'm not trying to be purposely vile, but I'll tell you this, what that means is they take the babies by the heels and beat their brains out against the rocks. That's basically what it means. And God says, happy shall he be that does that.

Now, I want to give you a couple of comments, I want to show you how the old commentators understood this. I want to give you a quote by Gill and Spurgeon and listen carefully. Here's what John Gill says, commenting on Psalm 137 verses 8 and 9, "that takes the infants from their mother's breast or out of their arms and dashes out their brains against a rock, as the word signifies, which though it may seem a piece of cruelty, was but a just retaliation." "The Babylonians having done the same to Israel's children, and his foretold elsewhere should be done to theirs, Isaiah 13:16. Nor is this desired from a spirit of revenge, but for the glory of divine justice, and that such a generation of cruel creatures might be rooted out of the earth." Now listen to what he said, "and that such a generation of cruel creatures might be rooted out of the earth."

Alice and I have some friends who live up north. And they're godly people. And for the longest, she was a school teacher taught in public schools. She had to quit. She had to get out because of the vileness and the wickedness. And she told us, you would not believe the language and the temperament and the immorality of first graders. First graders. She said, after having taught, I understand now why God would have the children wiped out as well, because the children begin at an early age, repeating the sins of the parents.

I want you to listen to what Spurgeon said. Here it is. Spurgeon commented on Psalm 137 verses 8 and 9 said this, "the avenger would be fulfilling an honorable calling in overthrowing a power so brutal, so inhuman. Assyrian and Chaldean armies had been boastfully brutal in their conquest. It was meet that their conduct should be measured back into their own bosoms. No awards of punishment can be more unanswerably just than those which closely follow the Lex Talionis, that is the law of retribution, even to the letter." "Babylon must fall as she caused Jerusalem to fall, and her sack and slaughter must be such as she appointed for other cities. The patriot poet, sitting sorrowfully in his exile, finds a solace in the prospect of the overthrow of the emperor's city, which holds him in bondage, and he accounts Cyrus right happy to be ordained to such a righteous work. The whole earth would bless the conquest for ridding the nation of a tyrant. Future generations would call him blessed for enabling men to breathe again and for once more making liberty possible upon the earth."

"We may rest assured that every unrighteous power is doomed to destruction, and that from the throne of God justice will be measured out to all those whose law is force, whose rule is selfishness, and whose policy is oppression. Happy is the man who shall help in the overthrow of the spiritual Babylon, which, despite its riches and power, is to be destroyed. Happier still shall he be, who shall see it sink like a millstone into the flood, never to rise again." What that spiritual Babylon is, none need inquire. There is but one city upon the earth which can answer to that name. That was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He says, happy shall be the man who engages in the overthrow of such wickedness and such tyranny. It is amazing to me that God says that the man or the men whom God ordains to overthrow tyranny and despotism when they destroy such a wicked empire shall be counted happy, shall be counted blessed, shall be extolled and celebrated because they are delivering people and the world from a grievous, wicked tormentor.

Principle 3: Psalm 18 Applied to Christ's Return

Weaver shows that Psalm 18 is directly applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and that Christ will show no mercy and wage total war at His second coming.

Now, whether we like it or not, folks, the Scripture does teach number one, there's a time to be merciful and a time not to be merciful. The Scripture does teach that there is a time for total warfare where the annihilation of one's enemies is completely lawful and right. And here's the third principle that I want to enunciate today. I want you to go back to Psalm 18. Here's the third principle. We must remember that this passage Psalm 18 is directly applied to Jesus Christ.

Thus, when he returns, are you listening? He will show no mercy to his enemies and he will wage total warfare against his enemies. This passage applies directly to Jesus Christ. Now, if you look in Psalm 18 and verse 2. And then turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 2. Psalm 18 verse 2. Hebrews chapter 2. In Psalm 18 verse 2, we read this. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust, my buckler and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." When you get to the book of Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 13, the Bible says this, "and again, I will put my trust in Him," quoting from Psalm 18 verse 2, and then Christ says, "Behold, I am the children which God has given me." In the context, this is talking about Jesus Christ. So Psalm 18 verse 2 is referring to Christ in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 13. Now turn back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 15 and then go back, if you would, to Psalm 18. Psalm 18. And if you look at verse 49. Psalm 18 verse 49. Psalm 18 verse 49, "therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord among the heathen and sing praise unto thy name."

Then if you look at Romans 15 and verse 9, "that the Gentiles might glorify God for this mercy as it is written for this cause, I will confess to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy name." And once again, it has reference to Jesus Christ. In fact, let me just say this. If you look at Psalm 18, for instance, and verse 40, look at Psalm 18, verse 40. "Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I may destroy them that hate me." Look in verse 43. "Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people. Thou hast made me the head of the heathen. A people whom I have not known shall serve me." These verses speak of the dominion of Jesus Christ over and over throughout the New Testament. Wow. So when the scripture is telling us there's a time to have mercy and a time to show no mercy, and there is a time to wage total war against your enemies. That is not only true of David, it's only true in time and history of God's people. Generally, this passage is applied to Jesus Christ.

Now, I want to read to you, listen carefully, please. It's a couple of pages, but it's well worth reading. This is John Calvin's commentary on Psalm 18, and especially these latter verses, which I'm going to deal with next week. But listen to this. Here's what Calvin says. "The point on which David insists so much is that showing from the effect or issue that all of his victories were to be traced to the favor of God." "And from this, it follows that his cause was good and just. God, no doubt, sometimes grants successes even to the ungodly and wicked, but at length He shows by the issue that He was all the while opposed to them and their enemy. It is His servants alone who experience such tokens of His favor as He showed towards David, and He intends by these to testify that they are approved and accepted by Him. We have to think that David here speaks too much after the manner of a soldier in declaring that he will not cease from the work of slaughter until he has destroyed all his enemies, or rather that he's forgotten the gentleness and meekness which ought to shine in all true believers and in which"

"they should resemble their Heavenly Father. But as he attempted nothing without the command of God and as his affections were governed and regulated by the Holy Spirit, we may be assured that these are not the words of a man who was cruel and who took pleasure in shedding blood, but of a man who faithfully executed the judgment which God had committed to him. And indeed, we know that he was so distinguished for his gentleness of disposition as to abhor the shedding of a single drop of blood, except insofar as duty and the necessity of his office required." "We must therefore take into consideration David's vocation and also his pure zeal which was free from all perturbation of the flesh. Moreover, it should be particularly attended to that the psalmist here calls those as enemies whose indomitable and infatuated obstinacy merited and called forth such vengeance from God. Now, listen carefully as he that is David represented the person of Christ. He inflicted the punishment of death only on those who were so inflexible that they could not be reduced to order by the exercises of mild and humane authority."

"And this of itself shows that there was nothing which he was more delighted than to pardon those who repented and reformed themselves. He thus resembles Christ, who gently allures men to repentance, but breaks in pieces with his iron rod those who obstinately resist him to the last. The sum of these verses is that David, as he fought under the authority of God, being chosen king by him and engaging in no undertaking without his warrant, was assisted by him and rendered invincible against the assaults of all his enemies and enabled even to discomfit vast and very powerful armies. Further, let us remember that under this type there is shadowed forth the invincible character and condition of the kingdom of Christ, who, trusting to be sustained by the power of God, overthrows and destroys his enemies, who in every encounter uniformly comes off victorious, and who continues king in spite of all the resistance which the world makes to his authority and power." Isn't that amazing? Do you realize that everything that Psalm 18 speaks of is speaking of Christ?

Let me read one other little sentence from Calvin. He says this, "Although therefore Christ can only obtain a tranquil kingdom by fighting, let us not on that account be troubled. But let it be enough to satisfy us that the hand of God is always ready to be stretched forth for its preservation." Isn't that interesting that he said that Christ can only obtain a tranquil kingdom by fighting?

Christ's Return in Flaming Fire

Weaver cites 2 Thessalonians 1 and Revelation 19 to illustrate that Christ will return in vengeance, executing total warfare against His enemies.

Let me point something out to you. I just simply want to point out that when Christ returns, He will show no mercy. And he will wage total war against his enemies. Let me just ask that you turn to two passages, I want you to look in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 1 and Revelation, chapter 19. 2 Thessalonians, chapter 1 and Revelation 19, and we will look at 2 Thessalonians 1 first. 2 Thessalonians. Chapter 1.

And notice, if you would, please. Let's begin reading there with verse 7, 2 Thessalonians 1 verse 7. Look what he says. "And to you who are troubled rest with us," in other words, if you're kind of anxious about what's happening and what's going on. And it looks like the wicked, they have the upper hand and looks like they're not going to be punished. He said, you were troubled. Rest with us. Here's something that you can rest in.

"When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He shall come to be glorified in His saints and be admired in all them that believe, because our testimony among you was believed in that day." Notice, when our Lord comes back, He's going to come back in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ. He came the first time as a lamb, the second time as a lion. Look in Revelation 19, if you would, beginning there with verse 1. Revelation 19, verse 1. "After these things, I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying, hallelujah. Salvation and glory and honor and power to the Lord our God for true and righteous are His judgments. For He has judged the great whore who did corrupt the earth with her fornication and avenged the blood of His servants at her hand." And again, they said, hallelujah, and her smoke rose up forever and ever. Skip down to verse 11, "and I saw heaven open And behold, a white horse and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war."

"His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns. And he had a name written that no man knew but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, with that he should smite the nations, and that he should rule them with a rod of iron. And he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh the name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." Need I remind you that when our Lord comes back it will be without mercy. And in total war against his enemies. The dominion that David was able to acquire by the grace and the mercy of God that we're seeing in Psalm 18 is a picture of that full and final dominion that God will exercise through his son, Jesus Christ.

Applications: Gratitude and Warning

Weaver applies the message by urging gratitude for mercy received and a call to warn others of the coming wrath, ending with an invitation to seek the Lord while He may be found.

Now, let me make just a couple of applications. Here's the first one. Listen carefully. Since God is not obligated to be merciful. And since God is not merciful to everyone. Those of us who have received mercy should be eternally thankful and grateful and give him honor and praise and thanksgiving. What a special blessing it is to be a recipient of God's gracious favor. You think of the multitudes in this world that don't even know who Jesus Christ is, that have never seen the Word of God, never heard the Word of God. You think of the multitudes in this country, in America, that are totally, absolutely ignorant of Jesus Christ.

And many of them are in churches. And yet God has had mercy upon you and upon me. It ought to make us eternally grateful and thankful. The second application is this. Since we know that when our Lord returns, He will return in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, we know that He will wage total war against His enemies and destroy them. That should give us an impetus to warn our family and our friends and our neighbors, as John the Baptist did when he said, "flee from the wrath to come."

Lastly, Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 6 and verse 2, "Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation." Christ now speaks in tones of grace and mercy. But when He returns, He will speak in anger and in wrath. My question is this. Which had you rather hear Christ say? "Well done, my good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord," or "depart from me, ye wicked, I never knew you." We must seek Him, as Scripture says, while He may be found. We must call upon Him while He's near. Let the wicked forsake His way and the unrighteous man his evil thoughts and let him turn to the Lord. And what does Scripture say? He'll have mercy. But if you refuse to turn, there's no mercy, only wrath. There's a time to be merciful and a time to show no mercy. It's true with God. It's true with us. Let's pray.

Father, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, that you would indeed help us and enable us more to grasp and understand these simple principles and truth and help us to see as we look at these verses next week the great dominion that we'll have through Jesus Christ our Lord that was typified in David's fighting and David's warfare. Lord, we pray today for those who've lost loved ones this past week and for those who are in serious condition it looks as if, Lord, they may die. Lord, we just pray for them and ask for Your grace and Your strength for the families and for the friends and for the neighbors. Help us, Lord, to be faithful to Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray, Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Sovereignty of God in Mercy and Judgment

Summary: God is absolutely sovereign in dispensing mercy; He is not obligated to be merciful to everyone and sometimes chooses to harden hearts and destroy His enemies.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'God owes no one anything at any time. His mercy is His own. His grace is His own.' He cites Romans 9:15-18 and Exodus 34:7.

Conditional Nature of Mercy

Summary: While mercy is a general biblical principle, there are specific times when God commands His people to show no mercy, as in the case of Ahab sparing Ben-Hadad.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'There are times that God demands that we be unmerciful and without pity.' He references 1 Kings 20 and Deuteronomy 19.

Total Warfare as Divine Mandate

Summary: God sometimes commands the complete annihilation of enemies, including women and children, as seen in the conquest of Canaan and the destruction of the Amalekites.

Evidence: Weaver reads Deuteronomy 2:34, 'utterly destroyed the men and the women and the little ones of every city,' and 1 Samuel 15:3, 'slay both man and woman, infant and suckling.'

Christ's Return as Total Warfare

Summary: Psalm 18 is a type of Christ's dominion; at His second coming, He will show no mercy and will wage total war against His enemies, as depicted in Revelation 19.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'When Christ returns, He will show no mercy. And he will wage total warfare against his enemies.' He cites 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 and Revelation 19:11-16.

Gratitude for Mercy Received

Summary: Because God is not merciful to all, those who have received mercy should be eternally thankful and give Him praise.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Those of us who have received mercy should be eternally thankful and grateful and give him honor and praise and thanksgiving.'

Urgency of Warning Others

Summary: Knowing that Christ will return in judgment should motivate believers to warn family and friends to flee from the coming wrath.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'That should give us an impetus to warn our family and our friends and our neighbors, as John the Baptist did when he said, "flee from the wrath to come."'

Key Arguments

God is not always merciful

Summary: Weaver argues that the common assumption that God is always merciful is unbiblical; God hardens hearts and destroys enemies without pity.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Is not God always merciful? And the answer to both questions is a resounding no.' He cites Romans 9:15-18 and Jeremiah 13:14.

Total warfare is sometimes commanded by God

Summary: Weaver contends that the complete annihilation of enemies, including civilians, is lawful when God commands it, as in the Old Testament conquests.

Evidence: Weaver reads Deuteronomy 2:34 and 1 Samuel 15:3, emphasizing that God ordered the destruction of men, women, and children.

Psalm 137 justifies retributive violence

Summary: Weaver uses Psalm 137:8-9 to argue that God blesses those who execute violent retribution against His enemies, citing commentators Gill and Spurgeon.

Evidence: Weaver reads, 'Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones,' and quotes Gill: 'was but a just retaliation.'

Psalm 18 is a prophecy of Christ's dominion

Summary: Weaver demonstrates that Psalm 18 is directly applied to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 2:13 and Romans 15:9, indicating that its warfare language describes Christ's return.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'This passage Psalm 18 is directly applied to Jesus Christ.' He cross-references Psalm 18:2 with Hebrews 2:13.

Christ will return in flaming fire to take vengeance

Summary: Weaver argues that Christ's second coming will be characterized by merciless judgment and total war, as described in 2 Thessalonians 1 and Revelation 19.

Evidence: Weaver reads 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9: 'in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know not God,' and Revelation 19:11-16.

Believers must warn others of coming wrath

Summary: Weaver concludes that the certainty of Christ's judgment should compel believers to urgently warn the lost to flee from wrath.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'That should give us an impetus to warn our family and our friends and our neighbors... flee from the wrath to come.'

Scripture References

Psalm 18:37-50

Context: Weaver reads the entire passage as the text for the sermon, which describes David's pursuit and destruction of his enemies.

Matthew 5:7

Context: Weaver cites this verse to show the general principle that the merciful obtain mercy.

James 2:13

Context: Weaver references this verse to emphasize that mercy triumphs over judgment, as a general principle.

Matthew 18:23-35

Context: Weaver reads the parable of the unforgiving servant to illustrate that those who have received mercy should show mercy.

Hosea 4:1

Context: Weaver quotes this verse to show that a lack of mercy is a serious sin that brings God's controversy.

Luke 10:37

Context: Weaver references the Good Samaritan to reinforce the command to show mercy.

1 Kings 20:29-43

Context: Weaver recounts the story of Ahab sparing Ben-Hadad, which God condemned because He had appointed Ben-Hadad to destruction.

Deuteronomy 19:13, 21

Context: Weaver cites these verses to show that God commands no pity for murderers and those who deserve death.

Deuteronomy 7:1-2

Context: Weaver reads this passage where God commands Israel to utterly destroy the Canaanite nations and show no mercy.

Deuteronomy 23:6

Context: Weaver quotes this verse to show that God forbids seeking the peace or prosperity of the Ammonites and Moabites.

Romans 9:15-18

Context: Weaver reads this passage to demonstrate God's sovereignty in mercy and hardening, using Pharaoh as an example.

Exodus 34:6-7

Context: Weaver quotes this passage to show that while God is merciful, He will by no means clear the guilty.

Hosea 1:6

Context: Weaver references this verse where God declares He will no more have mercy on Israel.

Jeremiah 13:14

Context: Weaver quotes this verse where God says He will not pity, spare, or have mercy but destroy them.

Jeremiah 21:4-7

Context: Weaver reads this passage where God delivers Zedekiah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar without pity or mercy.

Zechariah 1:12

Context: Weaver references this verse to show that God had no mercy on Jerusalem for seventy years.

2 Thessalonians 3:10

Context: Weaver cites this verse as an example of not showing mercy to those who refuse to work.

Deuteronomy 2:30-34

Context: Weaver reads the account of the destruction of Sihon and his people, including women and children.

Deuteronomy 3:3-6

Context: Weaver reads the account of the destruction of Og and his people, including women and children.

1 Samuel 15:1-3

Context: Weaver reads God's command to Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites, including infants and animals.

Historical References

John Gill's commentary on Psalm 137:8-9

Context: Weaver quotes Gill to support the view that dashing infants against rocks was just retaliation and for the glory of divine justice.

Charles Spurgeon's commentary on Psalm 137:8-9

Context: Weaver quotes Spurgeon to argue that the overthrow of Babylon is a righteous work and that the avenger is happy in fulfilling it.

John Calvin's commentary on Psalm 18

Context: Weaver reads an extended quote from Calvin explaining that David's warfare typifies Christ's kingdom and that Christ will break His enemies with an iron rod.

Important Quotes

I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Significance: Weaver uses this quote from Romans 9:15 to establish God's absolute sovereignty in dispensing mercy, a foundational point for his argument that God is not always merciful.

Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Significance: Weaver highlights this imprecatory verse from Psalm 137 to argue that God blesses those who execute violent retribution against His enemies, even infants.

When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Significance: Weaver quotes 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 to depict Christ's second coming as a merciless judgment, reinforcing his theme of total warfare.

He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Significance: Weaver quotes Revelation 19:15 to emphasize the violent, wrathful nature of Christ's return, aligning with the sermon's theme of divine vengeance.

Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

Significance: Weaver uses 2 Corinthians 6:2 to urge immediate repentance, contrasting the present offer of mercy with the coming wrath.

Discussion Questions

How do we reconcile the biblical commands to show mercy with the commands to show no mercy?

Context: Weaver argues that there is a time for both, but this raises questions about how to discern when each applies.

In what ways does the concept of total warfare in the Old Testament challenge modern ethical sensibilities, and how should Christians respond?

Context: Weaver presents the destruction of women and children as divinely commanded, which may be difficult for contemporary believers to accept.

How does understanding God's sovereignty in mercy and hardening affect our view of evangelism and prayer?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that God is not obligated to be merciful, which could influence how we approach sharing the gospel.

What does it mean for Christ to return in flaming fire and wage total war, and how should this shape our daily lives?

Context: Weaver applies Psalm 18 to Christ's second coming, urging believers to live in light of this coming judgment.

How can we cultivate genuine gratitude for the mercy we have received without becoming self-righteous toward those who have not?

Context: Weaver calls for eternal thankfulness for mercy, but this could lead to pride if not balanced with humility.

Applications

Gratitude for Mercy

Summary: Believers should be eternally thankful for the mercy they have received, recognizing that God is not obligated to be merciful to anyone.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Those of us who have received mercy should be eternally thankful and grateful and give him honor and praise and thanksgiving.'

Urgency in Warning Others

Summary: Knowing that Christ will return in judgment should motivate believers to warn family, friends, and neighbors to flee from the coming wrath.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'That should give us an impetus to warn our family and our friends and our neighbors, as John the Baptist did when he said, "flee from the wrath to come."'

Seeking the Lord While He May Be Found

Summary: Weaver urges immediate repentance and turning to the Lord, as now is the time of mercy; when Christ returns, there will be only wrath.

Evidence: Weaver quotes 2 Corinthians 6:2 and says, 'We must seek Him, as Scripture says, while He may be found.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T02:22:22Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T15:50:42Z

Clean Transcript

Total Warfare

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

Psalm 18, and let's begin reading with verse 37, and we're going to read through verse 50. Psalm 18, verse 37. David says, "I have pursued mine enemies and overtaken them. Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I've wounded them that were not able to rise. They are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle and has subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of my enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me."
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"They cried, but there was none to save them, even to the Lord, but He answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I did cast them out as the dirt into the streets. Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people, and Thou hast made me the head of the heathen. A people whom I have not known shall serve me."
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"As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me. The stranger shall submit themselves to me. The stranger shall fade away and be afraid out of their close places. The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the people under me. He delivered me from mine enemies, yea, from thou lifted me up above those that rise up against me. Thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name."
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"Great deliverance giveth he to his king, and showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed forevermore." Now, let me just tell you very quickly, although I read all of those verses today, we're not going to cover those verses today. In fact, we won't even cover one of those verses today because I'm going to lay down some principles before we look at those verses in detail. So let me tell you where we are and how we got here in Psalm 18. We've been looking at this psalm, taking it verse by verse and point by point. And in verses 1 and 2, we saw David's determination where he said, "I will love the Lord."
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And of course, I pointed out how biblical love consists of an attitude, affection and action. Then we saw, secondly, David's distress in verses 3 through 6. God had him backed up against the wall, and he cried to the Lord, and he said, the Lord heard me and delivered me. And then we see David's deliverer in verses 7 through 19, and I showed you the pictures there that David gave, how God responded instantly and immediately, and how God came down to deliver him. Then in verses 20 through 28, we saw David's deportment or I titled that message David's deportment or how to act if we want to be delivered because David then behaved himself biblically and scripturally. And then in verses 29 through 33, we saw David's defense and how God empowered him, enabled him, to fight the battles that he did. And then in verse 34, we looked at one point that is David's discipline when he said he teaches my hands to war so that a bow of steel is broken in mine arms.
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So David learned the discipline of war. He learned the art of war from God himself. And then verses 35 through 36, we saw David's designation, that is his designation of praise for he gives God all the honor and glory for everything that God has done for him and everything that God has taught him. Now today we come to verse 37 and we begin what I'm going to call David's dominion.
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And I will make this statement and I hope that you will remember it because I will say it again. This dominion that David is able to exercise is a picture of the dominion of Jesus Christ. So as we read Psalm 18 verses 37 through 50, we saw that David defeated his enemies. Let me just tell you with God's help, the defeat of our enemies is absolutely certain. And as you read these verses, it's not that just David did in times past defeat his enemies.
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But it also speaks of a present and a continuous delivery. That is, we are delivered from our enemies and able to defeat them by the grace of God. When David was preserved in battle, it enabled him to continue to fight. Let me put it like this. The preservation of the saints of God bodes ill for their adversaries. It was true in David's case. It is certainly true in our case as well.
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So before I begin an exposition of these verses, I want to lay down some principles that most people have never grasped and never understood from the Bible. I would venture to say this, that most Christians have no earthly idea of the principles that I'm going to enunciate today. Because if you don't understand these principles, you're not going to understand what David means when he says, for instance, look in verse 37, "I pursued mine enemies and overtaken them."
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"Neither did I turn again till they were consumed." What did he do? He totally, completely destroyed his enemies. I can show you verse after verse. And unless you grasp the principles I'm going to enunciate, you're going to think that boy, David must have been a mean wicked man. No, he was not. The very first principle I want you to understand is this. Listen carefully, we must understand that there is a time for mercy and a time to show no mercy. We must understand that there was a time for mercy and a time to show no mercy.
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Now, let me begin by telling you what the unscriptural mentality is. It is the same unscriptural mentality that always offers an objection. And it says this, but are we not always to be merciful? And then it follows up with this question, is not God always merciful? And the answer to both questions is a resounding no. We're not always to be merciful, and God is not always merciful.
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Now, let me just point out the fact there are general principles that are taught in the Bible. One of those general principles is concerning mercy. And yes, generally speaking, we are to be merciful individuals. What did our Lord say in Matthew 5 and verse 7? He said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Certainly, we should be characterized and we should be known for mercy. James chapter 2 and verse 13 says, "For he shall have judgment without mercy that showed no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." So once again, we are to be merciful people. If you would hold Psalm 18, look if you would please in the book of Matthew chapter 18, and let me show you a principle, and once again this is a general principle, that we who have received mercy should indeed show mercy most of the time. Look at Matthew chapter 18 beginning there verse 23.
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Here's the passage that very easily grasp. Matthew chapter 18 verse 23. "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king which would take account of his servants. And when he begun to reckon, one was brought unto him who owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had in payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence. And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou ow'st. And the fellow servant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay thee all. And he would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt."
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"So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry and came and told unto their Lord all that was done. Then his Lord, after he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desirest me. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on my fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him."
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Now, notice what the application is. "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not everyone his brother their trespasses."
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Now, the principle is very simple. If we have received mercy, we should be merciful. If we receive forgiveness, we should be forgiving. That's a general principle. We should be characterized by mercy. Do you realize that one of the greatest crimes that God cried out against in the Old Testament was the crime and the sin of a lack of mercy? In Hosea chapter 4 and verse 1, here's what the Bible says. Listen carefully.
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"Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel. Now listen, for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land." God is entering into a controversy with Israel. Why? Here's why. "Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." Wow. God says, you want to get me angry? You want to get me upset? There's no truth. There's no mercy. There's no knowledge of God in the land.
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Everyone in this room knows the story of the Good Samaritan. Hmm? And you remember what our Lord said in Luke 10 in verse 37. He was making the application and He said this, "He that showed mercy on him, then said Jesus to the man, go and do thou likewise." In other words, mercy. We are to be characterized, generally speaking, as merciful individuals. Did you know that even the wicked kings of Israel were often known for their mercy?
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For instance, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Kings chapter 20. I want to show you this passage. Because from this passage I want to begin the point that I'm going to make. Notice 1 Kings chapter 20. There had been a war between Ahab the king of Israel, and you remember that Ahab was a wicked, ungodly reprobate. So there was this war between Ahab, king of Israel, and Ben-Hadad, king of Syria. In fact, Ben-Hadad had begun the war. He started the war. And Ahab defeated him. And the king and several of his men had fled for their lives. So look in 1 Kings chapter 20 and verse, let's begin reading there with verse 30. In fact, let's read verse 29. "And they pitched one over against the other seven days, and so it was that in the seventh day the battle was joined, and the children of Israel slew the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day." So 100,000 Syrian soldiers were killed in one day. Watch verse 30.
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"But the rest fled to Aphek and to the city, and there a wall fell upon 20,000 and 7,000 of the men that were left. And Ben-Hadad fled and came into the city and into an inner chamber." So now there have been 127,000 soldiers killed. Watch what his servants say to Ben-Hadad. "And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel."
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"Peradventure, he will save thy life." So they said, let's go begging for mercy. We've heard that the kings of Israel were merciful.
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Now let me ask you before we look at the rest of the story. I hope you know it. Did Ahab spare Ben-Hadad's life? Was Ahab merciful to Ben-Hadad? And the answer is yes. He not only allowed Ben-Hadad to live, he even entered into a covenant with Ben-Hadad. They parted friends. You say, isn't that wonderful? Isn't that a blessing? I mean, here's an old wicked king attacking another wicked king, and the one wicked king is merciful to the other, and he pardons him, and they part friends. Isn't that just peachy? And the answer is no.
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There's a very serious problem. What is the problem? The problem is God did not want Ahab to be merciful to Ben-Hadad. He wanted Ben-Hadad dead. What? Well, let's look at the story. Let's begin reading there with verse 34. Skip down to verse 34. "And Ben-Hadad said unto him, that is, Ahab, the cities which my father took from thy father I will restore. And thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So I made a covenant with him and sent him away." So then Ben-Hadad restored the city, named streets after Ahab. Isn't that wonderful? Watch verse 35.
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"But a certain man of the sons of the prophet said unto his neighbor, in the word of the Lord, smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite. Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him. Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him. So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face. As the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man unto me and said, Keep this man, and if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver."
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"And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be, thyself hast decided it. And he, the prophet, hastened and took the ashes away from his face. And the king of Israel discerned him, that he was one of the prophets. And he said unto him, Ahab, thus saith the Lord, because thou hast let go out of thine hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction. Therefore, thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. And the king of Israel went to his house heavy in displeasure, and came to Samaria."
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Now what did God say? God said you had mercy on someone I did not want you to have mercy on. You let him go. So your life for his life. Your people for his people.
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Now let me just simply point out. There are times that God demands that we be unmerciful and without pity. It is true generally speaking, we're to be characterized by mercy. But there are times that we are to be unmerciful and without pity. Let me show you some. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 19. Deuteronomy chapter 19. Deuteronomy 19. And notice, if you would please, verse 13. Look what God says concerning someone who's been guilty of premeditated murder. Notice Deuteronomy chapter 19 and verse 13. God says concerning the murderer, "Thine eyes shall not pity him."
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"But thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel that it may go with thee. Thine eye shall not pity him." If you read the context, what is God saying? God is saying you take that man and you deliver him to the avenger of blood that he may put to death. Don't have any pity on him. I don't have any pity on someone who's guilty of premeditated murder. Murder? If someone says, well, we'll give them life in prison. No, you don't give them life in prison. You put them to death.
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Skip down if you would, please. In verse 21, Deuteronomy 19, here he's speaking to the judges. Look what he says. Verse 18, "And the judges shall make diligent inquisition."
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Now verse 19, "Then shall you do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother, so shalt thou put evil away from among you, that those which remain shall hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more evil, such evil among you. And thine eye shall not pity, but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand and foot for foot." What is God saying? You are not to have pity and you're not to have mercy upon individuals who deserve death. Moreover, there are times when God demands.
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That we not be merciful towards his enemies. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 7. Deuteronomy 7. And look what God told the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 7, verses 1 and 2.
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Now, this may surprise you, but there are times when we are not to be merciful and we're to have absolutely no pity. Deuteronomy 7, verse 1. "When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land where thou goest to possess it, and has cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou. Note, and when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee, thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them." Isn't that amazing? God says you don't show mercy unto them. Look in Deuteronomy 23. Deuteronomy 23 and notice verse 6. Deuteronomy 23 verse 6. Here God is referring to the Ammonites and the Moabites. And notice what he says, Deuteronomy 23 and verse 6. God says "thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days forever." You're not to seek the peace of the Ammonites or the Moabites.
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Verse three, they're named. You're not to seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days forever.
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Now, let me ask you. If God forbids you to help someone, aid someone, support someone, encourage someone, translated, does that not mean you're to have no mercy upon them? Well, of course. He says don't seek their peace. Don't seek their prosperity. Don't try to help them. No mercy. Someone's going to say, oh, but Brother Weaver, there may be times in the Bible that Christians are supposed to be unmerciful and without pity, but certainly God is always merciful. No. No.
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Look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 9, and I want you to notice very plainly what the Apostle Paul teaches us. You've got to remember that God is absolutely sovereign. When we talk about God's sovereignty, it means this, that God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, and always as He pleases, because He's God. God owes no one anything at any time. His mercy is His own. His grace is His own. Look in Romans chapter 9, if you would, beginning there with verse 15. Look what God says to Moses. So we could quote this back from the book of Exodus, but here it is in Romans 9. Romans 9 verse 15, "For he said to Moses, here's what God said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." God says my mercy is mine. My compassion is mine. I will show my mercy on whomever I will be merciful to.
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I'll show my compassion on whomever I'll have compassion about. So it doesn't matter what a man does, whether he wills or whether he runs. No, no, no. It has nothing to do with the creature. It has everything to do with God.
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Now, if you want that explained, look in verse 17. After he says, "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." Here's the illustration. "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Are you watching? Therefore have thee mercy on whom ye will have mercy, and whom ye will he hardeneth." Did God have mercy on Pharaoh? No, he did not. Did God harden his heart? Oh yes. Did God harden the heart of Og and Sihon? Oh yes. Look in your Bibles back to Exodus 34 and verse 7. Just showing you that God does not have mercy all of the time. Look in Exodus chapter 34 verse 7.
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And then let me ask you a question concerning this passage. Exodus 34 verse 7. In fact, let's read verse 6 just so that you can see we're talking about the one true and the living God. Exodus 34 verse 6 "and the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed the Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth."
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Now look what he says in verse 7 "keeping mercy for thousands. Forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. Now watch. And that will by no means clear the guilty. Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children upon the children's children unto the third and the fourth generation." Wow. Let me ask you a question. If God will by no means clear the guilty. Are you listening? Here's my question. Is it not the guilty who need mercy?
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Well, of course it is. How does God deal with his enemies? Does he show them mercy? And the answer is no. He does not show them mercy. He destroys his enemies. Let me just give you a few quotes. You don't have to turn to these passages. But this is Hosea 1 in verse 6. Israel, you know, rebelled against God, went into idolatry, became God's enemy. So in Hosea 1 in verse 6, God says this concerning Hosea's wife. As she conceived again and bear a daughter and God said unto him, "Call her name Lo-ruhamah, for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, but I will utterly take them away." Wow. I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel. I will utterly take them away. In Jeremiah 13 in verse 14, God says this. Now listen carefully.
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"And I will dash them one against the other. Even the fathers and the sons together, said the Lord, I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but will destroy them." That's God speaking. God said I'll dash them together. I'll dash them to pieces. I will not pity, I will not have mercy, I will not spare, but I will destroy them. In Jeremiah 21 verse 7. Jeremiah 21 verse 7.
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In fact, let's turn there. It won't take you but a second. Look in Jeremiah 21 verse 7. Jeremiah 21, look in verse 7. This is a very interesting verse. In fact, look what God says. Let's begin reading with verse 4. Zedekiah was a wicked king of Judah. Look what God says. God is warning King Zedekiah through Jeremiah the prophet. In Jeremiah 21 in verse 4, "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands where you're fighting against Nebuchadnezzar, whom I've given this land." So he says, I'm going to turn back the weapons of war in your hands. Where would you fight against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls?
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"And I will assemble them into the midst of this city. And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger and in fury and in great wrath. And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast, they shall die of a great pestilence. And afterwards, saith the Lord, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life. And he, that is Nebuchadnezzar, shall smite them with the edge of the sword."
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"He shall not spare them, neither have pity nor have mercy." Someone says, oh, but Brother Weaver, that's Nebuchadnezzar not having pity or mercy. Oh, may I ask who it was that turned them over into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar? It was God. God did it so that they would not have mercy or pity shown to them. Is God always merciful? The answer is no. You don't have to turn to this passage, but in Zechariah 1 and verse 12. Zechariah 1 verse 12. Listen to this.
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"Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years," the seventy years Judah was in captivity. God had no mercy upon that city. That's what the Scripture says. Anyone who takes the Scripture seriously, anyone who believes the Word of God cannot say that God is always merciful. He is not always merciful. He is not merciful to those he dooms and destroys. If you say that doom and destruction are mercy, I don't want that kind of mercy. I can assure you. No, God destroys his enemies. Now listen carefully. Scripture does not demand that Christians be merciful to everyone. I cannot be merciful toward those who obstinately disobey the law of God. I can't. God forbids it.
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Let me give you a classic illustration. Here's a verse everyone in this room can quote. In 2 Thessalonians 3, verse 10, the Apostle Paul said, "even when we were with you, we commanded you, help me out now, that if any will not work, neither should he eat." So if I look around and here's a lazy, indolent sluggard who refuses to work in my vicinity and say, oh, that poor man, he must be hungry.
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Let me buy him something. No, God says don't do that. If he will not work, don't let him eat. Guess what? He'll either go hungry and get impetus enough to get up and go to work or he'll starve and die out.
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If he's not going to work, neither should he. All I'm trying to show you is this. There is a time for mercy. There's a time to have no mercy. Christians are not always to be merciful to everyone without exception. Nor is God always merciful to everyone. Here's the second principle. This one's going to be hard to swallow. But I'm going to show it to you. It's in the Bible. The second principle is there are times when total warfare, that is the complete annihilation of one's enemies, is lawful and right.
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Now, let me say that again. There are times when total warfare, that is, and I'm defining total warfare, the complete annihilation of one's enemies is lawful and right.
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Now, let me begin by once again giving you the general principle of Scripture. And you've got to understand there are always exceptions to general principles. I could give you illustration after illustration. For instance, "beat thy child with a rod. If thou beatest him with a rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt deliver his soul from hell." Does that mean that every child that's ever been whipped is going to heaven? Of course not. That's a general principle.
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But with the blessing of God upon that discipline, that child's most likely to be converted. But that doesn't mean that every child's ever been whipped or ever whipped consistently is going to end up in heaven. Doesn't mean that at all. I give you another general principle. "He that giveth a wife giveth a good thing, and obtaineth mercy of the Lord." I know some men that got a wife didn't get a good thing, and some women got a husband didn't get a good thing. You see, those are general principles. They're exceptions to them. A general principle of Scripture is this, that in warfare we do not harm women and children.
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I could even broaden it. In warfare, we do not fight against civilians. That's a general principle. Here's another general principle. You'll find it in the book of Deuteronomy. You don't make war against creation. You make war against God's enemies. You make war against sinners. You don't fight against God's creation. You don't just try to destroy the world. Do you remember in 1 Samuel chapter 15? And we'll look at it in just a minute. But God had sent King Saul to fight against the Amalekites.
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But when he got there, here the Kenites were mingled in and they were in the way. And God had not told Saul to fight against the Kenites. So in verse 6, Saul righteously and rightly and correctly told the Kenites, look, I've got no battle with you. But I do with the Amalekites.
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Now you need to get out of the way so you won't get hurt. And they got out of the way. Now that is right. Here's the general principle. Generally speaking, you don't make war against civilians and women and children. However, I'm going to show you. There are exceptions to that. There are exceptions in the fact that God at times told his people to destroy men, women, children, even the animals.
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Now let me point out and let me emphasize this. This total warfare is to be regulated and controlled and directed by God himself.
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Now, you'll remember I hope that you will remember, anyhow, that God told Saul, in fact, go back there. Let's turn there. Let's look in 1 Samuel. I tell you what, go to Deuteronomy 7 first. Let me just point this out again. I quoted it one time, but let me just point it out again, then we'll work our way over. Look at Deuteronomy chapter 7. Deuteronomy 7, verse 2. Let me read this verse again in light of this passage. Note what God says talking about all those enemies. "And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them unto thee, thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, neither shalt thou show mercy unto them." Note God said thou shalt totally or utterly, completely destroy them. So what is he talking about?
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He's talking about literally wiping out a group of people, men, women and children. Now to demonstrate that, go back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 2. Deuteronomy chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 30. Deuteronomy 2 verse 30. Deuteronomy 2 verse 30. "But Sihon, king of Heshbon, would not let us pass by him. Why? For the Lord thy God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate."
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Remember, he'll have mercy on whom he'll have mercy and whom he will he hardens. "For the Lord thy God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate that he might deliver him into thine hand as appeared this day. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee. Begin to possess it that thou mayest inherit his land. Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. And the Lord our God delivered him before us, and we smote him and his sons and all his people."
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"And we took all his cities at that time and utterly destroyed the men and the women and the little ones of every city. We left none to remain. Only the cattle we took for a prey in ourselves. And the spoil of the cities which we took." Now, they killed everything. Man, woman, child. May I ask you who delivered them into their hands? It was God. And God had said he wanted them totally annihilated.
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Now look in chapter three. At verse six. In fact, let's begin reading there verse three. Talking about Og now. "So the Lord our God delivered into our hands also Og the king of Bashan and all his people. And we smote him until none was left to him remaining. And we took all the cities at that time. There was not a city which we took not from them. Threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars, besides unwalled towns and a great many, and we utterly destroyed them as we did unto Sihon, king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children of every city." Who was it that delivered them into their hands? It was God Himself. Is there a time when total warfare is mandated by God? The answer is yes. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 15. 1 Samuel 15. And let's begin reading there with verse 1. 1 Samuel 15 verse 1.
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1 Samuel 15 verse 1. "Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel."
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"Now, therefore, hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord." Now, Samuel the prophet said, Saul, God has got a command for you. God has sent me to tell you something. Now, you listen to God's words. Now, I want you to look and see what God's words are. Verse 2, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." Now let me ask you something, folks. Is that total warfare?
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That is the annihilation of one. Who was it that sent Saul to do it? God did. May I ask you a question? How did Saul get in trouble for disobeying God, for allowing Agag and the best of the sheep and the best of the oxen to live? And God took the kingdom away from him. And God sent King Saul to death because of this.
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Now, I'm just pointing out the fact generally speaking, you can say in a time of war, yes, civilians are not to be harmed, women and children not to be harmed. But there comes a time when a people are so wicked and so vile and so ungodly, God says, destroy them all. Man, woman, child, ox, suckling ass, anything and everything.
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Now, let me show you another passage, I want you to turn to Psalm 137, and I told you this is a hard truth to grasp, it's not a hard truth to grasp, it's just hard to receive because we're not used to thinking like this. Boy, here's a passage that will blow your mind. Look in Psalm 137. Psalm 137.
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And I want us to begin reading there with verse 7. Psalm 137, verse 7. We're going to read through verse 9. Psalm 137. Look what the psalmist says. Here's a prayer. "Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof." The word rase means to destroy, to burn, to annihilate, to mutilate. So they're saying destroy it, destroy it, even to the foundation thereof, to whack Jerusalem off the face of the map. And then look what God says concerning these Babylonians, these Chaldeans, "O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed. Are you looking?"
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"Happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones." Now wait a minute. Verse 8, "O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones."
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Now, I'm not going to try to mince words. I'm not trying to be purposely vile, but I'll tell you this, what that means is they take the babies by the heels and beat their brains out against the rocks. That's basically what it means. And God says, happy shall he be that does that.
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Now, I want to give you a couple of comments, I want to show you how the old commentators understood this. I want to give you a quote by Gill and Spurgeon and listen carefully. Here's what John Gill says, commenting on Psalm 137 verses 8 and 9, "that takes the infants from their mother's breast or out of their arms and dashes out their brains against a rock, as the word signifies, which though it may seem a piece of cruelty, was but a just retaliation."
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"The Babylonians having done the same to Israel's children, and his foretold elsewhere should be done to theirs, Isaiah 13:16. Nor is this desired from a spirit of revenge, but for the glory of divine justice, and that such a generation of cruel creatures might be rooted out of the earth." Now listen to what he said, "and that such a generation of cruel creatures might be rooted out of the earth."
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Alice and I have some friends who live up north. And they're godly people. And for the longest, she was a school teacher taught in public schools. She had to quit. She had to get out because of the vileness and the wickedness. And she told us, you would not believe the language and the temperament and the immorality of first graders. First graders. She said, after having taught, I understand now why God would have the children wiped out as well, because the children begin at an early age, repeating the sins of the parents.
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I want you to listen to what Spurgeon said. Here it is. Spurgeon commented on Psalm 137 verses 8 and 9 said this, "the avenger would be fulfilling an honorable calling in overthrowing a power so brutal, so inhuman. Assyrian and Chaldean armies had been boastfully brutal in their conquest. It was meet that their conduct should be measured back into their own bosoms. No awards of punishment can be more unanswerably just than those which closely follow the Lex Talionis, that is the law of retribution, even to the letter."
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"Babylon must fall as she caused Jerusalem to fall, and her sack and slaughter must be such as she appointed for other cities. The patriot poet, sitting sorrowfully in his exile, finds a solace in the prospect of the overthrow of the emperor's city, which holds him in bondage, and he accounts Cyrus right happy to be ordained to such a righteous work. The whole earth would bless the conquest for ridding the nation of a tyrant. Future generations would call him blessed for enabling men to breathe again and for once more making liberty possible upon the earth."
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"We may rest assured that every unrighteous power is doomed to destruction, and that from the throne of God justice will be measured out to all those whose law is force, whose rule is selfishness, and whose policy is oppression. Happy is the man who shall help in the overthrow of the spiritual Babylon, which, despite its riches and power, is to be destroyed. Happier still shall he be, who shall see it sink like a millstone into the flood, never to rise again." What that spiritual Babylon is, none need inquire.
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There is but one city upon the earth which can answer to that name. That was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He says, happy shall be the man who engages in the overthrow of such wickedness and such tyranny. It is amazing to me that God says that the man or the men whom God ordains to overthrow tyranny and despotism when they destroy such a wicked empire shall be counted happy, shall be counted blessed, shall be extolled and celebrated because they are delivering people and the world from a grievous, wicked tormentor.
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Now, whether we like it or not, folks, the Scripture does teach number one, there's a time to be merciful and a time not to be merciful. The Scripture does teach that there is a time for total warfare where the annihilation of one's enemies is completely lawful and right. And here's the third principle that I want to enunciate today. I want you to go back to Psalm 18. Here's the third principle. We must remember that this passage Psalm 18 is directly applied to Jesus Christ.
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Thus, when he returns, are you listening? He will show no mercy to his enemies and he will wage total warfare against his enemies. This passage applies directly to Jesus Christ.
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Now, if you look in Psalm 18 and verse 2. And then turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 2. Psalm 18 verse 2. Hebrews chapter 2. In Psalm 18 verse 2, we read this. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust, my buckler and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." When you get to the book of Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 13, the Bible says this, "and again, I will put my trust in Him," quoting from Psalm 18 verse 2, and then Christ says, "Behold, I am the children which God has given me." In the context, this is talking about Jesus Christ. So Psalm 18 verse 2 is referring to Christ in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 13. Now turn back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 15 and then go back, if you would, to Psalm 18. Psalm 18. And if you look at verse 49. Psalm 18 verse 49. Psalm 18 verse 49, "therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord among the heathen and sing praise unto thy name."
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Then if you look at Romans 15 and verse 9, "that the Gentiles might glorify God for this mercy as it is written for this cause, I will confess to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy name." And once again, it has reference to Jesus Christ. In fact, let me just say this. If you look at Psalm 18, for instance, and verse 40, look at Psalm 18, verse 40.
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"Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I may destroy them that hate me." Look in verse 43. "Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people. Thou hast made me the head of the heathen. A people whom I have not known shall serve me." These verses speak of the dominion of Jesus Christ over and over throughout the New Testament. Wow. So when the scripture is telling us there's a time to have mercy and a time to show no mercy, and there is a time to wage total war against your enemies. That is not only true of David, it's only true in time and history of God's people. Generally, this passage is applied to Jesus Christ.
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Now, I want to read to you, listen carefully, please. It's a couple of pages, but it's well worth reading. This is John Calvin's commentary on Psalm 18, and especially these latter verses, which I'm going to deal with next week. But listen to this. Here's what Calvin says. "The point on which David insists so much is that showing from the effect or issue that all of his victories were to be traced to the favor of God."
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"And from this, it follows that his cause was good and just. God, no doubt, sometimes grants successes even to the ungodly and wicked, but at length He shows by the issue that He was all the while opposed to them and their enemy. It is His servants alone who experience such tokens of His favor as He showed towards David, and He intends by these to testify that they are approved and accepted by Him. We have to think that David here speaks too much after the manner of a soldier in declaring that he will not cease from the work of slaughter until he has destroyed all his enemies, or rather that he's forgotten the gentleness and meekness which ought to shine in all true believers and in which"
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"they should resemble their Heavenly Father. But as he attempted nothing without the command of God and as his affections were governed and regulated by the Holy Spirit, we may be assured that these are not the words of a man who was cruel and who took pleasure in shedding blood, but of a man who faithfully executed the judgment which God had committed to him. And indeed, we know that he was so distinguished for his gentleness of disposition as to abhor the shedding of a single drop of blood, except insofar as duty and the necessity of his office required."
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"We must therefore take into consideration David's vocation and also his pure zeal which was free from all perturbation of the flesh. Moreover, it should be particularly attended to that the psalmist here calls those as enemies whose indomitable and infatuated obstinacy merited and called forth such vengeance from God. Now, listen carefully as he that is David represented the person of Christ. He inflicted the punishment of death only on those who were so inflexible that they could not be reduced to order by the exercises of mild and humane authority."
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"And this of itself shows that there was nothing which he was more delighted than to pardon those who repented and reformed themselves. He thus resembles Christ, who gently allures men to repentance, but breaks in pieces with his iron rod those who obstinately resist him to the last. The sum of these verses is that David, as he fought under the authority of God, being chosen king by him and engaging in no undertaking without his warrant, was assisted by him and rendered invincible against the assaults of all his enemies and enabled even to discomfit vast and very powerful armies. Further, let us remember that under this type there is shadowed forth the invincible character and condition of the kingdom of Christ, who, trusting to be sustained by the power of God, overthrows and destroys his enemies, who in every encounter uniformly comes off victorious, and who continues king in spite of all the resistance which the world makes to his authority and power." Isn't that amazing? Do you realize that everything that Psalm 18 speaks of is speaking of Christ?
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Let me read one other little sentence from Calvin. He says this, "Although therefore Christ can only obtain a tranquil kingdom by fighting, let us not on that account be troubled. But let it be enough to satisfy us that the hand of God is always ready to be stretched forth for its preservation." Isn't that interesting that he said that Christ can only obtain a tranquil kingdom by fighting?
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Let me point something out to you. I just simply want to point out that when Christ returns, He will show no mercy. And he will wage total war against his enemies. Let me just ask that you turn to two passages, I want you to look in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 1 and Revelation, chapter 19. 2 Thessalonians, chapter 1 and Revelation 19, and we will look at 2 Thessalonians 1 first. 2 Thessalonians. Chapter 1.
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And notice, if you would, please. Let's begin reading there with verse 7, 2 Thessalonians 1 verse 7. Look what he says. "And to you who are troubled rest with us," in other words, if you're kind of anxious about what's happening and what's going on. And it looks like the wicked, they have the upper hand and looks like they're not going to be punished. He said, you were troubled. Rest with us. Here's something that you can rest in.
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"When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He shall come to be glorified in His saints and be admired in all them that believe, because our testimony among you was believed in that day." Notice, when our Lord comes back, He's going to come back in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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He came the first time as a lamb, the second time as a lion. Look in Revelation 19, if you would, beginning there with verse 1. Revelation 19, verse 1. "After these things, I heard a great voice of much people in heaven saying, hallelujah. Salvation and glory and honor and power to the Lord our God for true and righteous are His judgments. For He has judged the great whore who did corrupt the earth with her fornication and avenged the blood of His servants at her hand." And again, they said, hallelujah, and her smoke rose up forever and ever. Skip down to verse 11, "and I saw heaven open And behold, a white horse and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war."
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"His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns. And he had a name written that no man knew but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, with that he should smite the nations, and that he should rule them with a rod of iron. And he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh the name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."
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Need I remind you that when our Lord comes back it will be without mercy. And in total war against his enemies. The dominion that David was able to acquire by the grace and the mercy of God that we're seeing in Psalm 18 is a picture of that full and final dominion that God will exercise through his son, Jesus Christ.
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Now, let me make just a couple of applications. Here's the first one. Listen carefully. Since God is not obligated to be merciful. And since God is not merciful to everyone. Those of us who have received mercy should be eternally thankful and grateful and give him honor and praise and thanksgiving. What a special blessing it is to be a recipient of God's gracious favor. You think of the multitudes in this world that don't even know who Jesus Christ is, that have never seen the Word of God, never heard the Word of God. You think of the multitudes in this country, in America, that are totally, absolutely ignorant of Jesus Christ.
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And many of them are in churches. And yet God has had mercy upon you and upon me. It ought to make us eternally grateful and thankful. The second application is this. Since we know that when our Lord returns, He will return in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, we know that He will wage total war against His enemies and destroy them.
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That should give us an impetus to warn our family and our friends and our neighbors, as John the Baptist did when he said, "flee from the wrath to come."
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Lastly, Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 6 and verse 2, "Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation." Christ now speaks in tones of grace and mercy. But when He returns, He will speak in anger and in wrath. My question is this. Which had you rather hear Christ say? "Well done, my good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord," or "depart from me, ye wicked, I never knew you." We must seek Him, as Scripture says, while He may be found. We must call upon Him while He's near. Let the wicked forsake His way and the unrighteous man his evil thoughts and let him turn to the Lord. And what does Scripture say? He'll have mercy. But if you refuse to turn, there's no mercy, only wrath. There's a time to be merciful and a time to show no mercy. It's true with God. It's true with us. Let's pray.
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Father, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, that you would indeed help us and enable us more to grasp and understand these simple principles and truth and help us to see as we look at these verses next week the great dominion that we'll have through Jesus Christ our Lord that was typified in David's fighting and David's warfare. Lord, we pray today for those who've lost loved ones this past week and for those who are in serious condition it looks as if, Lord, they may die. Lord, we just pray for them and ask for Your grace and Your strength for the families and for the friends and for the neighbors. Help us, Lord, to be faithful to Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray, Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T02:22:22Z

Total Warfare

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver lays down principles for understanding David's dominion in Psalm 18:37-50, arguing that there is a time for mercy and a time for no mercy, and that total warfare—the complete annihilation of enemies—is sometimes lawful and right when commanded by God. He applies these principles to Christ's return, when He will show no mercy and wage total war against His enemies, urging believers to be grateful for mercy received and to warn others of coming wrath.

Introduction and Review of Psalm 18

Weaver reviews the previous sections of Psalm 18 and introduces the final section on David's dominion, noting that the defeat of our enemies is certain.

Psalm 18, and let's begin reading with verse 37, and we're going to read through verse 50. Psalm 18, verse 37. David says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 18:37-50

"I have pursued mine enemies and overtaken them. Neither did I turn again till they were consumed. I've wounded them that were not able to rise. They are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle and has subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of my enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me." "They cried, but there was none to save them, even to the Lord, but He answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I did cast them out as the dirt into the streets. Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people, and Thou hast made me the head of the heathen. A people whom I have not known shall serve me." "As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me. The stranger shall submit themselves to me. The stranger shall fade away and be afraid out of their close places. The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the people under me. He delivered me from mine enemies, yea, from thou lifted me up above those that rise up against me. Thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore, will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name." "Great deliverance giveth he to his king, and showeth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed forevermore."

Principle 1: A Time for Mercy and a Time for No Mercy

Weaver argues that while mercy is a general biblical principle, there are times when God commands no mercy, as seen in the case of Ahab and Ben-Hadad.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:7

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

Here's the passage that very easily grasp. Matthew chapter 18 verse 23.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:23-35

"Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king which would take account of his servants. And when he begun to reckon, one was brought unto him who owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had in payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence. And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou ow'st. And the fellow servant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay thee all. And he would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt."

Now what did God say? God said you had mercy on someone I did not want you to have mercy on. You let him go. So your life for his life. Your people for his people.

God Is Not Always Merciful

Weaver demonstrates from Scripture that God does not always show mercy, citing Romans 9, Exodus 34, and other passages where God destroys His enemies without pity.

Skip down if you would, please. In verse 21, Deuteronomy 19, here he's speaking to the judges. Look what he says. Verse 18, "And the judges shall make diligent inquisition." Now verse 19,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 19:13, 21

"Then shall you do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother, so shalt thou put evil away from among you, that those which remain shall hear and fear and shall henceforth commit no more evil, such evil among you. And thine eye shall not pity, but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand and foot for foot."

Now, this may surprise you, but there are times when we are not to be merciful and we're to have absolutely no pity. Deuteronomy 7, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 7:1-2

"When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land where thou goest to possess it, and has cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou. Note, and when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee, thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them."

Scripture Reading — Exodus 34:6-7

"and the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed the Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth."

Let me give you a classic illustration. Here's a verse everyone in this room can quote. In 2 Thessalonians 3, verse 10, the Apostle Paul said,

Scripture Reading — 2 Thessalonians 3:10

"even when we were with you, we commanded you, help me out now, that if any will not work, neither should he eat."

So if I look around and here's a lazy, indolent sluggard who refuses to work in my vicinity and say, oh, that poor man, he must be hungry.

Principle 2: Total Warfare Is Sometimes Lawful and Right

Weaver explains that total warfare, including the destruction of women and children, is sometimes commanded by God, as in the cases of Sihon, Og, and the Amalekites.

1 Samuel 15 verse 1.

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 15:1-3

"Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel." "Now, therefore, hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord."

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 15:1-3

"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass."

Now let me ask you something, folks. Is that total warfare?

Psalm 137 and the Destruction of Babylon's Children

Weaver examines Psalm 137:8-9, where the psalmist pronounces blessing on those who dash Babylon's infants against rocks, citing commentators Gill and Spurgeon to justify this as divine retribution.

Principle 3: Psalm 18 Applied to Christ's Return

Weaver shows that Psalm 18 is directly applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and that Christ will show no mercy and wage total war at His second coming.

Christ's Return in Flaming Fire

Weaver cites 2 Thessalonians 1 and Revelation 19 to illustrate that Christ will return in vengeance, executing total warfare against His enemies.

Applications: Gratitude and Warning

Weaver applies the message by urging gratitude for mercy received and a call to warn others of the coming wrath, ending with an invitation to seek the Lord while He may be found.

Total Warfare

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	42508925460
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification: Walking With God
Genre	Sermon
Date	2008-02-24
Dictation Name
Book	Book 134: Romans: Law, Obedience, and Sanctification - Volume 1 — Chapter 9
Source Timed Segments	97

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of Psalm 18: Weaver reviews the previous sections of Psalm 18 and introduces the final section on David's dominion, noting that the defeat of our enemies is certain.
Principle 1: A Time for Mercy and a Time for No Mercy: Weaver argues that while mercy is a general biblical principle, there are times when God commands no mercy, as seen in the case of Ahab and Ben-Hadad.
God Is Not Always Merciful: Weaver demonstrates from Scripture that God does not always show mercy, citing Romans 9, Exodus 34, and other passages where God destroys His enemies without pity.
Principle 2: Total Warfare Is Sometimes Lawful and Right: Weaver explains that total warfare, including the destruction of women and children, is sometimes commanded by God, as in the cases of Sihon, Og, and the Amalekites.
Psalm 137 and the Destruction of Babylon's Children: Weaver examines Psalm 137:8-9, where the psalmist pronounces blessing on those who dash Babylon's infants against rocks, citing commentators Gill and Spurgeon to justify this as divine retribution.
Principle 3: Psalm 18 Applied to Christ's Return: Weaver shows that Psalm 18 is directly applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and that Christ will show no mercy and wage total war at His second coming.
Christ's Return in Flaming Fire: Weaver cites 2 Thessalonians 1 and Revelation 19 to illustrate that Christ will return in vengeance, executing total warfare against His enemies.
Applications: Gratitude and Warning: Weaver applies the message by urging gratitude for mercy received and a call to warn others of the coming wrath, ending with an invitation to seek the Lord while He may be found.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

God is not always merciful

Weaver argues that the common assumption that God is always merciful is unbiblical; God hardens hearts and destroys enemies without pity.

Weaver says, 'Is not God always merciful? And the answer to both questions is a resounding no.' He cites Romans 9:15-18 and Jeremiah 13:14.

Total warfare is sometimes commanded by God

Weaver contends that the complete annihilation of enemies, including civilians, is lawful when God commands it, as in the Old Testament conquests.

Weaver reads Deuteronomy 2:34 and 1 Samuel 15:3, emphasizing that God ordered the destruction of men, women, and children.

Psalm 137 justifies retributive violence

Weaver uses Psalm 137:8-9 to argue that God blesses those who execute violent retribution against His enemies, citing commentators Gill and Spurgeon.

Weaver reads, 'Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones,' and quotes Gill: 'was but a just retaliation.'

Psalm 18 is a prophecy of Christ's dominion

Weaver demonstrates that Psalm 18 is directly applied to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 2:13 and Romans 15:9, indicating that its warfare language describes Christ's return.

Weaver says, 'This passage Psalm 18 is directly applied to Jesus Christ.' He cross-references Psalm 18:2 with Hebrews 2:13.

Christ will return in flaming fire to take vengeance

Weaver argues that Christ's second coming will be characterized by merciless judgment and total war, as described in 2 Thessalonians 1 and Revelation 19.

Weaver reads 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9: 'in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who know not God,' and Revelation 19:11-16.

Believers must warn others of coming wrath

Weaver concludes that the certainty of Christ's judgment should compel believers to urgently warn the lost to flee from wrath.

Weaver says, 'That should give us an impetus to warn our family and our friends and our neighbors... flee from the wrath to come.'

Scripture References

Psalm 18:37-50: Weaver reads the entire passage as the text for the sermon, which describes David's pursuit and destruction of his enemies.
Matthew 5:7: Weaver cites this verse to show the general principle that the merciful obtain mercy.
James 2:13: Weaver references this verse to emphasize that mercy triumphs over judgment, as a general principle.
Matthew 18:23-35: Weaver reads the parable of the unforgiving servant to illustrate that those who have received mercy should show mercy.
Hosea 4:1: Weaver quotes this verse to show that a lack of mercy is a serious sin that brings God's controversy.
Luke 10:37: Weaver references the Good Samaritan to reinforce the command to show mercy.
1 Kings 20:29-43: Weaver recounts the story of Ahab sparing Ben-Hadad, which God condemned because He had appointed Ben-Hadad to destruction.
Deuteronomy 19:13, 21: Weaver cites these verses to show that God commands no pity for murderers and those who deserve death.
Deuteronomy 7:1-2: Weaver reads this passage where God commands Israel to utterly destroy the Canaanite nations and show no mercy.
Deuteronomy 23:6: Weaver quotes this verse to show that God forbids seeking the peace or prosperity of the Ammonites and Moabites.
Romans 9:15-18: Weaver reads this passage to demonstrate God's sovereignty in mercy and hardening, using Pharaoh as an example.
Exodus 34:6-7: Weaver quotes this passage to show that while God is merciful, He will by no means clear the guilty.
Hosea 1:6: Weaver references this verse where God declares He will no more have mercy on Israel.
Jeremiah 13:14: Weaver quotes this verse where God says He will not pity, spare, or have mercy but destroy them.
Jeremiah 21:4-7: Weaver reads this passage where God delivers Zedekiah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar without pity or mercy.
Zechariah 1:12: Weaver references this verse to show that God had no mercy on Jerusalem for seventy years.
2 Thessalonians 3:10: Weaver cites this verse as an example of not showing mercy to those who refuse to work.
Deuteronomy 2:30-34: Weaver reads the account of the destruction of Sihon and his people, including women and children.
Deuteronomy 3:3-6: Weaver reads the account of the destruction of Og and his people, including women and children.
1 Samuel 15:1-3: Weaver reads God's command to Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites, including infants and animals.

Historical References

John Gill's commentary on Psalm 137:8-9: Weaver quotes Gill to support the view that dashing infants against rocks was just retaliation and for the glory of divine justice.
Charles Spurgeon's commentary on Psalm 137:8-9: Weaver quotes Spurgeon to argue that the overthrow of Babylon is a righteous work and that the avenger is happy in fulfilling it.
John Calvin's commentary on Psalm 18: Weaver reads an extended quote from Calvin explaining that David's warfare typifies Christ's kingdom and that Christ will break His enemies with an iron rod.

Important Quotes

I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Weaver uses this quote from Romans 9:15 to establish God's absolute sovereignty in dispensing mercy, a foundational point for his argument that God is not always merciful.

Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Weaver highlights this imprecatory verse from Psalm 137 to argue that God blesses those who execute violent retribution against His enemies, even infants.

When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Weaver quotes 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 to depict Christ's second coming as a merciless judgment, reinforcing his theme of total warfare.

He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Weaver quotes Revelation 19:15 to emphasize the violent, wrathful nature of Christ's return, aligning with the sermon's theme of divine vengeance.

Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

Weaver uses 2 Corinthians 6:2 to urge immediate repentance, contrasting the present offer of mercy with the coming wrath.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How do we reconcile the biblical commands to show mercy with the commands to show no mercy?

[Context]

Weaver argues that there is a time for both, but this raises questions about how to discern when each applies.

[Question]

In what ways does the concept of total warfare in the Old Testament challenge modern ethical sensibilities, and how should Christians respond?

[Context]

Weaver presents the destruction of women and children as divinely commanded, which may be difficult for contemporary believers to accept.

[Question]

How does understanding God's sovereignty in mercy and hardening affect our view of evangelism and prayer?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that God is not obligated to be merciful, which could influence how we approach sharing the gospel.

[Question]

What does it mean for Christ to return in flaming fire and wage total war, and how should this shape our daily lives?

[Context]

Weaver applies Psalm 18 to Christ's second coming, urging believers to live in light of this coming judgment.

[Question]

How can we cultivate genuine gratitude for the mercy we have received without becoming self-righteous toward those who have not?

[Context]

Weaver calls for eternal thankfulness for mercy, but this could lead to pride if not balanced with humility.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T15:50:42Z