Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ

When Is It Right To Fight - 1

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2006-12-08

Synopsis: In this sermon, John Weaver begins a study of Deuteronomy 20, emphasizing that war is an assumed reality in Scripture and that God's people must engage in battle with faith, not fear. He argues that numerical odds and superior weaponry are inconsequential when the Lord is with His people, and that the presence, power, and protection of God are the decisive advantages in warfare. The sermon critiques humanistic peace ideologies and calls believers to trust in God's sovereignty rather than being intimidated by enemy strength.

[John Weaver] Deuteronomy chapter 20, and let's read the entire chapter. I will not be preaching from the entire chapter this morning because very obviously I will not have time, but Lord willing, we'll take up next week where we leave off today. Deuteronomy chapter 20, beginning with verse 1. When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them. For the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. It shall be when you are come nigh unto the battle, that the priests shall approach and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, you approach this day unto battle against your enemies.

[John Weaver] Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." And the officer shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? Let him also go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man take her. And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return into his house, lest his brethren's heart fain as well as his heart.

[John Weaver] And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead them. When thou comest not into a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. It shall be, if it make thee an answer of peace and open unto thee. Then it shall be that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. If it be that they will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it. And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword. But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself, and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine which the Lord thy God hath given thee. Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations, but of the cities of these people which the Lord thy God doth give thee for inheritance.

[John Weaver] Thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth, but thou shalt utterly destroy them, namely the Hittites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee." that they teach you not to do after all their abominations which they have done unto their gods, so should you sin against the Lord your God. When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, and making war against it, to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them. For thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down, for the tree of the field is a man's life to employ them in the siege. Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat Thou shalt destroy and cut them down, and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city, and maketh war with thee until it be subdued."

[John Weaver] Lord willing, today I'm going to bring the seventh in this series that I've been dealing with on the biblical doctrine of war, or when is it right to fight. You remember the very first message I brought you was entitled, God is a Warrior. I showed you not only from the Old Testament, but the New Testament, the general motif of Scripture is that God is a man of war. In fact, that's what Scripture says in Exodus chapter 15 in verse 3, the Lord is a man of war, that is his name. And then of course in Numbers chapter 21, I showed you where all of those wars in the Bible are referred to as the wars of the Lord. And then in lessons number 2 through 5, I dealt with the concept of holy war and showed you over and over in the Bible where war is to be sanctified and used in accordance with the word of God. Very quickly I showed you how the cause must be holy, the camp must be holy, the army must be holy, the leader must be holy, and I dealt with the whole survey or the whole scope of war as holy.

[John Weaver] I dealt with the concept of just war, and showing you that just wars are not only defensive wars, but sometimes they are offensive wars as well. So you cannot make a blanket statement that all defensive wars are just, because I showed you in the Bible where some defensive wars were wrong, nor can you make a blanket statement that all offensive wars are right, or wrong, because I showed you in Scripture where many offensive wars were right as well.

[John Weaver] Now today we're going to look in Deuteronomy chapter 20. Deuteronomy chapter 20 is a chapter that is wholly given to the laws of the militia, or the laws of military life. Incidentally, you're going to see this, just a smattering in this chapter, but it is a truth that is clearly taught throughout the Bible, I want you to understand that there was a militia in the Old Testament. There was a militia in Israel. We'll see, like I say, just a smattering of it in this chapter. But in this chapter, God is giving some laws, some rules, and some regulations then concerning the militia. Now, the interesting thing is, and I'm going to dwell on this today, actually the first four verses, But all the wars against Israel's enemies were to be carried out in faith, without fear, and in absolute and total reliance and dependence upon the might and the power of God.

[John Weaver] Now, the Scripture teaches that we are to be a people of faith in every situation and in every circumstance, in every area and in every sphere. There is never a time when the principle of faith ceases to function. I want you to hold Deuteronomy 20. We'll be preaching from there, but look in your Bibles to the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3. Ecclesiastes chapter 3. Ecclesiastes, then you have the Song of Solomon and then the book of Isaiah. Okay? Ecclesiastes chapter 3, and let's begin reading there with verse 1.

[John Weaver] Note what the Word of God says. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Now look what he says. There's a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted, a time to kill and a time to heal. A time to break down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to cast away. A time to rend and a time to sew. A time to keep silence and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time of war and a time of peace.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you a question. Are we to exercise the principle of faith in a time of peace? Yes. Well, what about in the time of war? Very obviously yes. Are we to exercise faith when there is a time to build? Yes. Are we to exercise faith when there is a time to tear down? Yes. Are we to exercise faith when there is a time to heal? Yes. Are we to exercise faith when there is a time to kill? And the answer is yes. In other words, times and circumstances do not change the principle of faith. We are to exercise faith in times of war and times of turmoil, as well as in times of peace and prosperity.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to turn back in your Bible to Deuteronomy chapter 20, and let me begin And let's look at verse 1. In fact, we'll spend a little while just on this verse. God says, For thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a multitude and a people more than thou. Be not afraid of them, for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

[John Weaver] Now, number one, listen carefully. Fighting and wars are assumed facts and realities in Scripture. Let me say that again. Fighting and war are assumed facts and realities in Scripture. Note carefully verse 1. Look what the Bible says. When thou goest out against thine enemies to battle. Not if, or not maybe, or might, but when. In other words, it is an assumed fact that there is going to be a time to fight and a time to war. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Deuteronomy chapter 21 and verse 10. Deuteronomy 21 and verse 10. Note again what God says. When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies.

[John Weaver] Not if, but when you go. In other words, it's just an assumed fact and a stated reality that there's going to be a war, sooner or later. Look in your Bibles, Deuteronomy 23, verse 9. Deuteronomy 23, verse 9. When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. But note what he says, when the host goeth forth. So it's not a maybe, it's not an if, there is going to be a time of war. And so God says, when the host goeth forth.

[John Weaver] Now it is mere fantasy and wishful thinking to indulge in ideology that envisions a world of peace without war, a world with perfect harmony, when the world as a whole hates Jesus Christ and rejects the Prince of Peace and will have absolutely nothing to do with him. Socialism, Communism, Utopianism, the United Nations, are wicked, deceitful failures from their inception. There is no such thing, nor can there be any such thing, as a humanistic, God-denying, Christ-rejecting, Bible-hating peace. It's impossible.

[John Weaver] Hold Deuteronomy 20 and look in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Isaiah 57, Isaiah 57, and let's read verses 20 and 21. I've just made the statement that socialism, communism, utopianism, United Nations are all wicked failures from their inception. Why? Because they want a peace or a social order without God, without Christ, without the Bible. God says in Isaiah chapter 57, verse 20, But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose water cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." There can be no peace. Most of you probably have read George Orwell's novel, 1984.

[John Weaver] If you haven't, I challenge you to do so. But you know what George Orwell says concerning the future without Christ? He says, in his idea of showing what Communism, Socialism, Utopianism, United Nationism, if you want to see the outcome of that, he said, if you want to know what the future is, then you imagine a boot stamping in the human face forever. That's all the world can offer. Totalitarianism, tyranny. So without Christ, there can be no peace.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn over in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Matthew, chapter 10. You see, so many people misunderstand even the consequence of the first coming of Christ. Let me show you the inevitable consequence of the coming of Christ. In Matthew, chapter 10, Note, if you would please, beginning there with verse 34, Matthew 10, verse 34. Christ says, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's foe shall be they of his own household.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a question. Did Jesus Christ purposefully come just to stir up trouble? Well, of course not. Very obviously, He did not do that. He did come to bring peace. In fact, don't you remember at His birth the angel saying, peace on earth and goodwill toward men? But this passage deals with the consequence of the coming of Christ. Because Christ has come, and because Christ is who He says He is, There are going to be some that believe and some who do not believe. There will be some that receive and some that reject, and consequently there will be fighting and war based upon the very person of Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 24. Matthew 24.

[John Weaver] Now this ought to forever erase from your mind the success of the United Nations, or the League of Nations, or anything of that caliber. Notice Matthew 24, verse 6. Look what our Lord says. You shall hear wars and rumors of wars. See that you be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but be it is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines and pestilence and earthquakes in diverse places.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you a question. Can you stop the earthquakes from coming? Can you stop the famines and the pestilences? No. Well, neither can you stop the wars and the fighting. It's a fact of life. It is a reality of life. And in the Bible, fighting and wars are assumed facts.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you that one of our main problems in Christendom, and when I use that term, I'm talking about all professing Christians. That does not mean that they are real, genuine Christians. But at least they profess that and they go to churches, etc. One of the main problems of Christendom is that most professing Christians are not Biblicists. By that I mean they really do not believe the Bible.

[John Weaver] You see, instead of acknowledging, as the Bible teaches, the absolute and total depravity of man, And because of this total depravity, there is in man a perverted tendency toward dominion orientation that will always lead to tyranny and totalitarianism. And also, if they believe the Bible, they would have to confess that the natural tendency of man is to play God. And the only way he can play God is by ruling over other people and forcing them to do what he would have them to do. That way he expresses his, quote-unquote, Godhood. But you see, the truth is, instead of most people believing that, what they want to believe is this, that somehow that man is naturally good, and that somehow man is automatically just simply going to get along and work for the good of other people. Man does not do that by nature. Man looks out for number one by nature. He who is without Christ is only interested in himself.

[John Weaver] Let me put it rather succinctly for you. Christianity and Communism have nothing in common. Christianity and Socialism have nothing in common. and humanism are diametrically opposed to each other. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Corinthians 6. And let's begin reading there with verse 14. Look carefully at this passage, 2 Corinthians 6, and begin there with verse 14. And in order to grant you a little understanding in our time, I want you to substitute a word every now and then, you'll see what I'm talking about, just to make it a little more where our minds can comprehend it. 2 Corinthians 6, verse 14, God says, be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

[John Weaver] For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? Now, wait a minute. Did that grab you? What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? Absolutely none. Watch verse 14, and what communion hath light with darkness? None. What concord or union hath Christ with Belial, or the devil? Or what party hath he that believeth with an infidel? None. What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? None. For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

[John Weaver] Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and you shall be my sons and my daughters, saith the Almighty." Now, let's go back. You could ask what concord or agreement have Christ with Communism, or with Humanism, or with Utopianism, or United Nationism, and the answer is absolutely none.

[John Weaver] In other words, here you have opposites. Opposites cannot get along. Do you remember what he said in the book of Amos? Can two walk together except they be agreed? Let me ask you a question. I know that America is not a Christian nation now. But let's suppose that America was, once again, a Christian nation. What kind of concord or agreement could we have with Russia or China?

[John Weaver] Now, we'd be willing to send missionaries to them. We'd be willing to help them in the gospel. But we have no union, nothing with them that's even going to grab the basis for a union. That's why out of all the treaties that the United States and Russia have made together, Russia has never kept one. Not one! There's no agreement. There's no basis for agreement. You see, one of the fallacies of our foreign aid to other countries is we expect these other countries to act like we act, and have our values, and have our system of beliefs, when in reality they don't. When in the world would you continually send millions and millions of tons of wheat to India for the rats and the cows? Do you realize most of the foreign aid that goes to India, the rats, the bugs, and the cow beat, you know why?

[John Weaver] They won't kill a rat. They won't kill a cow. They won't kill a boat. Why? Because of their belief in reincarnation. I mean, that could be their dream. And so the cows just walk in there, eat what they want, defecate where they want to defecate. I'm serious. The rats eat what they want to eat. What agreement do we have with the people like that? We have absolutely nothing in common.

[John Weaver] And so the truth is this, folks. The Bible teaches that here is an antithesis, here is an opposition between Christ and the devil, or between truth and error, between light and darkness. There is no agreement, there can be no agreement, and watch this, inevitably, consequently, sometimes, sooner or later, light and darkness are going to clash. Truth and error are going to get into it. And so fighting and wars are an assumed fact and an assumed reality in Scripture.

[John Weaver] Now, look back in your Bibles, Deuteronomy chapter 20. Let's go a little bit further. Let me show you something that should be exciting to you in this passage. He says in Deuteronomy 20 verse 1,"...when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seeth horses and chariots and a people more than thou." Okay. Here's the second point. Numerical odds are inconsequential to a people of faith. Numerical odds are inconsequential to a people of faith. He says when you go out and see a people more than thou, be not afraid.

[John Weaver] Let me ask you a question. If you're about to fight a battle, And all of a sudden you realize you're outnumbered three to one. Does that give you just a little cause for concern, a little tinge of uncertainty? Well, Collins says, when you see that there's a greater multitude than you, don't be afraid. Don't let it bother you. Don't let it upset you. Now listen to me. Odds only count.

[John Weaver] when you live by sight. Odds only count when you live by sight. They do not count when you live by faith. I forget which general it was, I want to say Patton, but I don't think it was Patton. Some of you men can help me probably remember, but they went to sleep one night And this morning when they woke up, the Chinese that absolutely, totally surrounded them, had them pinned in on every side. And the general got his men together, he said, fellas, I've got some good news for you. We've got the enemy right where we want them. They can't get away.

[John Weaver] And by the way, the Americans won. Now, the point I'm trying to make is odds only count when you live by sight. Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles, first of all, to Numbers chapter 13. Hold Deuteronomy 20. We're coming right back there. So look in Numbers chapter 13. And let's begin reading there with verse 26. Numbers 13, verse 26. Everyone should know this story. Here are where the spies are searching out Canaan land. And they went and came to Moses and to Aaron and to all the congregation of the children of Israel and to the wilderness of Paran and to Kadesh and brought back word unto them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him and said, We came into the land where the thou sentest us and surely it floweth with milk and honey and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled and very great, and moreover we saw the children of Anak there, which were the children of the giants, by the way.

[John Weaver] The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south, and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites dwell in the mountains, and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and by the coast of Jordan. Now here's the report they're giving. Watch it. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it. But the man that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we are. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land through which we have gone to search it is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof, and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.

[John Weaver] And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, so we were in their sight. Now let's continue reading. Look in chapter 14, verse 1. And all the children lifted up their voice and cried, and the people wept at night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, and the whole congregation sung them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we have died in this wilderness?

[John Weaver] You better be careful what you say, folks. Wherefore hath the Lord brought us into this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return to Egypt? And they said one to another, let us make us a captain, let us return into Egypt. Then Moses, Neron, fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel, and Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, ripped their clothes, and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we pass through to search it is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give unto us a land which spoils with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us.

[John Weaver] Fear them not." But all the congregation bathed stone with stones, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before the children of Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be ere they believe me? For all the signs which I have shown them, I will smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they." Look what God said. God said, I'll kill them right now. Look in verse 22. Because all those men who have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness have tempted me, now these ten times and have not hearkened to my voice, surely they shall not see the land which I swear unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoke me see it.

[John Weaver] But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, hath followed me wholly or fully. Him will I bring into the land whereunto he went, and his seed shall possess it." Now, what in the world is the difference between Joshua and Caleb and all the people? Well, the fact is, Joshua and Caleb were looking in faith. The others were looking by sight. You say, how do you know that? Well, let me show you.

[John Weaver] Turn very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter 4. Look in Hebrews, chapter 4, and let's read verses 1 and 2. I'm going to show you how none of those Old Testament people that came out of Egypt had any faith except Joshua and Caleb in this instance. Watch this, Hebrews 4 verse 1. Let us therefore fear, lest the promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, that is, those people, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." So he said it was not mixed with faith.

[John Weaver] So here they are standing there saying, man, we're grasshoppers in the sight of these people. Look at the multitude of them. Man, they've got cities walled up in the heavens. Who are we? What can we do? They were looking by sight and not by faith. Turn in your Bibles, if you would, to 1 Samuel, chapter 13. 1 Samuel, chapter 13. Let's read verses 4 through 7. Show you a comparison, or I should say, really, a contrast. 1 Samuel, chapter 13, beginning with verse 4. It's going to be both a contrast and a comparison, I suppose. 1 Samuel 13, verse 4, and all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had an abomination with the Philistines, and the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. Now, if you look back in verse 3, and Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba. Now the Bible doesn't say right here that anybody is with him, but do you remember on one instance he and his armored bearer went down and slew a whole number of the Philistines?

[John Weaver] Just the two of them. What was Jonathan's idea? His idea was there's so many of them I can't miss, bless God. So he was fighting by faith, but look at the other people. Watch this contrast now. Verse 5. And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people as if sandwiches on the sea, shore in multitude. And they came up and pitched and mick-mashed eastward from Beth-Avon. And when the men of Israel saw that they were in a strike, the people were distressed. Then the people did hide themselves in caves and in thickets and in rocks and in the high places and pits.

[John Weaver] And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan. They left the land.

[John Weaver] Now who was fighting by faith and who was living by sight? You see, there's a difference. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to chapter 13 of 2 Chronicles. Turn right over to 2 Chronicles, chapter 13. And notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 1. Here's a better contrast. 2 Chronicles, chapter 13, in verse 1.

[John Weaver] Now in the 18th year, King Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem, and his mother's name also was Micaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. Now remember, Jeroboam is king over Israel. Abijah is king over Judah. And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even 400,000 chosen men. So he's got 400,000. Jeroboam also set the battle of Nerea against him with 800,000 chosen men being mighty men of valor.

[John Weaver] So the odds are two to one. Watch this. And Abijah stood up upon the mountains of Mariam, which is Mount Aphraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel. Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? Yet Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon, the son of David, has risen up and has rebelled against his Lord. And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender and could not withstand them. And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David? And you be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves which Jeroboam made for you for gods. Have you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and have made your priest after the manner of the nations of other lands, so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are

[John Weaver] no gods? But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. And the priests who minister unto the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business, and they burn unto the Lord every morning and every evening, burn up sacrifices and sweet incense. The showbread also set they in order upon the pure table, and the candlestick of gold, with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken them." Watch now, and behold, God Himself is with us for our captain, and His priesthood sounding trumpets to cry, alarm against you, O children of Israel. Fight you not against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper.

[John Weaver] Now, what's it by you doing? You may outnumber us two to one. That doesn't matter. We're serving God. We're obedient to God. God is on our side in this, but don't start anything with us. Jeroboam wouldn't listen, and if you'll read the rest of the chapter, you'll find that Elijah beat the daylights out of him when the odds were two to one. Now, turn right over to 2 Chronicles chapter 14.

[John Weaver] Very quickly, look at verse 9. Here's another contrast. And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a thousand, thousand and three hundred chariots. So here we have a hundred thousand soldiers, a thousand times, that would be a million, wouldn't it? A million soldiers and three hundred chariots and came into Nereshah. Then Asa went out against him and they set the battle array in the valley of Zephathah at Nereshah. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, watch now, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. And Asa, and the people that were with him, them unto Gera, and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the Lord and before his host, and they carried away very much small."

[John Weaver] So here are a million soldiers with 300 chariots that came out against little Judah. And what did Asa say? Asa said, Lord, it doesn't matter to you whether you save with many or with few. Help us, O We have no power against this great host, and God discomfited the Ethiopians. So you see, here is someone who's fighting by faith.

[John Weaver] Now, it is absolutely amazing how easily we are distracted and discouraged when we see a vast multitude arrayed against us. What we've got to understand is this, numerical odds are inconsequential to God. You know, we sit here and think, man, goodness, look how many are in the CFR and the Bilderbergers and all this other, look how many are for the New World War. It doesn't matter. The numerical odds are inconsequential.

[John Weaver] Did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ took seven loaves and two small fishes and fed 5,000 men, not counting the women and the children? Seven loaves and two small fishes.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note something else, if you would, please. I want you to note that Gideon took 300 men and took the entire army of the Midianites. So, the odds are just simply inconsequential. You see, the people of faith do not see how great the multitudes are. The people of faith do not see how great the enemy is. The people of faith see how sovereign, how powerful, and how great God is. So the very fact is, numerical odds are just simply inconsequential. So what does God say?

[John Weaver] Look back in your Bibles, Deuteronomy chapter 20. Deuteronomy chapter 20 says, When thou goest to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them. So very obviously God says, don't be afraid. So numerical odds are just basically inconsequential. Look, if you would, back in verse 1 again for the third point. He says,"...when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid." Now, wait a minute. Let's go back. He says,"...when thou seest horses and chariots." Here's the third point. Superior armaments. are inconsequential to the people of faith. Superior armaments are inconsequential to the people of faith. I want to point out particularly, he says, horses and chariots. Now, horses and chariots were normally offensive weaponry. It is true that you could use horses and chariots defensively. But whenever you have a vast number of horses and chariots, very obviously it was for an aggressive purpose. That's why, like in Deuteronomy chapter 17, in Israel, the kings were limited in the amount of horses that they could have.

[John Weaver] Let me put this another way. Horses and chariots in Bible days were the tanks and the bombers of our day. Horses and chariots were the heavy artillery.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to watch this third point. I've just pointed out that numerical odds are inconsequential to the people of faith. Now he's telling us that superior armament is inconsequential to the people of faith. Many people become disillusioned when they see or hear or learn of vastly superior weaponry that the enemy possesses. And you know what the attitude is? How can we fight? How can we even survive?

[John Weaver] Much less hope of defeating them. Look at the weapons that they possess. Well, if you are a person of faith, the superior armaments are meaningless. I want you to stop and think with me. When Israel left Egypt, they were pursued by Pharaoh and his army with chariots and horses. Remember, Israel had been a bunch of slaves. Probably they had very few weapons, if any. They just left.

[John Weaver] But let me ask you a question. What good are chariots? and horses at the bottom of the Red Sea. What happened to that vastly superior weaponry that Egypt had? Well, all Israel did was stand on the other side, wait for God to drown them all, and then wait for the tide to wash up some of those weapons on the shore, and they armed themselves then. They had that vastly superior weaponry then, basically.

[John Weaver] You see what I'm saying? I mean, it's literally inconsequential to the people of faith. May I remind you that the Amorites in Joshua chapter 10 had great armaments as well. But guess what the Bible says? The Bible says that God rained stones down upon them from heaven. In all probability, hail stones. What good are weaponry Or what good is weaponry when it just simply will not work? I get so tickled every time I read through the Bible. It seemingly delights God to use little things to overthrow the great things of his enemies. You know what God used to run a lot of the Amorites out of the land? Hornets. He used hornets. He got rid of a lot of people just by sending hornets after them. He said, Brother Weaver, I've never run from a nest of hornets.

[John Weaver] I'll guarantee you, you will. In fact, you will leave the area if they infest that area. I can assure you, they can move you. Affirmatives are meaningless. God can use a teeny tiny little insect and that's it. I get tickled every time I think how he brought the Philistines down. You remember how the Philistines smoked Israel, captured the Ark of the Covenant, put it in the house of Dagon, their god, and then God just smoked the Philistines with hemorrhoids. Many say that's hemorrhoids. I don't know. But I got news for you, whatever it was, it brought them to their knees, and they were willing to send the Ark of God back. You see, we say, oh man, look at the weapons they have. Listen, that is absolutely meaningless.

[John Weaver] Do you realize the well-trained and properly equipped and heavily protected Goliath fell before the slingshot of David? Did you say that here we have a superior weapon in the hand of Goliath? Very obviously. Do you know what happened? To Samson? The Philistines encompassed him about. Here he is up on top of a little rise, and they've surrounded him. And Samson just says, Lord help me, and he reaches down and picks up the jawbone of an ass, and he slays a thousand well-armed, well-trained, Philistine soldiers. And God says, hey, don't let superior weaponry upset you. Do not get terrified.

[John Weaver] I can take care of that. You see, folks, the truth is this slingshots and jawbones are sufficient weaponry when they are empowered by and blessed by God. Listen to me. I had rather have a bow and arrow with the blessing and the power of God upon it than I had a modern-day machine gun and a million rounds of ammunition without the blessing and the power of God.

[John Weaver] You say, Brother Weaver, man, they've got mortars and howitzers and AK-47s. Listen, a little single.22 blessed by the power of God is sufficient to get whatever you need if there's a war. You see what I'm saying? And listen, if God is not going to bless you, and if God is not going to put his power upon you, no amount of weaponry that you have is going to defeat the enemy, you see?

[John Weaver] Nothing is to daunt or to deter the people of faith. Numerical odds are inconsequential. Superior weaponry is inconsequential. Therefore, look at what our text says. Look in Deuteronomy 20, verse 1. When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou, what's the next statement? Be not afraid. Don't be afraid. I want you to please hold Deuteronomy 20, but I want you to turn to 2 Timothy 1. I can quote this passage, but I want you to see it in black and white with your eyes. Look in 2 Timothy 1, verse 7. Here it is, 2 Timothy 1, verse 7.

[John Weaver] has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Did you hear what I just read? God has not given us a spirit of fear. He says, be not afraid of Him. What did our Lord say? Our Lord said, we're not to fear a man. He says, don't be afraid of the man who throws your body into the prison or your body into the fire. He said, don't fear man. He said, I'll tell you who you shall fear. You fear him who after he has killed you has the power to cast your body into the fire. You fear God. Don't fear man.

[John Weaver] So the Bible is telling us basically then that numerical odds are inconsequential. Superior weaponry is inconsequential. I know so many Christians. They don't want to read anything that's going on because it just upsets them. Oh, that makes them so nervous. It frustrates them. They can't eat. They can't sleep. Hogwash, folks. We're to be people of faith. We're to know what our enemies are up to. We're to know what they have. We're to know what they're doing.

[John Weaver] But it should not sadden us. It shouldn't bother us. For greater is he that is us than he that is in the world. Why should I be upset at what they've got when I know what I have? And I'm not talking about physical weapons. I'm talking about God, who is the sovereign over everything. A few hornets can take care of the enemy. A few hemorrhoids can bring them to their knees. He's got plenty of ways.

[John Weaver] Watch thirdly, if you are fourthly with me, the major difference or the stated advantage. The major difference, or the stated advantage.

[John Weaver] Now I'm going to show you why numerical odds are inconsequential. Why superior armaments is inconsequential. Here's the major difference, or the stated advantage, for the people of faith. He says, When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them. Here is the stated advantage, for the Lord thy God is with thee. Someone has said, God and man, or God and one man, make a majority.

[John Weaver] Now, I suppose that's true. But I can tell you something that's even truer. God is a majority in himself. He really doesn't even need one man. But he says, here's the difference. The Lord, by God, is with thee. Now, first of all, I want you to note the principle stated, the Lord thy God is with thee. This phrase refers to the presence and to the blessings of God.

[John Weaver] Hold Deuteronomy 20, but look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 33. Look what Moses says. Exodus chapter 33, verse 13, Exodus 33, verse 13, he says, Now therefore I pray thee, pray to God, now therefore I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, here's what God said to Moses, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, Moses said unto God, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Did you get that? God said, Moses, don't be afraid, I'm going to be with you. Moses said, Lord, if you're not going to be with me, don't carry me anywhere. Now, watch if you would in the book of Joshua chapter 1 and verse 5. See, it was Joshua who carried the people across the Jordan into the land and conquered the land.

[John Weaver] And look what God says, Joshua 1 and verse 5. God tells Joshua, there shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. Hey, man, what a statement. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. Why? Here's why. As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." So here is the principle stated, the Lord thy God is with thee.

[John Weaver] It has reference to his presence and to his blessing. Now, look back to Deuteronomy chapter 20, because I want you to see the principle applied in verses 2 through 4. Because the truth of verse 1 is a reality, here is what happens in verse 2. And it shall be when you are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people." Now, let me tell you who this priest was. The priest was not necessarily the high priest. But the term applied to this priest is the anointed of the battle. It was a priest like Phinehas in Numbers chapter 31. who went with the armies and gave the blessing of God upon the army. So here is the priest now before the battle, the anointed one of the battle, he comes and he speaks to the people and look what he says in verse 3. And he shall say to them, hear O Israel, you approach this day into battle against your enemies.

[John Weaver] In other words, you're fixing to have a fight. There's going to be a war.

[John Weaver] Now look at this Command, let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be terrified because of them." Now, watch that. He is applying this principle, first of all, practically. He says there's to be no fainting, there's to be no fear. There's to be no trembling, there's to be no terror. How can the priest stand there and look at men who are about to go into battle, and he says, don't faint, don't fear, don't tremble, don't be terrified?

[John Weaver] How can he say that? Well, look in verse 4. For the Lord your God is He that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note, he's just made a practical statement, now he makes a personal application in verse 4. Here is the presence of God, he says, for the Lord your God is he that goeth with you. You have God with you. Note secondly, here is the power of God to fight for you against your enemies. And thirdly, here is the protection of God to save you. Now folks, if God's people, fighting God's battles in a righteous cause, living righteously, have the presence and the power and the protection of God, what more do you need?

[John Weaver] You follow what I'm saying? That's sufficient.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to just read something to you. This book is just full of tremendous materials. This is America's Providential History, written by Stephen McDowell and Mark Belley, I guess is how you pronounce his name. I was in a conference with Stephen McDowell, and he gave me this book, and it's a tremendous little book, but I want to read to you just very quickly about the evacuation of Long Island.

[John Weaver] You remember during the War for Independence how our forefathers constantly and consistently cried to God for his divine and miraculous intervention. Many of you have probably heard about this, but you have not been acquainted with all the details. Listen very carefully. One incident revealing God's supernatural care occurred shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in August of 1776. During fighting on Long Island, British General Howe and his army of 32,000 men had inflicted heavy losses upon the American army

When Is It Right To Fight - 1

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	1017111610208
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ
Genre	Sermon
Date	2006-12-08
Dictation Name
Book	Book 036: When Is It Right To Fight — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	80

Formatted Transcript

Introduction to Deuteronomy 20 and the Series

Weaver introduces Deuteronomy 20 as a chapter on laws of the militia and reviews previous messages in the series on the biblical doctrine of war, including God as a warrior and the concept of holy war.

Deuteronomy chapter 20, and let's read the entire chapter. I will not be preaching from the entire chapter this morning because very obviously I will not have time, but Lord willing, we'll take up next week where we leave off today. Deuteronomy chapter 20, beginning with verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 20:2-4

"When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them. For the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. It shall be when you are come nigh unto the battle, that the priests shall approach and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, you approach this day unto battle against your enemies." "Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."

And the officer shall speak unto the people, saying, "What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? Let him also go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man take her." And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, "What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return into his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart."

"And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead them. When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. It shall be, if it make thee an answer of peace and open unto thee, then it shall be that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. If it be that they will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it. And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword. But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself, and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies which the Lord thy God hath given thee. Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations, but of the cities of these people which the Lord thy God doth give thee for inheritance."

"Thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth, but thou shalt utterly destroy them, namely the Hittites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee, that they teach you not to do after all their abominations which they have done unto their gods, so should you sin against the Lord your God. When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them. For thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down, for the tree of the field is man's life to employ them in the siege. Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down, and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued."

Lord willing, today I'm going to bring the seventh in this series that I've been dealing with on the biblical doctrine of war, or when is it right to fight. You remember the very first message I brought you was entitled, "God is a Warrior.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 15:3

" I showed you not only from the Old Testament, but the New Testament, the general motif of Scripture is that God is a man of war. In fact, that's what Scripture says in Exodus chapter 15 and verse 3, "

The Lord is a man of war, that is his name." And then of course in Numbers chapter 21, I showed you where all of those wars in the Bible are referred to as the wars of the Lord. And then in lessons number 2 through 5, I dealt with the concept of holy war and showed you over and over in the Bible where war is to be sanctified and used in accordance with the word of God. Very quickly I showed you how the cause must be holy, the camp must be holy, the army must be holy, the leader must be holy, and I dealt with the whole survey or the whole scope of war as holy.

Fighting and War Are Assumed Realities in Scripture

The Bible uses 'when' not 'if' regarding battle, indicating war is inevitable. Humanistic peace efforts like socialism and the United Nations fail because they reject God, and there can be no peace for the wicked.

Now I want you to turn back in your Bible to Deuteronomy chapter 20, and let me begin. And let's look at verse 1. In fact, we'll spend a little while just on this verse. God says, "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them, for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."

Now, number one, listen carefully. Fighting and wars are assumed facts and realities in Scripture. Let me say that again. Fighting and war are assumed facts and realities in Scripture. Note carefully verse 1. Look what the Bible says. "When thou goest out against thine enemies to battle." Not if, or not maybe, or might, but when. In other words, it is an assumed fact that there is going to be a time to fight and a time to war. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Deuteronomy chapter 21 and verse 10. Deuteronomy 21 and verse 10. Note again what God says. "When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 21:10

Not if, but when you go. In other words, it's just an assumed fact and a stated reality that there's going to be a war, sooner or later. Look in your Bibles, Deuteronomy 23, verse 9. Deuteronomy 23, verse 9. "When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing." But note what he says, "when the host goeth forth." So it's not a maybe, it's not an if, there is going to be a time of war. And so God says, "when the host goeth forth."

Now it is mere fantasy and wishful thinking to indulge in ideology that envisions a world of peace without war, a world with perfect harmony, when the world as a whole hates Jesus Christ and rejects the Prince of Peace and will have absolutely nothing to do with him. Socialism, Communism, Utopianism, the United Nations, are wicked, deceitful failures from their inception. There is no such thing, nor can there be any such thing, as a humanistic, God-denying, Christ-rejecting, Bible-hating peace. It's impossible. Hold Deuteronomy 20 and look in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Isaiah 57, Isaiah 57, and let's read verses 20 and 21. I've just made the statement that socialism, communism, utopianism, United Nations are all wicked failures from their inception. Why? Because they want a peace or a social order without God, without Christ, without the Bible. God says in Isaiah chapter 57, verse 20,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 57:20-21

"But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose water cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

There can be no peace. Most of you probably have read George Orwell's novel, 1984.

If you haven't, I challenge you to do so. But you know what George Orwell says concerning the future without Christ? He says, in his idea of showing what Communism, Socialism, Utopianism, United Nationism, if you want to see the outcome of that, he said, if you want to know what the future is, then you imagine a boot stamping in the human face forever. That's all the world can offer. Totalitarianism, tyranny. So without Christ, there can be no peace.

Now, I want you to turn over in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Matthew, chapter 10. You see, so many people misunderstand even the consequence of the first coming of Christ. Let me show you the inevitable consequence of the coming of Christ. In Matthew, chapter 10, note, if you would please, beginning there with verse 34, Matthew 10, verse 34. Christ says,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:34-36

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's foe shall be they of his own household."

Now, let me ask you a question. Did Jesus Christ purposefully come just to stir up trouble? Well, of course not. Very obviously, He did not do that. He did come to bring peace. In fact, don't you remember at His birth the angel saying, "peace on earth and goodwill toward men"? But this passage deals with the consequence of the coming of Christ. Because Christ has come, and because Christ is who He says He is, there are going to be some that believe and some who do not believe. There will be some that receive and some that reject, and consequently there will be fighting and war based upon the very person of Jesus Christ.

Look in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 24. Matthew 24. Now this ought to forever erase from your mind the success of the United Nations, or the League of Nations, or anything of that caliber. Notice Matthew 24, verse 6. Look what our Lord says.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 24:6-7

"You shall hear wars and rumors of wars. See that you be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines and pestilence and earthquakes in diverse places."

Now let me ask you a question. Can you stop the earthquakes from coming? Can you stop the famines and the pestilences? No. Well, neither can you stop the wars and the fighting. It's a fact of life. It is a reality of life. And in the Bible, fighting and wars are assumed facts.

Now, let me show you that one of our main problems in Christendom, and when I use that term, I'm talking about all professing Christians. That does not mean that they are real, genuine Christians. But at least they profess that and they go to churches, etc. One of the main problems of Christendom is that most professing Christians are not Biblicists. By that I mean they really do not believe the Bible.

Numerical Odds Are Inconsequential to a People of Faith

God commands Israel not to fear even when outnumbered. Examples from Numbers 13-14, 1 Samuel 13, and 2 Chronicles 13-14 show that faith, not sight, determines victory, as odds only matter when living by sight.

And so the truth is this, folks. The Bible teaches that here is an antithesis, here is an opposition between Christ and the devil, or between truth and error, between light and darkness. There is no agreement, there can be no agreement, and watch this, inevitably, consequently, sometimes, sooner or later, light and darkness are going to clash. Truth and error are going to get into it. And so fighting and wars are an assumed fact and an assumed reality in Scripture.

Now, look back in your Bibles, Deuteronomy chapter 20. Let's go a little bit further. Let me show you something that should be exciting to you in this passage. He says in Deuteronomy 20 verse 1, "...when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou." Okay. Here's the second point. Numerical odds are inconsequential to a people of faith. Numerical odds are inconsequential to a people of faith. He says when you go out and see a people more than thou, be not afraid.

Let me ask you a question. If you're about to fight a battle, and all of a sudden you realize you're outnumbered three to one, does that give you just a little cause for concern, a little tinge of uncertainty? Well, God says, when you see that there's a greater multitude than you, don't be afraid. Don't let it bother you. Don't let it upset you. Now listen to me. Odds only count

when you live by sight. Odds only count when you live by sight. They do not count when you live by faith. I forget which general it was, I want to say Patton, but I don't think it was Patton. Some of you men can help me probably remember, but they went to sleep one night and this morning when they woke up, the Chinese that absolutely, totally surrounded them, had them pinned in on every side. And the general got his men together, he said, "Fellas, I've got some good news for you. We've got the enemy right where we want them. They can't get away."

And by the way, the Americans won. Now, the point I'm trying to make is odds only count when you live by sight. Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles, first of all, to Numbers chapter 13. Hold Deuteronomy 20. We're coming right back there. So look in Numbers chapter 13. And let's begin reading there with verse 26. Numbers 13, verse 26. Everyone should know this story. Here are where the spies are searching out Canaan land. "And they went and came to Moses and to Aaron and to all the congregation of the children of Israel and to the wilderness of Paran and to Kadesh and brought back word unto them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him and said, We came into the land where thou sentest us and surely it floweth with milk and honey and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled and very great, and moreover we saw the children of Anak there," which were the children of the giants, by the way.

"The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south, and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites dwell in the mountains, and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and by the coast of Jordan." Now here's the report they're giving. Watch it. "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we are. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land through which we have gone to search it is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof, and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature."

"And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, so we were in their sight." Now let's continue reading. Look in chapter 14, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 14:1-10

"And all the children lifted up their voice and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness!"

You better be careful what you say, folks.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 14:1-10

"Wherefore hath the Lord brought us into this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return to Egypt? And they said one to another, let us make us a captain, let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel, and Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, ripped their clothes, and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we pass through to search it is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give unto us a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us."

"Fear them not." But all the congregation bade stone them with stones, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before the children of Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, "How long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shown them? I will smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they." Look what God said. God said, I'll kill them right now. Look in verse 22. "Because all those men who have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness have tempted me, now these ten times and have not hearkened to my voice, surely they shall not see the land which I swear unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoke me see it."

"But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, hath followed me wholly or fully. Him will I bring into the land whereunto he went, and his seed shall possess it." Now, what in the world is the difference between Joshua and Caleb and all the people? Well, the fact is, Joshua and Caleb were looking in faith. The others were looking by sight. You say, how do you know that? Well, let me show you. Turn very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter 4. Look in Hebrews, chapter 4, and let's read verses 1 and 2. I'm going to show you how none of those Old Testament people that came out of Egypt had any faith except Joshua and Caleb in this instance. Watch this, Hebrews 4 verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 4:1-2

"Let us therefore fear, lest the promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, that is, those people, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."

So he said it was not mixed with faith.

So here they are standing there saying, man, we're grasshoppers in the sight of these people. Look at the multitude of them. Man, they've got cities walled up in the heavens. Who are we? What can we do? They were looking by sight and not by faith. Turn in your Bibles, if you would, to 1 Samuel, chapter 13. 1 Samuel, chapter 13. Let's read verses 4 through 7. Show you a comparison, or I should say, really, a contrast. 1 Samuel 13, verse 4, "And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines, and the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal." Now, if you look back in verse 3, "And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba." Now the Bible doesn't say right here that anybody is with him, but do you remember on one instance he and his armorbearer went down and slew a whole number of the Philistines?

Just the two of them. What was Jonathan's idea? His idea was there's so many of them I can't miss, bless God. So he was fighting by faith, but look at the other people. Watch this contrast now. Verse 5. "And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude. And they came up and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-Aven. And when the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, the people were distressed. Then the people did hide themselves in caves and in thickets and in rocks and in the high places and pits."

"And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan." They left the land. Now who was fighting by faith and who was living by sight? You see, there's a difference. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to chapter 13 of 2 Chronicles. Turn right over to 2 Chronicles, chapter 13. And notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 1. Here's a better contrast. 2 Chronicles, chapter 13, in verse 1.

"Now in the 18th year, King Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem, and his mother's name also was Micaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam." Now remember, Jeroboam is king over Israel. Abijah is king over Judah. "And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even 400,000 chosen men." So he's got 400,000. "Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with 800,000 chosen men, being mighty men of valor."

So the odds are two to one. Watch this. "And Abijah stood up upon the mountains of Zemaraim, which is Mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel. Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? Yet Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon, the son of David, has risen up and has rebelled against his Lord. And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender and could not withstand them. And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David? And you be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves which Jeroboam made for you for gods. Have you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and have made your priest after the manner of the nations of other lands, so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are

no gods? But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. And the priests who minister unto the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business, and they burn unto the Lord every morning and every evening, burnt sacrifices and sweet incense. The showbread also set they in order upon the pure table, and the candlestick of gold, with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken them." Watch now, "and behold, God Himself is with us for our captain, and His priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you, O children of Israel. Fight you not against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper."

Now, what's Abijah doing? You may outnumber us two to one. That doesn't matter. We're serving God. We're obedient to God. God is on our side in this, but don't start anything with us. Jeroboam wouldn't listen, and if you'll read the rest of the chapter, you'll find that Abijah beat the daylights out of him when the odds were two to one. Now, turn right over to 2 Chronicles chapter 14.

Very quickly, look at verse 9. Here's another contrast. "And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a thousand thousand and three hundred chariots." So here we have a thousand thousand soldiers, that would be a million, wouldn't it? A million soldiers and three hundred chariots "and came unto Mareshah. Then Asa went out against him and they set the battle array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, watch now, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. And Asa, and the people that were with him, pursued them unto Gerar, and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the Lord and before his host, and they carried away very much spoil."

So here are a million soldiers with 300 chariots that came out against little Judah. And what did Asa say? Asa said, "Lord, it doesn't matter to you whether you save with many or with few. Help us, O Lord." We have no power against this great host, and God discomfited the Ethiopians. So you see, here is someone who's fighting by faith.

Now, it is absolutely amazing how easily we are distracted and discouraged when we see a vast multitude arrayed against us. What we've got to understand is this, numerical odds are inconsequential to God. You know, we sit here and think, man, goodness, look how many are in the CFR and the Bilderbergers and all this other, look how many are for the New World Order. It doesn't matter. The numerical odds are inconsequential. Did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ took seven loaves and two small fishes and fed 5,000 men, not counting the women and the children? Seven loaves and two small fishes.

Now, I want you to note something else, if you would, please. I want you to note that Gideon took 300 men and took the entire army of the Midianites. So, the odds are just simply inconsequential. You see, the people of faith do not see how great the multitudes are. The people of faith do not see how great the enemy is. The people of faith see how sovereign, how powerful, and how great God is. So the very fact is, numerical odds are just simply inconsequential. So what does God say?

Superior Armaments Are Inconsequential to the People of Faith

Horses and chariots represent advanced weaponry, but God can overcome them through miraculous means (e.g., Red Sea, hailstones, hornets, hemorrhoids, David's sling, Samson's jawbone). Trust in God's power surpasses any human weapon.

Look back in your Bibles, Deuteronomy chapter 20. Deuteronomy chapter 20 says, "When thou goest to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them." So very obviously God says, don't be afraid. So numerical odds are just basically inconsequential. Look, if you would, back in verse 1 again for the third point. He says, "...when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid." Now, wait a minute. Let's go back. He says, "...when thou seest horses and chariots." Here's the third point. Superior armaments are inconsequential to the people of faith. Superior armaments are inconsequential to the people of faith. I want to point out particularly, he says, "horses and chariots." Now, horses and chariots were normally offensive weaponry. It is true that you could use horses and chariots defensively. But whenever you have a vast number of horses and chariots, very obviously it was for an aggressive purpose. That's why, like in Deuteronomy chapter 17, in Israel, the kings were limited in the amount of horses that they could have.

Let me put this another way. Horses and chariots in Bible days were the tanks and the bombers of our day. Horses and chariots were the heavy artillery. Now I want you to watch this third point. I've just pointed out that numerical odds are inconsequential to the people of faith. Now he's telling us that superior armament is inconsequential to the people of faith. Many people become disillusioned when they see or hear or learn of vastly superior weaponry that the enemy possesses. And you know what the attitude is? How can we fight? How can we even survive?

Much less hope of defeating them. Look at the weapons that they possess. Well, if you are a person of faith, the superior armaments are meaningless. I want you to stop and think with me. When Israel left Egypt, they were pursued by Pharaoh and his army with chariots and horses. Remember, Israel had been a bunch of slaves. Probably they had very few weapons, if any. They just left.

But let me ask you a question. What good are chariots and horses at the bottom of the Red Sea? What happened to that vastly superior weaponry that Egypt had? Well, all Israel did was stand on the other side, wait for God to drown them all, and then wait for the tide to wash up some of those weapons on the shore, and they armed themselves then. They had that vastly superior weaponry then, basically. You see what I'm saying? I mean, it's literally inconsequential to the people of faith. May I remind you that the Amorites in Joshua chapter 10 had great armaments as well. But guess what the Bible says? The Bible says that God rained stones down upon them from heaven. In all probability, hail stones. What good is weaponry when it just simply will not work? I get so tickled every time I read through the Bible. It seemingly delights God to use little things to overthrow the great things of his enemies. You know what God used to run a lot of the Amorites out of the land? Hornets. He used hornets. He got rid of a lot of people just by sending hornets after them. He said, "Brother Weaver, I've never run from a nest of hornets."

I'll guarantee you, you will. In fact, you will leave the area if they infest that area. I can assure you, they can move you. Armaments are meaningless. God can use a teeny tiny little insect and that's it. I get tickled every time I think how he brought the Philistines down. You remember how the Philistines smoked Israel, captured the Ark of the Covenant, put it in the house of Dagon, their god, and then God just smoked the Philistines with hemorrhoids. Many say that's hemorrhoids. I don't know. But I got news for you, whatever it was, it brought them to their knees, and they were willing to send the Ark of God back. You see, we say, oh man, look at the weapons they have. Listen, that is absolutely meaningless.

Do you realize the well-trained and properly equipped and heavily protected Goliath fell before the slingshot of David? Did you say that here we have a superior weapon in the hand of Goliath? Very obviously. Do you know what happened to Samson? The Philistines encompassed him about. Here he is up on top of a little rise, and they've surrounded him. And Samson just says, "Lord help me," and he reaches down and picks up the jawbone of an ass, and he slays a thousand well-armed, well-trained, Philistine soldiers. And God says, hey, don't let superior weaponry upset you. Do not get terrified.

I can take care of that. You see, folks, the truth is this: slingshots and jawbones are sufficient weaponry when they are empowered by and blessed by God. Listen to me. I had rather have a bow and arrow with the blessing and the power of God upon it than I had a modern-day machine gun and a million rounds of ammunition without the blessing and the power of God. You say, "Brother Weaver, man, they've got mortars and howitzers and AK-47s." Listen, a little single .22 blessed by the power of God is sufficient to get whatever you need if there's a war. You see what I'm saying? And listen, if God is not going to bless you, and if God is not going to put his power upon you, no amount of weaponry that you have is going to defeat the enemy, you see?

The Stated Advantage: The Lord Thy God Is with Thee

The presence, power, and protection of God are the decisive factors. The priest's exhortation in Deuteronomy 20:2-4 applies this truth practically, assuring that God fights for His people.

Now I'm going to show you why numerical odds are inconsequential. Why superior armaments are inconsequential. Here's the major difference, or the stated advantage, for the people of faith. He says, "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them." Here is the stated advantage, "for the Lord thy God is with thee." Someone has said, God and man, or God and one man, make a majority.

Now, I suppose that's true. But I can tell you something that's even truer. God is a majority in himself. He really doesn't even need one man. But he says, here's the difference. The Lord thy God is with thee. Now, first of all, I want you to note the principle stated, "the Lord thy God is with thee." This phrase refers to the presence and to the blessings of God.

Hold Deuteronomy 20, but look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 33. Look what Moses says. Exodus chapter 33, verse 13, Exodus 33, verse 13, he says,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 33:13-15

"Now therefore I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is thy people."

And he said, here's what God said to Moses,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 33:13-15

"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."

And he said unto him, Moses said unto God,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 33:13-15

"If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence."

Did you get that? God said, Moses, don't be afraid, I'm going to be with you. Moses said, Lord, if you're not going to be with me, don't carry me anywhere. Now, watch if you would in the book of Joshua chapter 1 and verse 5. See, it was Joshua who carried the people across the Jordan into the land and conquered the land.

And look what God says, Joshua 1 and verse 5. God tells Joshua,

Scripture Reading — Joshua 1:5

"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life."

Hey, man, what a statement. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. Why? Here's why.

Scripture Reading — Joshua 1:5

"As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

So here is the principle stated, "the Lord thy God is with thee."

It has reference to his presence and to his blessing. Now, look back to Deuteronomy chapter 20, because I want you to see the principle applied in verses 2 through 4. Because the truth of verse 1 is a reality, here is what happens in verse 2. "And it shall be when you are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people." Now, let me tell you who this priest was. The priest was not necessarily the high priest. But the term applied to this priest is the anointed of the battle. It was a priest like Phinehas in Numbers chapter 31, who went with the armies and gave the blessing of God upon the army. So here is the priest now before the battle, the anointed one of the battle, he comes and he speaks to the people and look what he says in verse 3. "And he shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you approach this day into battle against your enemies."

In other words, you're fixing to have a fight. There's going to be a war. Now look at this command, "Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be terrified because of them." Now, watch that. He is applying this principle, first of all, practically. He says there's to be no fainting, there's to be no fear. There's to be no trembling, there's to be no terror. How can the priest stand there and look at men who are about to go into battle, and he says, don't faint, don't fear, don't tremble, don't be terrified?

How can he say that? Well, look in verse 4. "For the Lord your God is He that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you." Now, I want you to note, he's just made a practical statement, now he makes a personal application in verse 4. Here is the presence of God, he says, "for the Lord your God is he that goeth with you." You have God with you. Note secondly, here is the power of God "to fight for you against your enemies." And thirdly, here is the protection of God "to save you." Now folks, if God's people, fighting God's battles in a righteous cause, living righteously, have the presence and the power and the protection of God, what more do you need? You follow what I'm saying? That's sufficient.

Historical Example: God's Intervention in the American Revolution

Weaver begins to recount the evacuation of Long Island in 1776 as an example of God's supernatural care when the American army faced overwhelming British forces.

Now, I want to just read something to you. This book is just full of tremendous materials. This is "America's Providential History," written by Stephen McDowell and Mark Beliles, I guess is how you pronounce his name. I was in a conference with Stephen McDowell, and he gave me this book, and it's a tremendous little book, but I want to read to you just very quickly about the evacuation of Long Island. You remember during the War for Independence how our forefathers constantly and consistently cried to God for his divine and miraculous intervention. Many of you have probably heard about this, but you have not been acquainted with all the details. Listen very carefully. One incident revealing God's supernatural care occurred shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in August of 1776. During fighting on Long Island, British General Howe and his army of 32,000 men had inflicted heavy losses upon the American army

Study Guide

Major Themes

Faith Over Fear in Warfare

Summary: Believers must not be afraid of enemy numbers or weapons, but trust in God's presence and power.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 20:1 says 'be not afraid of them' when seeing horses, chariots, and a larger army. Weaver emphasizes 'God has not given us a spirit of fear' (2 Timothy 1:7).

The Inevitability of War

Summary: Scripture assumes war as a fact of life in a fallen world; peace without Christ is impossible.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 20:1 says 'When thou goest out to battle' not 'if'. Weaver cites Ecclesiastes 3:8 'a time of war' and Matthew 10:34 where Jesus says He came not to send peace but a sword.

God's Sovereignty Over Human Strength

Summary: Numerical superiority and advanced weaponry are meaningless against God, who can use small means to defeat mighty foes.

Evidence: Examples include Gideon's 300 men, David vs. Goliath, Samson's jawbone, and God using hornets or hemorrhoids against enemies.

The Antithesis Between Christ and the World

Summary: There is no fellowship between righteousness and unrighteousness; Christianity is incompatible with humanistic ideologies, leading to inevitable conflict.

Evidence: 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 is cited to show no concord between Christ and Belial, light and darkness. Weaver applies this to communism, socialism, and the United Nations.

The Presence of God as the Decisive Advantage

Summary: The Lord's presence, power, and protection are sufficient for victory, as promised in Deuteronomy 20:4.

Evidence: Exodus 33:13-15 and Joshua 1:5 show God's promise to be with His people. Deuteronomy 20:4 says 'the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you... to save you.'

Key Arguments

War is an assumed reality in Scripture, not an anomaly.

Summary: The Bible consistently uses 'when' regarding battle, indicating war is a normal part of a fallen world. Humanistic attempts at peace fail because they reject God.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 20:1, 21:10, 23:9 all use 'when' for going to war. Isaiah 57:20-21 says there is no peace for the wicked. Matthew 10:34 shows Christ's coming brings a sword.

Numerical odds are irrelevant when God is on your side.

Summary: Faith looks to God's power, not enemy numbers. Examples like Joshua and Caleb, Abijah, and Asa demonstrate victory against overwhelming odds through trust in God.

Evidence: Numbers 13-14 contrasts the faithless spies with Caleb. 2 Chronicles 13 shows Abijah defeating Jeroboam's 800,000 with 400,000. 2 Chronicles 14 shows Asa defeating a million Ethiopians.

Superior weaponry cannot overcome God's intervention.

Summary: Horses and chariots (ancient heavy artillery) are meaningless when God fights for His people, as seen in the Red Sea, hailstones, and other miraculous victories.

Evidence: Exodus 14 drowns Pharaoh's chariots. Joshua 10:11 mentions hailstones. Judges 15:15 records Samson's jawbone. 1 Samuel 17 shows David's sling defeating Goliath.

The presence of God is the ultimate advantage in battle.

Summary: Deuteronomy 20:4 promises God's presence, power, and protection. This is the basis for the command not to fear, as seen in the priest's exhortation before battle.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 20:2-4 shows the priest reminding the army that God goes with them to fight and save. Exodus 33:15 shows Moses refusing to go without God's presence.

Christians must not be intimidated by worldly power or ideologies.

Summary: The antithesis between light and darkness means conflict is inevitable, but believers should not fear because God is sovereign over all human systems.

Evidence: 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 commands separation from unbelievers. Weaver applies this to modern ideologies like communism and the United Nations, stating they have no agreement with Christ.

Scripture References

Deuteronomy 20:1

Context: The primary text: God commands Israel not to fear when facing superior numbers and weaponry because He is with them.

Deuteronomy 20:2-4

Context: The priest's exhortation before battle, applying the principle of God's presence, power, and protection.

Exodus 15:3

Context: Cited to show God is a warrior: 'The Lord is a man of war.'

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Context: Used to demonstrate there is a time for everything, including war, and faith must be exercised in all times.

Deuteronomy 21:10

Context: Another instance of 'when' regarding war, reinforcing the inevitability of conflict.

Deuteronomy 23:9

Context: Further example of 'when the host goeth forth' as an assumed reality.

Isaiah 57:20-21

Context: Declares there is no peace for the wicked, supporting the argument that humanistic peace is impossible.

Matthew 10:34-36

Context: Jesus says He came not to send peace but a sword, indicating conflict results from His coming.

Matthew 24:6-7

Context: Jesus predicts wars and rumors of wars as inevitable until the end.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Context: Commands separation from unbelievers, illustrating the antithesis between righteousness and unrighteousness.

Numbers 13:26-33

Context: The spies' report: ten spies focused on giants and walled cities, while Caleb urged faith.

Numbers 14:1-10

Context: The people's fear and rebellion contrasted with Joshua and Caleb's faith.

Hebrews 4:1-2

Context: Explains that the Israelites' lack of faith prevented them from entering God's rest.

1 Samuel 13:4-7

Context: Israelites hid in fear from the Philistine multitude, contrasting with Jonathan's faith.

2 Chronicles 13:1-18

Context: Abijah's speech and victory over Jeroboam despite being outnumbered 2 to 1.

2 Chronicles 14:9-15

Context: Asa's prayer and victory over a million Ethiopians, demonstrating faith in God's power.

2 Timothy 1:7

Context: God has not given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Exodus 33:13-15

Context: Moses insists on God's presence as essential for going forward.

Joshua 1:5

Context: God promises Joshua His presence as He was with Moses, ensuring victory.

Historical References

George Orwell's novel 1984

Context: Cited to illustrate the totalitarian outcome of humanistic ideologies: 'a boot stamping in the human face forever.'

American Revolution: Evacuation of Long Island (1776)

Context: Begins recounting God's supernatural care when British General Howe's 32,000 troops inflicted heavy losses on the American army.

Important Quotes

When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them. For the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Significance: The foundational text for the sermon, establishing the command to fear not and the reason: God's presence.

For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

Significance: The priest's application of the principle, highlighting God's active role in battle.

There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Significance: Supports the argument that humanistic peace efforts are futile without God.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Significance: Shows that Christ's coming inevitably brings conflict due to division between believers and unbelievers.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Significance: Reinforces the command not to fear, grounding it in God's provision.

If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

Significance: Moses' recognition that God's presence is the essential factor for success.

Discussion Questions

How does the biblical assumption of war as a reality challenge modern Christian views on pacifism or peacemaking?

Context: Weaver argues that Scripture assumes war will happen ('when' not 'if') and that humanistic peace is impossible.

In what ways do we, like the Israelites, tend to focus on numerical odds or superior resources rather than on God's power?

Context: The sermon contrasts living by sight (fearing numbers and weapons) with living by faith (trusting God's sovereignty).

How can we practically apply the command 'be not afraid' when facing overwhelming opposition in spiritual or cultural battles?

Context: Deuteronomy 20:1 commands no fear despite seeing horses, chariots, and larger armies.

What does the antithesis between light and darkness (2 Corinthians 6) mean for Christian engagement with secular ideologies and institutions?

Context: Weaver applies the passage to communism, socialism, and the United Nations, arguing there can be no agreement.

How does the historical example of God's intervention in the American Revolution encourage us to trust God in contemporary conflicts?

Context: The sermon begins recounting the evacuation of Long Island as evidence of God's supernatural care.

Applications

Reject fear and trust God's presence in all conflicts.

Summary: Believers must not be intimidated by enemy strength but rely on God's promise to be with them and fight for them.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 20:1, 4 command no fear because God is with His people. 2 Timothy 1:7 says God gives a spirit of power, not fear.

Evaluate battles by faith, not by sight.

Summary: Numerical odds and superior weaponry should not determine our courage; we must see God as greater than any earthly power.

Evidence: Examples of Joshua, Caleb, Abijah, and Asa show victory through faith despite overwhelming odds.

Maintain separation from ungodly alliances.

Summary: Christians should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers or humanistic systems, as there is no fellowship between light and darkness.

Evidence: 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 commands separation; Weaver applies this to political and ideological unions.

Recognize the inevitability of conflict in a fallen world.

Summary: Instead of being surprised by war or opposition, believers should expect it and prepare spiritually, knowing peace without Christ is impossible.

Evidence: Ecclesiastes 3:8 says there is a time for war; Matthew 24:6 predicts wars until the end.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T21:47:51Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:38:36Z

Clean Transcript

When Is It Right To Fight - 1

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

Deuteronomy chapter 20, and let's read the entire chapter. I will not be preaching from the entire chapter this morning because very obviously I will not have time, but Lord willing, we'll take up next week where we leave off today. Deuteronomy chapter 20, beginning with verse 1. "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them. For the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. It shall be when you are come nigh unto the battle, that the priests shall approach and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, you approach this day unto battle against your enemies."
#1 | 0:02 to 0:45 | cleaned
"Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." And the officer shall speak unto the people, saying, "What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? Let him also go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in battle, and another man take her." And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, "What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return into his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart."
#2 | 0:46 to 1:39 | cleaned
"And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead them. When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. It shall be, if it make thee an answer of peace and open unto thee, then it shall be that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. If it be that they will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it. And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword. But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself, and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies which the Lord thy God hath given thee. Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations, but of the cities of these people which the Lord thy God doth give thee for inheritance."
#3 | 1:39 to 2:34 | cleaned
"Thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth, but thou shalt utterly destroy them, namely the Hittites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee, that they teach you not to do after all their abominations which they have done unto their gods, so should you sin against the Lord your God. When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them. For thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down, for the tree of the field is man's life to employ them in the siege. Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down, and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued."
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Lord willing, today I'm going to bring the seventh in this series that I've been dealing with on the biblical doctrine of war, or when is it right to fight. You remember the very first message I brought you was entitled, "God is a Warrior." I showed you not only from the Old Testament, but the New Testament, the general motif of Scripture is that God is a man of war. In fact, that's what Scripture says in Exodus chapter 15 and verse 3, "The Lord is a man of war, that is his name." And then of course in Numbers chapter 21, I showed you where all of those wars in the Bible are referred to as the wars of the Lord. And then in lessons number 2 through 5, I dealt with the concept of holy war and showed you over and over in the Bible where war is to be sanctified and used in accordance with the word of God. Very quickly I showed you how the cause must be holy, the camp must be holy, the army must be holy, the leader must be holy, and I dealt with the whole survey or the whole scope of war as holy.
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I dealt with the concept of just war, and showing you that just wars are not only defensive wars, but sometimes they are offensive wars as well. So you cannot make a blanket statement that all defensive wars are just, because I showed you in the Bible where some defensive wars were wrong, nor can you make a blanket statement that all offensive wars are right, or wrong, because I showed you in Scripture where many offensive wars were right as well.
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Now today we're going to look in Deuteronomy chapter 20. Deuteronomy chapter 20 is a chapter that is wholly given to the laws of the militia, or the laws of military life. Incidentally, you're going to see this, just a smattering in this chapter, but it is a truth that is clearly taught throughout the Bible, I want you to understand that there was a militia in the Old Testament. There was a militia in Israel. We'll see, like I say, just a smattering of it in this chapter. But in this chapter, God is giving some laws, some rules, and some regulations then concerning the militia. Now, the interesting thing is, and I'm going to dwell on this today, actually the first four verses, but all the wars against Israel's enemies were to be carried out in faith, without fear, and in absolute and total reliance and dependence upon the might and the power of God.
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Now, the Scripture teaches that we are to be a people of faith in every situation and in every circumstance, in every area and in every sphere. There is never a time when the principle of faith ceases to function. I want you to hold Deuteronomy 20. We'll be preaching from there, but look in your Bibles to the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3. Ecclesiastes chapter 3. Ecclesiastes, then you have the Song of Solomon and then the book of Isaiah. Okay? Ecclesiastes chapter 3, and let's begin reading there with verse 1.
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Note what the Word of God says. "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Now look what he says. "A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away, a time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time of war and a time of peace."
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Now let me ask you a question. Are we to exercise the principle of faith in a time of peace? Yes. Well, what about in the time of war? Very obviously yes. Are we to exercise faith when there is a time to build? Yes. Are we to exercise faith when there is a time to tear down? Yes. Are we to exercise faith when there is a time to heal? Yes. Are we to exercise faith when there is a time to kill? And the answer is yes. In other words, times and circumstances do not change the principle of faith. We are to exercise faith in times of war and times of turmoil, as well as in times of peace and prosperity.
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Now I want you to turn back in your Bible to Deuteronomy chapter 20, and let me begin. And let's look at verse 1. In fact, we'll spend a little while just on this verse. God says, "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them, for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."
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Now, number one, listen carefully. Fighting and wars are assumed facts and realities in Scripture. Let me say that again. Fighting and war are assumed facts and realities in Scripture. Note carefully verse 1. Look what the Bible says. "When thou goest out against thine enemies to battle." Not if, or not maybe, or might, but when. In other words, it is an assumed fact that there is going to be a time to fight and a time to war. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Deuteronomy chapter 21 and verse 10. Deuteronomy 21 and verse 10. Note again what God says. "When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies."
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Not if, but when you go. In other words, it's just an assumed fact and a stated reality that there's going to be a war, sooner or later. Look in your Bibles, Deuteronomy 23, verse 9. Deuteronomy 23, verse 9. "When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing." But note what he says, "when the host goeth forth." So it's not a maybe, it's not an if, there is going to be a time of war. And so God says, "when the host goeth forth."
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Now it is mere fantasy and wishful thinking to indulge in ideology that envisions a world of peace without war, a world with perfect harmony, when the world as a whole hates Jesus Christ and rejects the Prince of Peace and will have absolutely nothing to do with him. Socialism, Communism, Utopianism, the United Nations, are wicked, deceitful failures from their inception. There is no such thing, nor can there be any such thing, as a humanistic, God-denying, Christ-rejecting, Bible-hating peace. It's impossible.
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Hold Deuteronomy 20 and look in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Isaiah 57, Isaiah 57, and let's read verses 20 and 21. I've just made the statement that socialism, communism, utopianism, United Nations are all wicked failures from their inception. Why? Because they want a peace or a social order without God, without Christ, without the Bible. God says in Isaiah chapter 57, verse 20, "But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose water cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." There can be no peace. Most of you probably have read George Orwell's novel, 1984.
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If you haven't, I challenge you to do so. But you know what George Orwell says concerning the future without Christ? He says, in his idea of showing what Communism, Socialism, Utopianism, United Nationism, if you want to see the outcome of that, he said, if you want to know what the future is, then you imagine a boot stamping in the human face forever. That's all the world can offer. Totalitarianism, tyranny. So without Christ, there can be no peace.
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Now, I want you to turn over in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Matthew, chapter 10. You see, so many people misunderstand even the consequence of the first coming of Christ. Let me show you the inevitable consequence of the coming of Christ. In Matthew, chapter 10, note, if you would please, beginning there with verse 34, Matthew 10, verse 34. Christ says, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's foe shall be they of his own household."
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Now, let me ask you a question. Did Jesus Christ purposefully come just to stir up trouble? Well, of course not. Very obviously, He did not do that. He did come to bring peace. In fact, don't you remember at His birth the angel saying, "peace on earth and goodwill toward men"? But this passage deals with the consequence of the coming of Christ. Because Christ has come, and because Christ is who He says He is, there are going to be some that believe and some who do not believe. There will be some that receive and some that reject, and consequently there will be fighting and war based upon the very person of Jesus Christ.
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Look in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 24. Matthew 24.
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Now this ought to forever erase from your mind the success of the United Nations, or the League of Nations, or anything of that caliber. Notice Matthew 24, verse 6. Look what our Lord says. "You shall hear wars and rumors of wars. See that you be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines and pestilence and earthquakes in diverse places."
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Now let me ask you a question. Can you stop the earthquakes from coming? Can you stop the famines and the pestilences? No. Well, neither can you stop the wars and the fighting. It's a fact of life. It is a reality of life. And in the Bible, fighting and wars are assumed facts.
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Now, let me show you that one of our main problems in Christendom, and when I use that term, I'm talking about all professing Christians. That does not mean that they are real, genuine Christians. But at least they profess that and they go to churches, etc. One of the main problems of Christendom is that most professing Christians are not Biblicists. By that I mean they really do not believe the Bible.
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You see, instead of acknowledging, as the Bible teaches, the absolute and total depravity of man, and because of this total depravity, there is in man a perverted tendency toward dominion orientation that will always lead to tyranny and totalitarianism. And also, if they believe the Bible, they would have to confess that the natural tendency of man is to play God. And the only way he can play God is by ruling over other people and forcing them to do what he would have them to do. That way he expresses his, quote-unquote, Godhood. But you see, the truth is, instead of most people believing that, what they want to believe is this, that somehow that man is naturally good, and that somehow man is automatically just simply going to get along and work for the good of other people. Man does not do that by nature. Man looks out for number one by nature. He who is without Christ is only interested in himself.
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Let me put it rather succinctly for you. Christianity and Communism have nothing in common. Christianity and Socialism have nothing in common. Christianity and humanism are diametrically opposed to each other. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Corinthians 6. And let's begin reading there with verse 14. Look carefully at this passage, 2 Corinthians 6, and begin there with verse 14. And in order to grant you a little understanding in our time, I want you to substitute a word every now and then, you'll see what I'm talking about, just to make it a little more where our minds can comprehend it. 2 Corinthians 6, verse 14, God says, "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers."
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"For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?" Now, wait a minute. Did that grab you? What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? Absolutely none. Watch verse 14, "and what communion hath light with darkness?" None. "What concord or union hath Christ with Belial, or the devil? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" None. "What agreement hath the temple of God with idols?" None. "For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
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"Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and you shall be my sons and my daughters, saith the Almighty." Now, let's go back. You could ask what concord or agreement have Christ with Communism, or with Humanism, or with Utopianism, or United Nationism, and the answer is absolutely none.
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In other words, here you have opposites. Opposites cannot get along. Do you remember what he said in the book of Amos? "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" Let me ask you a question. I know that America is not a Christian nation now. But let's suppose that America was, once again, a Christian nation. What kind of concord or agreement could we have with Russia or China?
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Now, we'd be willing to send missionaries to them. We'd be willing to help them in the gospel. But we have no union, nothing with them that's even going to grab the basis for a union. That's why out of all the treaties that the United States and Russia have made together, Russia has never kept one. Not one! There's no agreement. There's no basis for agreement. You see, one of the fallacies of our foreign aid to other countries is we expect these other countries to act like we act, and have our values, and have our system of beliefs, when in reality they don't. When in the world would you continually send millions and millions of tons of wheat to India for the rats and the cows? Do you realize most of the foreign aid that goes to India, the rats, the bugs, and the cows eat, you know why?
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They won't kill a rat. They won't kill a cow. They won't kill a bug. Why? Because of their belief in reincarnation. I mean, that could be their dream. And so the cows just walk in there, eat what they want, defecate where they want to defecate. I'm serious. The rats eat what they want to eat. What agreement do we have with people like that? We have absolutely nothing in common.
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And so the truth is this, folks. The Bible teaches that here is an antithesis, here is an opposition between Christ and the devil, or between truth and error, between light and darkness. There is no agreement, there can be no agreement, and watch this, inevitably, consequently, sometimes, sooner or later, light and darkness are going to clash. Truth and error are going to get into it. And so fighting and wars are an assumed fact and an assumed reality in Scripture.
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Now, look back in your Bibles, Deuteronomy chapter 20. Let's go a little bit further. Let me show you something that should be exciting to you in this passage. He says in Deuteronomy 20 verse 1, "...when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou." Okay. Here's the second point. Numerical odds are inconsequential to a people of faith. Numerical odds are inconsequential to a people of faith. He says when you go out and see a people more than thou, be not afraid.
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Let me ask you a question. If you're about to fight a battle, and all of a sudden you realize you're outnumbered three to one, does that give you just a little cause for concern, a little tinge of uncertainty? Well, God says, when you see that there's a greater multitude than you, don't be afraid. Don't let it bother you. Don't let it upset you. Now listen to me. Odds only count
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when you live by sight. Odds only count when you live by sight. They do not count when you live by faith. I forget which general it was, I want to say Patton, but I don't think it was Patton. Some of you men can help me probably remember, but they went to sleep one night and this morning when they woke up, the Chinese that absolutely, totally surrounded them, had them pinned in on every side. And the general got his men together, he said, "Fellas, I've got some good news for you. We've got the enemy right where we want them. They can't get away."
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And by the way, the Americans won. Now, the point I'm trying to make is odds only count when you live by sight. Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles, first of all, to Numbers chapter 13. Hold Deuteronomy 20. We're coming right back there. So look in Numbers chapter 13. And let's begin reading there with verse 26. Numbers 13, verse 26. Everyone should know this story. Here are where the spies are searching out Canaan land. "And they went and came to Moses and to Aaron and to all the congregation of the children of Israel and to the wilderness of Paran and to Kadesh and brought back word unto them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him and said, We came into the land where thou sentest us and surely it floweth with milk and honey and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled and very great, and moreover we saw the children of Anak there," which were the children of the giants, by the way.
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"The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south, and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites dwell in the mountains, and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and by the coast of Jordan." Now here's the report they're giving. Watch it. "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses and said, Let us go up at once and possess it, for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we are. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land through which we have gone to search it is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof, and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature."
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"And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, so we were in their sight." Now let's continue reading. Look in chapter 14, verse 1. "And all the children lifted up their voice and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness!"
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You better be careful what you say, folks. "Wherefore hath the Lord brought us into this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return to Egypt? And they said one to another, let us make us a captain, let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel, and Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, ripped their clothes, and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we pass through to search it is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give unto us a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us."
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"Fear them not." But all the congregation bade stone them with stones, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before the children of Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, "How long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shown them? I will smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they." Look what God said. God said, I'll kill them right now. Look in verse 22. "Because all those men who have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness have tempted me, now these ten times and have not hearkened to my voice, surely they shall not see the land which I swear unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoke me see it."
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"But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, hath followed me wholly or fully. Him will I bring into the land whereunto he went, and his seed shall possess it." Now, what in the world is the difference between Joshua and Caleb and all the people? Well, the fact is, Joshua and Caleb were looking in faith. The others were looking by sight. You say, how do you know that? Well, let me show you.
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Turn very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews, chapter 4. Look in Hebrews, chapter 4, and let's read verses 1 and 2. I'm going to show you how none of those Old Testament people that came out of Egypt had any faith except Joshua and Caleb in this instance. Watch this, Hebrews 4 verse 1. "Let us therefore fear, lest the promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, that is, those people, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." So he said it was not mixed with faith.
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So here they are standing there saying, man, we're grasshoppers in the sight of these people. Look at the multitude of them. Man, they've got cities walled up in the heavens. Who are we? What can we do? They were looking by sight and not by faith. Turn in your Bibles, if you would, to 1 Samuel, chapter 13. 1 Samuel, chapter 13. Let's read verses 4 through 7. Show you a comparison, or I should say, really, a contrast. 1 Samuel 13, verse 4, "And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines, and the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal." Now, if you look back in verse 3, "And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba." Now the Bible doesn't say right here that anybody is with him, but do you remember on one instance he and his armorbearer went down and slew a whole number of the Philistines?
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Just the two of them. What was Jonathan's idea? His idea was there's so many of them I can't miss, bless God. So he was fighting by faith, but look at the other people. Watch this contrast now. Verse 5. "And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude. And they came up and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-Aven. And when the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, the people were distressed. Then the people did hide themselves in caves and in thickets and in rocks and in the high places and pits."
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"And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan." They left the land.
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Now who was fighting by faith and who was living by sight? You see, there's a difference. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to chapter 13 of 2 Chronicles. Turn right over to 2 Chronicles, chapter 13. And notice, if you would please, beginning there with verse 1. Here's a better contrast. 2 Chronicles, chapter 13, in verse 1.
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"Now in the 18th year, King Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah. He reigned three years in Jerusalem, and his mother's name also was Micaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam." Now remember, Jeroboam is king over Israel. Abijah is king over Judah. "And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even 400,000 chosen men." So he's got 400,000. "Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with 800,000 chosen men, being mighty men of valor."
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So the odds are two to one. Watch this. "And Abijah stood up upon the mountains of Zemaraim, which is Mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel. Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? Yet Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon, the son of David, has risen up and has rebelled against his Lord. And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender and could not withstand them. And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David? And you be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves which Jeroboam made for you for gods. Have you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and have made your priest after the manner of the nations of other lands, so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are
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no gods? But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. And the priests who minister unto the Lord are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business, and they burn unto the Lord every morning and every evening, burnt sacrifices and sweet incense. The showbread also set they in order upon the pure table, and the candlestick of gold, with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening. For we keep the charge of the Lord our God, but you have forsaken them." Watch now, "and behold, God Himself is with us for our captain, and His priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you, O children of Israel. Fight you not against the Lord God of your fathers, for you shall not prosper."
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Now, what's Abijah doing? You may outnumber us two to one. That doesn't matter. We're serving God. We're obedient to God. God is on our side in this, but don't start anything with us. Jeroboam wouldn't listen, and if you'll read the rest of the chapter, you'll find that Abijah beat the daylights out of him when the odds were two to one. Now, turn right over to 2 Chronicles chapter 14.
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Very quickly, look at verse 9. Here's another contrast. "And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a thousand thousand and three hundred chariots." So here we have a thousand thousand soldiers, that would be a million, wouldn't it? A million soldiers and three hundred chariots "and came unto Mareshah. Then Asa went out against him and they set the battle array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, watch now, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. And Asa, and the people that were with him, pursued them unto Gerar, and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the Lord and before his host, and they carried away very much spoil."
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So here are a million soldiers with 300 chariots that came out against little Judah. And what did Asa say? Asa said, "Lord, it doesn't matter to you whether you save with many or with few. Help us, O Lord." We have no power against this great host, and God discomfited the Ethiopians. So you see, here is someone who's fighting by faith.
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Now, it is absolutely amazing how easily we are distracted and discouraged when we see a vast multitude arrayed against us. What we've got to understand is this, numerical odds are inconsequential to God. You know, we sit here and think, man, goodness, look how many are in the CFR and the Bilderbergers and all this other, look how many are for the New World Order. It doesn't matter. The numerical odds are inconsequential.
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Did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ took seven loaves and two small fishes and fed 5,000 men, not counting the women and the children? Seven loaves and two small fishes.
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Now, I want you to note something else, if you would, please. I want you to note that Gideon took 300 men and took the entire army of the Midianites. So, the odds are just simply inconsequential. You see, the people of faith do not see how great the multitudes are. The people of faith do not see how great the enemy is. The people of faith see how sovereign, how powerful, and how great God is. So the very fact is, numerical odds are just simply inconsequential. So what does God say?
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Look back in your Bibles, Deuteronomy chapter 20. Deuteronomy chapter 20 says, "When thou goest to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them." So very obviously God says, don't be afraid. So numerical odds are just basically inconsequential. Look, if you would, back in verse 1 again for the third point. He says, "...when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid." Now, wait a minute. Let's go back. He says, "...when thou seest horses and chariots." Here's the third point. Superior armaments are inconsequential to the people of faith. Superior armaments are inconsequential to the people of faith. I want to point out particularly, he says, "horses and chariots." Now, horses and chariots were normally offensive weaponry. It is true that you could use horses and chariots defensively. But whenever you have a vast number of horses and chariots, very obviously it was for an aggressive purpose. That's why, like in Deuteronomy chapter 17, in Israel, the kings were limited in the amount of horses that they could have.
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Let me put this another way. Horses and chariots in Bible days were the tanks and the bombers of our day. Horses and chariots were the heavy artillery.
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Now I want you to watch this third point. I've just pointed out that numerical odds are inconsequential to the people of faith. Now he's telling us that superior armament is inconsequential to the people of faith. Many people become disillusioned when they see or hear or learn of vastly superior weaponry that the enemy possesses. And you know what the attitude is? How can we fight? How can we even survive?
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Much less hope of defeating them. Look at the weapons that they possess. Well, if you are a person of faith, the superior armaments are meaningless. I want you to stop and think with me. When Israel left Egypt, they were pursued by Pharaoh and his army with chariots and horses. Remember, Israel had been a bunch of slaves. Probably they had very few weapons, if any. They just left.
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But let me ask you a question. What good are chariots and horses at the bottom of the Red Sea? What happened to that vastly superior weaponry that Egypt had? Well, all Israel did was stand on the other side, wait for God to drown them all, and then wait for the tide to wash up some of those weapons on the shore, and they armed themselves then. They had that vastly superior weaponry then, basically.
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You see what I'm saying? I mean, it's literally inconsequential to the people of faith. May I remind you that the Amorites in Joshua chapter 10 had great armaments as well. But guess what the Bible says? The Bible says that God rained stones down upon them from heaven. In all probability, hail stones. What good is weaponry when it just simply will not work? I get so tickled every time I read through the Bible. It seemingly delights God to use little things to overthrow the great things of his enemies. You know what God used to run a lot of the Amorites out of the land? Hornets. He used hornets. He got rid of a lot of people just by sending hornets after them. He said, "Brother Weaver, I've never run from a nest of hornets."
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I'll guarantee you, you will. In fact, you will leave the area if they infest that area. I can assure you, they can move you. Armaments are meaningless. God can use a teeny tiny little insect and that's it. I get tickled every time I think how he brought the Philistines down. You remember how the Philistines smoked Israel, captured the Ark of the Covenant, put it in the house of Dagon, their god, and then God just smoked the Philistines with hemorrhoids. Many say that's hemorrhoids. I don't know. But I got news for you, whatever it was, it brought them to their knees, and they were willing to send the Ark of God back. You see, we say, oh man, look at the weapons they have. Listen, that is absolutely meaningless.
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Do you realize the well-trained and properly equipped and heavily protected Goliath fell before the slingshot of David? Did you say that here we have a superior weapon in the hand of Goliath? Very obviously. Do you know what happened to Samson? The Philistines encompassed him about. Here he is up on top of a little rise, and they've surrounded him. And Samson just says, "Lord help me," and he reaches down and picks up the jawbone of an ass, and he slays a thousand well-armed, well-trained, Philistine soldiers. And God says, hey, don't let superior weaponry upset you. Do not get terrified.
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I can take care of that. You see, folks, the truth is this: slingshots and jawbones are sufficient weaponry when they are empowered by and blessed by God. Listen to me. I had rather have a bow and arrow with the blessing and the power of God upon it than I had a modern-day machine gun and a million rounds of ammunition without the blessing and the power of God.
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You say, "Brother Weaver, man, they've got mortars and howitzers and AK-47s." Listen, a little single .22 blessed by the power of God is sufficient to get whatever you need if there's a war. You see what I'm saying? And listen, if God is not going to bless you, and if God is not going to put his power upon you, no amount of weaponry that you have is going to defeat the enemy, you see?
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Nothing is to daunt or to deter the people of faith. Numerical odds are inconsequential. Superior weaponry is inconsequential. Therefore, look at what our text says. Look in Deuteronomy 20, verse 1. "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou," what's the next statement? "Be not afraid." Don't be afraid. I want you to please hold Deuteronomy 20, but I want you to turn to 2 Timothy 1. I can quote this passage, but I want you to see it in black and white with your eyes. Look in 2 Timothy 1, verse 7. Here it is, 2 Timothy 1, verse 7.
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"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Did you hear what I just read? God has not given us a spirit of fear. He says, be not afraid of them. What did our Lord say? Our Lord said, we're not to fear a man. He says, don't be afraid of the man who throws your body into the prison or your body into the fire. He said, don't fear man. He said, I'll tell you who you shall fear. You fear him who after he has killed you has the power to cast your body into hell. You fear God. Don't fear man.
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So the Bible is telling us basically then that numerical odds are inconsequential. Superior weaponry is inconsequential. I know so many Christians. They don't want to read anything that's going on because it just upsets them. Oh, that makes them so nervous. It frustrates them. They can't eat. They can't sleep. Hogwash, folks. We're to be people of faith. We're to know what our enemies are up to. We're to know what they have. We're to know what they're doing.
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But it should not sadden us. It shouldn't bother us. For greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. Why should I be upset at what they've got when I know what I have? And I'm not talking about physical weapons. I'm talking about God, who is the sovereign over everything. A few hornets can take care of the enemy. A few hemorrhoids can bring them to their knees. He's got plenty of ways.
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Watch thirdly, if you are fourthly with me, the major difference or the stated advantage. The major difference, or the stated advantage.
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Now I'm going to show you why numerical odds are inconsequential. Why superior armaments are inconsequential. Here's the major difference, or the stated advantage, for the people of faith. He says, "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them." Here is the stated advantage, "for the Lord thy God is with thee." Someone has said, God and man, or God and one man, make a majority.
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Now, I suppose that's true. But I can tell you something that's even truer. God is a majority in himself. He really doesn't even need one man. But he says, here's the difference. The Lord thy God is with thee. Now, first of all, I want you to note the principle stated, "the Lord thy God is with thee." This phrase refers to the presence and to the blessings of God.
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Hold Deuteronomy 20, but look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 33. Look what Moses says. Exodus chapter 33, verse 13, Exodus 33, verse 13, he says, "Now therefore I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is thy people." And he said, here's what God said to Moses, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." And he said unto him, Moses said unto God, "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence." Did you get that? God said, Moses, don't be afraid, I'm going to be with you. Moses said, Lord, if you're not going to be with me, don't carry me anywhere. Now, watch if you would in the book of Joshua chapter 1 and verse 5. See, it was Joshua who carried the people across the Jordan into the land and conquered the land.
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And look what God says, Joshua 1 and verse 5. God tells Joshua, "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life." Hey, man, what a statement. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. Why? Here's why. "As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." So here is the principle stated, "the Lord thy God is with thee."
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It has reference to his presence and to his blessing. Now, look back to Deuteronomy chapter 20, because I want you to see the principle applied in verses 2 through 4. Because the truth of verse 1 is a reality, here is what happens in verse 2. "And it shall be when you are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people." Now, let me tell you who this priest was. The priest was not necessarily the high priest. But the term applied to this priest is the anointed of the battle. It was a priest like Phinehas in Numbers chapter 31, who went with the armies and gave the blessing of God upon the army. So here is the priest now before the battle, the anointed one of the battle, he comes and he speaks to the people and look what he says in verse 3. "And he shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you approach this day into battle against your enemies."
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In other words, you're fixing to have a fight. There's going to be a war.
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Now look at this command, "Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be terrified because of them." Now, watch that. He is applying this principle, first of all, practically. He says there's to be no fainting, there's to be no fear. There's to be no trembling, there's to be no terror. How can the priest stand there and look at men who are about to go into battle, and he says, don't faint, don't fear, don't tremble, don't be terrified?
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How can he say that? Well, look in verse 4. "For the Lord your God is He that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you."
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Now, I want you to note, he's just made a practical statement, now he makes a personal application in verse 4. Here is the presence of God, he says, "for the Lord your God is he that goeth with you." You have God with you. Note secondly, here is the power of God "to fight for you against your enemies." And thirdly, here is the protection of God "to save you." Now folks, if God's people, fighting God's battles in a righteous cause, living righteously, have the presence and the power and the protection of God, what more do you need?
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You follow what I'm saying? That's sufficient.
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Now, I want to just read something to you. This book is just full of tremendous materials. This is "America's Providential History," written by Stephen McDowell and Mark Beliles, I guess is how you pronounce his name. I was in a conference with Stephen McDowell, and he gave me this book, and it's a tremendous little book, but I want to read to you just very quickly about the evacuation of Long Island.
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You remember during the War for Independence how our forefathers constantly and consistently cried to God for his divine and miraculous intervention. Many of you have probably heard about this, but you have not been acquainted with all the details. Listen very carefully. One incident revealing God's supernatural care occurred shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in August of 1776. During fighting on Long Island, British General Howe and his army of 32,000 men had inflicted heavy losses upon the American army
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T21:47:51Z

When Is It Right To Fight - 1

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, John Weaver begins a study of Deuteronomy 20, emphasizing that war is an assumed reality in Scripture and that God's people must engage in battle with faith, not fear. He argues that numerical odds and superior weaponry are inconsequential when the Lord is with His people, and that the presence, power, and protection of God are the decisive advantages in warfare. The sermon critiques humanistic peace ideologies and calls believers to trust in God's sovereignty rather than being intimidated by enemy strength.

Introduction to Deuteronomy 20 and the Series

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 20:2-4

"When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them. For the Lord thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. It shall be when you are come nigh unto the battle, that the priests shall approach and speak unto the people, and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, you approach this day unto battle against your enemies." "Let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."

Scripture Reading — Exodus 15:3

" I showed you not only from the Old Testament, but the New Testament, the general motif of Scripture is that God is a man of war. In fact, that's what Scripture says in Exodus chapter 15 and verse 3, "

Fighting and War Are Assumed Realities in Scripture

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 21:10

Not if, but when you go. In other words, it's just an assumed fact and a stated reality that there's going to be a war, sooner or later. Look in your Bibles, Deuteronomy 23, verse 9. Deuteronomy 23, verse 9. "When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing." But note what he says, "when the host goeth forth." So it's not a maybe, it's not an if, there is going to be a time of war. And so God says, "when the host goeth forth."

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 57:20-21

"But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose water cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

There can be no peace. Most of you probably have read George Orwell's novel, 1984.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 10:34-36

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's foe shall be they of his own household."

Scripture Reading — Matthew 24:6-7

"You shall hear wars and rumors of wars. See that you be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines and pestilence and earthquakes in diverse places."

Numerical Odds Are Inconsequential to a People of Faith

Scripture Reading — Numbers 14:1-10

"And all the children lifted up their voice and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness!"

You better be careful what you say, folks.

Scripture Reading — Numbers 14:1-10

"Wherefore hath the Lord brought us into this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Were it not better for us to return to Egypt? And they said one to another, let us make us a captain, let us return into Egypt. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel, and Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, ripped their clothes, and they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we pass through to search it is an exceeding good land. If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give unto us a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us."

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 4:1-2

"Let us therefore fear, lest the promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, that is, those people, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."

So he said it was not mixed with faith.

Superior Armaments Are Inconsequential to the People of Faith

The Stated Advantage: The Lord Thy God Is with Thee

The presence, power, and protection of God are the decisive factors. The priest's exhortation in Deuteronomy 20:2-4 applies this truth practically, assuring that God fights for His people.

Hold Deuteronomy 20, but look in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 33. Look what Moses says. Exodus chapter 33, verse 13, Exodus 33, verse 13, he says,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 33:13-15

"Now therefore I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is thy people."

And he said, here's what God said to Moses,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 33:13-15

"My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."

And he said unto him, Moses said unto God,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 33:13-15

"If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence."

And look what God says, Joshua 1 and verse 5. God tells Joshua,

Scripture Reading — Joshua 1:5

"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life."

Hey, man, what a statement. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. Why? Here's why.

Scripture Reading — Joshua 1:5

"As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

So here is the principle stated, "the Lord thy God is with thee."

Historical Example: God's Intervention in the American Revolution

Weaver begins to recount the evacuation of Long Island in 1776 as an example of God's supernatural care when the American army faced overwhelming British forces.

When Is It Right To Fight - 1

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	1017111610208
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Exodus: Bondage, Deliverance, and Passover: The Superiority of Christ
Genre	Sermon
Date	2006-12-08
Dictation Name
Book	Book 036: When Is It Right To Fight — Chapter 1
Source Timed Segments	80

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction to Deuteronomy 20 and the Series: Weaver introduces Deuteronomy 20 as a chapter on laws of the militia and reviews previous messages in the series on the biblical doctrine of war, including God as a warrior and the concept of holy war.
Fighting and War Are Assumed Realities in Scripture: The Bible uses 'when' not 'if' regarding battle, indicating war is inevitable. Humanistic peace efforts like socialism and the United Nations fail because they reject God, and there can be no peace for the wicked.
Numerical Odds Are Inconsequential to a People of Faith: God commands Israel not to fear even when outnumbered. Examples from Numbers 13-14, 1 Samuel 13, and 2 Chronicles 13-14 show that faith, not sight, determines victory, as odds only matter when living by sight.
Superior Armaments Are Inconsequential to the People of Faith: Horses and chariots represent advanced weaponry, but God can overcome them through miraculous means (e.g., Red Sea, hailstones, hornets, hemorrhoids, David's sling, Samson's jawbone). Trust in God's power surpasses any human weapon.
The Stated Advantage: The Lord Thy God Is with Thee: The presence, power, and protection of God are the decisive factors. The priest's exhortation in Deuteronomy 20:2-4 applies this truth practically, assuring that God fights for His people.
Historical Example: God's Intervention in the American Revolution: Weaver begins to recount the evacuation of Long Island in 1776 as an example of God's supernatural care when the American army faced overwhelming British forces.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

War is an assumed reality in Scripture, not an anomaly.

The Bible consistently uses 'when' regarding battle, indicating war is a normal part of a fallen world. Humanistic attempts at peace fail because they reject God.

Deuteronomy 20:1, 21:10, 23:9 all use 'when' for going to war. Isaiah 57:20-21 says there is no peace for the wicked. Matthew 10:34 shows Christ's coming brings a sword.

Numerical odds are irrelevant when God is on your side.

Faith looks to God's power, not enemy numbers. Examples like Joshua and Caleb, Abijah, and Asa demonstrate victory against overwhelming odds through trust in God.

Numbers 13-14 contrasts the faithless spies with Caleb. 2 Chronicles 13 shows Abijah defeating Jeroboam's 800,000 with 400,000. 2 Chronicles 14 shows Asa defeating a million Ethiopians.

Superior weaponry cannot overcome God's intervention.

Horses and chariots (ancient heavy artillery) are meaningless when God fights for His people, as seen in the Red Sea, hailstones, and other miraculous victories.

Exodus 14 drowns Pharaoh's chariots. Joshua 10:11 mentions hailstones. Judges 15:15 records Samson's jawbone. 1 Samuel 17 shows David's sling defeating Goliath.

The presence of God is the ultimate advantage in battle.

Deuteronomy 20:4 promises God's presence, power, and protection. This is the basis for the command not to fear, as seen in the priest's exhortation before battle.

Deuteronomy 20:2-4 shows the priest reminding the army that God goes with them to fight and save. Exodus 33:15 shows Moses refusing to go without God's presence.

Christians must not be intimidated by worldly power or ideologies.

The antithesis between light and darkness means conflict is inevitable, but believers should not fear because God is sovereign over all human systems.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 commands separation from unbelievers. Weaver applies this to modern ideologies like communism and the United Nations, stating they have no agreement with Christ.

Scripture References

Deuteronomy 20:1: The primary text: God commands Israel not to fear when facing superior numbers and weaponry because He is with them.
Deuteronomy 20:2-4: The priest's exhortation before battle, applying the principle of God's presence, power, and protection.
Exodus 15:3: Cited to show God is a warrior: 'The Lord is a man of war.'
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: Used to demonstrate there is a time for everything, including war, and faith must be exercised in all times.
Deuteronomy 21:10: Another instance of 'when' regarding war, reinforcing the inevitability of conflict.
Deuteronomy 23:9: Further example of 'when the host goeth forth' as an assumed reality.
Isaiah 57:20-21: Declares there is no peace for the wicked, supporting the argument that humanistic peace is impossible.
Matthew 10:34-36: Jesus says He came not to send peace but a sword, indicating conflict results from His coming.
Matthew 24:6-7: Jesus predicts wars and rumors of wars as inevitable until the end.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18: Commands separation from unbelievers, illustrating the antithesis between righteousness and unrighteousness.
Numbers 13:26-33: The spies' report: ten spies focused on giants and walled cities, while Caleb urged faith.
Numbers 14:1-10: The people's fear and rebellion contrasted with Joshua and Caleb's faith.
Hebrews 4:1-2: Explains that the Israelites' lack of faith prevented them from entering God's rest.
1 Samuel 13:4-7: Israelites hid in fear from the Philistine multitude, contrasting with Jonathan's faith.
2 Chronicles 13:1-18: Abijah's speech and victory over Jeroboam despite being outnumbered 2 to 1.
2 Chronicles 14:9-15: Asa's prayer and victory over a million Ethiopians, demonstrating faith in God's power.
2 Timothy 1:7: God has not given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.
Exodus 33:13-15: Moses insists on God's presence as essential for going forward.
Joshua 1:5: God promises Joshua His presence as He was with Moses, ensuring victory.

Historical References

George Orwell's novel 1984: Cited to illustrate the totalitarian outcome of humanistic ideologies: 'a boot stamping in the human face forever.'
American Revolution: Evacuation of Long Island (1776): Begins recounting God's supernatural care when British General Howe's 32,000 troops inflicted heavy losses on the American army.

Important Quotes

When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them. For the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

The foundational text for the sermon, establishing the command to fear not and the reason: God's presence.

For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

The priest's application of the principle, highlighting God's active role in battle.

There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Supports the argument that humanistic peace efforts are futile without God.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Shows that Christ's coming inevitably brings conflict due to division between believers and unbelievers.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Reinforces the command not to fear, grounding it in God's provision.

If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

Moses' recognition that God's presence is the essential factor for success.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the biblical assumption of war as a reality challenge modern Christian views on pacifism or peacemaking?

[Context]

Weaver argues that Scripture assumes war will happen ('when' not 'if') and that humanistic peace is impossible.

[Question]

In what ways do we, like the Israelites, tend to focus on numerical odds or superior resources rather than on God's power?

[Context]

The sermon contrasts living by sight (fearing numbers and weapons) with living by faith (trusting God's sovereignty).

[Question]

How can we practically apply the command 'be not afraid' when facing overwhelming opposition in spiritual or cultural battles?

[Context]

Deuteronomy 20:1 commands no fear despite seeing horses, chariots, and larger armies.

[Question]

What does the antithesis between light and darkness (2 Corinthians 6) mean for Christian engagement with secular ideologies and institutions?

[Context]

Weaver applies the passage to communism, socialism, and the United Nations, arguing there can be no agreement.

[Question]

How does the historical example of God's intervention in the American Revolution encourage us to trust God in contemporary conflicts?

[Context]

The sermon begins recounting the evacuation of Long Island as evidence of God's supernatural care.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:38:36Z