Sermon Series: Holy War, Prayer, and Spiritual Conflict

Concepts of a Holy War, Part 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Sermon Series

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 1996-11-10

Synopsis: John Weaver continues his study on the biblical doctrine of holy war, emphasizing that warfare in Scripture is a religious and covenantal act of worship. He demonstrates that the Hebrew word for 'prepare' (kodesh) is the same word for 'sanctify,' showing that God commands war to be made holy. Weaver then outlines four irreducible principles for a war to be considered holy: the cause must be holy, the army must be holy, the camp must be holy, and the leader must be holy. He supports each principle with extensive Scripture, warning that sin in the camp brings God's curse and defeat. Applications stress personal responsibility to evaluate causes by God's Word and to maintain holiness in all aspects of life.

[John Weaver] This is the passage that we read last week. I want to read again and then continue on the message. Remember, we've been dealing with the subject, the biblical doctrine of war. In the first lesson, I dealt with the fact that God is a warrior, and I showed you over and over in Scripture how the word of God emphasizes the fact that the Lord is a man of war, and how the Lord fights over and over. Then, if you will, in Joshua 4 and verse 13, we began last week with this on the concept of holy war. The Bible says about 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle to the plains of Jericho. Of course, just simply reviewing last week, I told you about the Islamic jihad, which is just simply the Islamic holy war. And there is a concept of holy war that is taught in the Bible. In fact, all of the wars that God ordered Israel to engage in, or referred to as, the wars of the Lord.

[John Weaver] As I quoted earlier, how the Bible calls God himself a man of war. The Bible teaches that God delivered Israel by means of war. So very obviously there is a concept of holy war. Remember, as I ended the message last week, I dealt with this phrase, how these 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord. That is, they passed over as unto the Lord, not only in the presence of, but as unto the Lord.

[John Weaver] It was part and parcel of their worship. Let's begin today by letting me make this statement. In ancient Israel, all life was religious. And all life was covenantally related to God, and warfare was no exception. I'm going to prove this to you later on as we get into this study, not necessarily today, but warfare is not only religious in the Bible, but it is covenantally related to God. In ancient Israel as today, and I'll explain later, there is no such thing as a division between the secular and the sacred. You don't have a secular area here and a sacred area here. That is absolute heresy. According to the Bible, not only in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, absolutely everything is sacred, and war was certainly no exception. You see, warfare, according to the Bible, reminds you that the Bible is the book of the covenant. In the Bible, the Bible gives us the rules and the regulations and the parameters for engaging in warfare. So war was an aspect of worship for Israel.

[John Weaver] I want you to understand that it had to be conducted according to the rules laid out by the sovereign God of the Bible. We should not think these statements strange because of the teachings of the New Testament. Let me show you, turning your Bibles, if you would please, first of all to 1 Corinthians 10 and look at verse 31. Notice what the Word of God says.

[John Weaver] 1 Corinthians 10 verse 31. God says, whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. Now, whether I eat or drink, I am to eat and drink for God's glory. Whatever I do, whether it's digging a ditch or whether it's preaching or whether it's fighting, I am to do all for the honor and the glory of God." So there is no division, then, between the secular and the sacred. If you would turn right over to the book of Colossians chapter 3 and look at verse 23, The book of Colossians, chapter 3, and note verse 23. Here the word of God says, and whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men. So whatever I am engaged in, Once again, whether it's preaching or whether it's digging a ditch or whether it's farming or whether it's fighting in a holy war, I'm to do heartily as unto the Lord. So every sphere of our life is to be regulated by the word of God.

[John Weaver] Every activity of our life is to be done in honor and in the glory of God. So very obviously there is no distinction between the secular and the sacred. By the way, let me just point out the fact that this is one of the errors of modern-day churchism. Most people will go to church on Sunday, and they will appear so pious and so holy and so godly, and then they leave and go out Monday through Saturday, and they're as wicked as the devil himself. In other words, they're saying this part is sacred and this part is secular.

[John Weaver] That's absolutely hilarious in the sense that it's so absolutely false. And that's why many of you saw the articles in the paper over here where the judge wrote that Christians, especially preachers, should not be engaged in politics. That's absolutely ridiculous. That's saying here's an area over which God has absolutely no authority and the Bible has absolutely nothing to say about. There is no area, there is no sphere, there is no room in any place whatsoever over which God does not have absolute authority and absolutely sovereign control. So every sphere, every activity, every attitude of our life is to be regulated by the Word of God. And war is absolutely no exception to the fact that when we fight, we fight according to God's terms. that is in faith for God's honor and glory based upon God's law.

[John Weaver] Now, I've been developing this concept of holy war, and I asked this question last week. How can something so devastating, so destructive and so deadly as war be considered holy in any sense whatsoever? Well, let me give you a surprise today. I want you to turn in your Bibles to several passages. First of all, look in the book of Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse 4. In fact, we'll look at a number of these passages in Jeremiah, and there is a particular word that I want you to underline. Look in Jeremiah chapter 6. and verse 4 to begin with. Jeremiah 6 verse 4. God says, Prepare ye war against her.

[John Weaver] Arise and let us go up at noon. Warn to us, for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out."

[John Weaver] Now, let's go back to this word, prepare. Prepare ye war against her. Now, I want you to underline that little word, prepare. Turn over your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 22 and look at verse 7. Jeremiah 22 and verse 7. Here God says, and I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons, and they shall cut down my choice cedars and cast them into the fire. Now, there's the little word, prepare. And I will prepare destroyers against thee. Turn right over to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 51. Jeremiah 51, and let's read verses 27 and 28. Jeremiah 51, verse 27. God says,"...set you up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Mene, and Ashkenaz, appoint a captain, against her, called the horses to come up, as the rough caterpillars, prepare against her the nations with the kings of the means, and the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion."

[John Weaver] So twice now God has said, prepare, and of course in the context He's talking about preparing war. Now, if you look in the little book of Joel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Look at Joel chapter 3 and verse 9. Joel 3 verse 9. Look what God says. Joel 3, verse 9, Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles, Prepare war, rake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up." Now, in each passage that I have read, we've come across this one little word, prepare. God says, prepare war. Now, the interesting thing about the word prepare is the Hebrew word is Kodosh. What does that mean? The Hebrew word Kodash literally means to make clean. It means to make holy, ceremoniously or morally. It means to consecrate, to dedicate, to be holy, to be sanctified, to be hallowed. Literally, when God said, prepare war, he is saying, sanctify war.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Genesis, chapter 2 and verse 3. Genesis 2 and verse 3. Watch carefully. And on the seventh day, this is verse 2, of Genesis 2, and on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Watch verse 3, and God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, or literally, and prepared it.

[John Weaver] It is exactly the same Hebrew word, kodesh. God sanctified or prepared the seventh day. If you turn over in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, chapter 29, Exodus chapter 29, And look at verse 43. Exodus 29, verse 43. Look what God says. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory." Literally, the tabernacle shall be prepared by my glory.

[John Weaver] Now, the interesting thing is this. The Hebrew word kodesh, which is translated prepare when he said prepare war, is the only Hebrew word in the Old Testament that is translated sanctified. So the word sanctify and the word prepare are synonymous. So when God says prepare war, he is saying sanctify war. It is the only word that is used over and over in the Old Testament for sanctification or for holiness or for righteousness as such. Now look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah 13 and you will see this word used And it is translated, sanctified. Look in your Bibles, Isaiah chapter 13, and let's begin reading there with verse 1. Isaiah chapter 13, verse 1. Notice what God says.

[John Weaver] For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land. And the stranger shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. and the Lord shall take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids. And they shall take them captives, whose captives they were, and they shall rule over their oppressors.

[John Weaver] It shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from thy hard bondage where thou wast made to serve. Thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased, the golden city ceased? Note now, the Lord hath broken the stamp of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers." He has broken the scepters of the rulers.

[John Weaver] Now, this is not the passage that I wanted, but it's the passage I got on reading in chapter 14, no wonder. Chapter 13 is what I wanted. Are you in chapter 13? Okay, I was in fourteen. I knew I was wrong. The burden of Babel, which Isaiah the son of Amos did see, lit you up as standard upon the high mountain. Exalt the voice of them. Shake the hand that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

[John Weaver] I have commanded my sanctified ones. That's what I want, and I want you to note this is referring to the army, to the invading army. I have commanded my sanctified ones. I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoiced in my highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like is the great people, a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together.

[John Weaver] The Lord of hosts must grip the host of the battle. They come from a far country from the end of heaven, even the Lord, watch, and the weapons of his indignation to destroy the whole land."

[John Weaver] Now, the point I want to make is this. First of all, in verse 4, the Lord of hosts mustereth, that is, he calls together the host on the battle. Note verse 5, they are the weapons of his indignation to destroy the whole land, but in verse 3, he said, I have commended my sanctified ones or my prepared ones, it is exactly the same word. So very obviously, there is a concept of holy war because the word sanctified is used over and over, not only in reference to war, but in reference to the holy things of God as well. Now, in order for war to be holy, several biblical principles must be evident. I'm going to give you four biblical principles of holy war today.

[John Weaver] Let me explain by making this statement. The list I'm going to give you may not be exhaustive. There may be other things that you could add to this list. But what I'm going to give you is an irreducible minimum. These four things must be, if war, is to be holy.

[John Weaver] Now, we know there is such a thing as holy war, for God himself is engaged in it, and God has used the word sanctified over and over when he said, sanctify war or prepare war. Now, what are the four principles that determines whether or not a war is holy? First of all, number one, the cause must be holy. The cause must be holy. The cause is that for which one is fighting. It is his reason for fighting. It is his goal in fighting. It is his aim in fighting. That means the cause must be holy. The cause is that which motivates one, which pushes one, which exerts power over one. What makes men fight? Well, you say they have a cause. Well, let me tell you. Do you realize some people will fight without a cause? I want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 109, and I want you to note that it is the wicked, it is the ungodly, that make war without a cause. Note, if you would please, Psalm 109, and let's begin reading there with verse 1.

[John Weaver] Hold not thy peace, O God, of my praise. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me, they have spoken against me with a lying tongue, they compass me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause." So the wicked and the heathen fight without a cause. You could go ahead and say this, that the wicked and the heathen will fight with an unholy and with an unjust cause. But when the gods we fight, there is a cause, and it is to be a holy cause.

[John Weaver] Let me put this out. Simply because some person, or simply because a number of people, or one nation, wishes to possess the resources of another people, or another nation, is not a sufficient cause to fight. That is nothing more than selfishness and covetousness and greediness. We don't whip people and fight people just to possess their oil wells and diamond mines and gold mines.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you what I'm talking about. There must be a cause, and the cause must be holy. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel, chapter 17. I'm sure that everyone will be familiar with this passage. 1 Samuel, chapter 17, this is when David goes to fight Goliath. And I'm not going to be developing this whole story. But everyone knows how the Philistine has presented himself morning and evening for forty days, challenging the armies of Israel and, of course, the God of Israel as well. Let's begin reading with verse 22 of 1 Samuel, chapter 17. David has been sent now to check on his brothers, and David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage and ran into the army and came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion of the Philistines, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words, and David heard them." So now David has heard Goliath challenge God and the armies of Israel.

[John Weaver] And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were sore afraid. The men of Israel said, Have you seen this man that has come up? Surely to defy Israel has he come up? It shall be that the man who killeth him, the king, will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" The people answered him after the manner saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. And Eliab, his eldest brother, heard when he spake unto the men, and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the knowledge of the divine heart, for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle."

[John Weaver] So now Eliab is looking down his nose upon David. He said, David, you're not even a warrior, you're not even fit to fight, get out of here. Watch verse 29, And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? Now, skip down to verse 36. David says, Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God." Now skip down to verse 45. Then said David, he's going out to meet Goliath, then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast to fight. Look what he said in verse 29. Is there not a cause? God was dishonored.

[John Weaver] His people disgraced and his army dismayed. David said, look, this is the cause. And the cause is God is being dishonored. God is not receiving the honor and the glory that's due in his name from this. Moreover, his people are being disgraced. There is a cause. I'll fight the man. I'm ready to fight. I'm willing to fight. And the same God that delivered me out of the mouth of the lion and the bear, he'll deliver me out of the hands of this uncircumcised Philistine. So very obviously there was a cause.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm not going to take the time today to go down through scripture and list all of the holy causes, but I do want to show you another one. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Nehemiah chapter 4. Nehemiah chapter 4, right after the book of Ezra, Ezra and Nehemiah. Nehemiah chapter 4, and everybody knows the story, or at least you should know the story, how Nehemiah is rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. And there were some men that conspired against Nehemiah to stop the work and to kill him and the people who were helping him. Sanballat and Tobai and Geshem the Arabian, the Ammonites, the Ashtonites, all these people were gathering together. They were going to plan a surprise attack and thus destroy the work and Nehemiah and those people. Let's begin reading Nehemiah 4, verse 8. And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem and to hinder it.

[John Weaver] Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and we set a watch against them day and night because of them. And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burden is decayed, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build a wall. And our adversary said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. So they are planning a surprise attack They're going to destroy the work and kill Nehemiah and the people working in the wall.

[John Weaver] Verse 12, And it came to pass that when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said unto us, Ten times from all places which ye shall return unto us, they will be upon you. Now, that's really encouraging, isn't it? Because here are the ones dwelling close to the enemy. Cain said, You can't win. I mean, man, they'll kill you before you know what's going to happen. Watch verse 13.

[John Weaver] Therefore, said I, in the lower places behind the wall, and in the higher places I even set the people after their families with their swords and their spears and their bows. And I looked and rose up and said unto the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, be not ye afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren and your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses."

[John Weaver] Now, what was he saying? He's saying, look, they're going to come upon us and kill us. We better fight. We better fight, first of all, for our God. We better fight, secondly, for our brethren, for our sons, for our daughters, for our wives, for our houses. In other words, it is a holy fight and a and the people that God has entrusted to you. Whether it's defending your family, or defending your neighbors, or defending your brethren, it's a holy fight. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to 2 Samuel 10.

[John Weaver] Let's begin reading there with verse 6. 2 Samuel 10, verse 6.

[John Weaver] 2 Samuel 10, verse 6, And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah twenty thousand footmen, and of the king of Merica a thousand men, and Ishtab twelve thousand men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the hosts of the mighty men." and the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate. And the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and of Ishtar and Meacah were by themselves in the field. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians." And the rest of the people he delivered in the hand of Abishai, his brother, that he might put them in a way against the children of Ammon. And he said, If the Syrians be strong for me, then thou shalt help me, and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come to help thee.

[John Weaver] Watch, be of good courage, and let us pray the men for our people and for the cities of our God, and the Lord do that which singeth him good." What is he saying? Be of good courage, let's fight for our people and for our cities, that is, for the possessions that God has given unto us. So it is a holy and just cause then to fight to preserve your nation or your city or your family or your country in any way you want to say it. Like I said earlier, it's not my intent today to list all the holy causes. I'm sure that would be humanly impossible, because there are causes that will come up that I don't even know about.

[John Weaver] There are circumstances that would arise that I would certainly be unfamiliar with. But the point is this. Whatever cause we are going to fight for, That cause must be scrutinized. That cause must be closely studied and compared with the word of God. Let me put it plainly. It is your responsibility to make sure that the cause is holy and right. It is your responsibility to consider whatever you're willing to fight for in light of the word of God. It's your responsibility to make sure that you do not fight for anything unbiblical, unchristian, and ungodly. It is your responsibility to make sure that you're not hoodwinked, you're not suckered, and that you don't run off half-cocked into something that you shouldn't be involved in. You follow that? Because the cause must be holy. And how in the world can you determine whether or not a cause is holy unless you examine it in light of the Word of God? Now, if you were to just take that one principle and compare it with the wars that were fought in the last twenty or thirty years, you'd probably find that we don't have a holy cause to fight in most of those wars.

[John Weaver] So the cause must be holy. That's the first prerequisite. Secondly, the army must be holy. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 23. Deuteronomy 23. And look, if you would please, at verse 9. Look what God tells his people. Deuteronomy 23 and verse 9. God says, When the host, that is, when the army, goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. Now, note that. When the host, that is, when the army, goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. God says, I not only want a holy cause, I want a holy army. If you're involved in fighting my battle, said God, you make sure that you keep yourself from every wicked thing.

[John Weaver] Now here is the second principle. God not only demands that the cause be holy, he demands that the people who fight for the holy cause be holy themselves. Keep thee from every wicked thing." Now, the word wicked is the Hebrew word ra. It means that which is bad, evil, wicked, and wrong. Let me show you several passages. I want you to turn first of all to Deuteronomy chapter 17. Let's begin reading there with verse 1, Deuteronomy 17, verse 1. Remember God said, Keep thee from every wicked thing.

[John Weaver] God says, Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullet, or sheep, or any blemish, or any ill-favoredness, for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God. If there be found among you within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that have wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, go and serve other gods, and worship them, either the sun or the moon, or any of the hosts of heaven, which I have not commanded. And it be told thee that thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently. And behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel, Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman which hath committed that wicked thing unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and thou shalt stone him with stones till they die." Now, what is the wicked thing in the context here? The wicked thing in the context happens to be idolatry.

[John Weaver] He says in verse 5,"...then shalt thou bring forth a man or that woman which hath committed that wicked thing." Remember he said, when your army goes forth to war against your enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. In this context, the wicked thing happens to be idolatry. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 30 and verse 22.

[John Weaver] 1 Samuel 30, verse 22. Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, and those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them all to the spoil that we have recovered, save every man and his wife and his children, that they may lead them away in a part. And David said, You shall not do so, my brethren, that which the Lord hath given us.

[John Weaver] who have preserved us and delivered the company that came against us into our hand." Now, note back, if you would, please, at verse 22. Then answered all the wicked what? Men. That's the same word. Then answered all the wicked men.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm trying to point out the fact that in Deuteronomy 17, the wicked thing was idolatry. In 1 Samuel chapter 30, the wicked thing is an attitude. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Kings chapter 17 and verse 11. 2 Kings 17 verse 11.

[John Weaver] And there they burned incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them, and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger." So once again, the phrase, wicked things, here is in reference to idolatry and all of those things that go along with it. Let me point this out. When God says, when your host goes out to battle against your enemy, then keep thee from every wicked thing. The word thing is dalbar in the Hebrew, and it means, listen, a word, a matter, a thing, or a cause. So when God says, keep thee from every wicked thing, he's not just talking about actions. He's talking about attitudes. He's talking about ideas and speech as well. We're to keep everything holy. Our minds, our bodies, our attitudes, Then keep thee from every wicked thing." In other words, God desires to use holy vessels for his work.

[John Weaver] Now, look in your Bible. Let me show you several illustrations. Look in your Bibles. First of all, to the book of Joshua chapter 3. Joshua chapter 3, verse 5. The children of Israel are crossing over the river. Look what God tells them through Joshua. Joshua 3, verse 5. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.

[John Weaver] Now, what did he tell them? Sanctify yourselves. Why? For tomorrow the Lord is going to do wonders among you. Look in verse 13 of chapter 4, our text. About 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord under battle. Isn't it interesting? He just got out of his mouth, sanctify yourselves.

[John Weaver] Now he says you pass over to the Bible. Why? Because God not only desires a holy cause, but he desires a holy people to fight in that holy cause. Turn right over to the book of Joshua, chapter 6. Since we're talking about Jericho, I want you to understand that Jericho was totally cursed. Look in Joshua 6, verses 17 and 18. God says, Joshua 6 verse 17,"...and the city," that is Jericho,"...shall be a curse, even it, and all that are therein to the Lord, only Rahab the harlot, shall live, she and all that are with her in her house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

[John Weaver] And you," watch now,"...and you in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing," you might also say wicked thing, Lest you make yourselves accursed, will you take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel accursed and troubled?" Now, look what God said. God said, Jericho is totally dedicated for destruction. The people and everything in it. I want it all destroyed. Now, God said, you make sure that you keep yourself from that accursed thing. If you don't, you're going to become accursed just like Jericho is accursed.

[John Weaver] Now, let's go to chapter 7. Chapter 7, verse 1. But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing. For Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdai, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-Avon, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. Then they returned to Joshua and said unto him, Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up, and smite Ai, and make not all the people to labor thither, for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men, and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote them, about thirty and six men, and they chased them from before the gate, even to Samarium, and smote them into going down.

[John Weaver] Therefore the hearts of the people melted and became as water." And Joshua ran his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord, until the eventide. He and the elders of Israel had put dust upon their heads, and Joshua said, O LORD God, wherefore hast thou at all bought this people over Jordan, that lived restless in the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would the God we had been content to dwell on the other side of Jordan? O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies?" For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us around, and cut off our name from the earth. And what wilt thou do unto thy great name? And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up. Wherefore liest thou thus upon my face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant, which I commanded them. For they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and have put it even among their own not stand before their enemies, but turn their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed.

[John Weaver] Watch it. Neither will I be with you any more, except you destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is no accursed thing in the midst of you, O Israel. Thou canst not stand before thine enemies until thou takest away the accursed thing from among you."

[John Weaver] Now what had Achan done? Achan had seen the goodly Babylonian stone at the wedge of gold and silver and he had stolen it and taken it and hidden it in his tent. What happened to Achan? He was caught. He was condemned. He and his family were burned to death and stoned and covered up and left. Why? because he committed an unholy act. He took that which God had said was not to be taken.

[John Weaver] Everything in Jericho was dedicated to destruction. Now, I will hasten to tell you that there is a law of booty in the Bible, and we'll discuss that. But this is a distinct and separate thing, because God had specifically said everything in Jericho was dedicated to destruction. Everything in Jericho was to be accursed. And Achan stole and took that and brought the curse upon himself, upon his family, and upon the nation. And did you hear what God said?

[John Weaver] Neither will I be with you any more until you deal with this. Now let me tell you something, folks. Sin does not just affect us alone. I've heard men say that we're drunkards. Well, bless God, so what if I get drunk? It's not affecting anybody but myself. That's not true. It affects your wife. It affects your children, it affects your family, and if you have a car that can kill somebody, it affects somebody else too, you see? You can't just sin by yourself and say, well, it's not going to affect anybody but me. Sin always affects other people as well. God says, look, I want a holy army because your sin will affect those that you associate with. Let me tell you something, folks. If I'm in a hole fighting for a holy cause, I want somebody next to me that's holy as well. I don't want some drunken pervert next to me that's going to bring the wrath and the curse of God down upon me because I'm next to him. I want somebody next to me that's going to do what's right.

[John Weaver] And whoever is next to me is going to want somebody next to him who is going to do what's right. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to 2 Chronicles 25. Let me show you another illustration. 2 Chronicles 25, beginning with verse 5. Amaziah, king of Judah, had hired some men of Israel to go with him to fight. only one problem. Israel, the northern tribes, were involved deeply in idolatry and veil worship at this particular time. So he had hired 100,000 Israelites to help him fight. Watch this. 2 Chronicles 25, verse 5. Moreover, Amaziah gathered Judah together and made them captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers throughout all Judah and Benjamin.

[John Weaver] And he numbered them from twenty years old and above and found them three hundred thousand choice men." able to go forth to war that could handle spear and shield. So he's got 300,000 soldiers. Watch verse 6. He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor out of Israel for 100 talents of silver. But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with For the Lord is not with Israel to wit with all the children of Ephraim.

[John Weaver] But if thou wilt go, do it. Be strong for the battle. God shall make thee fall before the enemy, for God hath power to help and to cast down."

[John Weaver] Now, let me stop right there. Now, the man of God said, look, don't let the Israelites go with you. God's not with them. They're unholy. They're involved in idolatry. Don't let them go. But if you're going to go, King, and take them, I want you to understand God is going to cast you down before your enemy. You're going to lose. That's all there is to it. Watch verse 9. Here's a true politician. And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? What are we going to do about all the money I've already spent? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this. Don't worry about the 100,000 talents of silver. God can take care of that.

[John Weaver] You see what I'm saying? But now God says, don't let them go with you because at this time they are unholy.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke, chapter 3. The book of Luke, chapter 3. God not only demands a holy cause, but a holy people to fight in that cause. Luke, chapter 3. John has been preaching repentance. There come some soldiers to John, and they ask the question, what shall we do? That is, what shall we do to evidence our repentance? Look what he says in Luke chapter 3, verse 14. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? That is, how Let the camp be holy. The camp. Deuteronomy 23, beginning there with verse 9. He says, When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. Now, here's the camp. Let there be among you any man that is not clean by reason of uncleanness, that chanceth him by night Then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp." We're talking about the war camp now. "...but it shall be when evening cometh on he shall wash himself with water, and when the sun is down he shall come into the camp again.

[John Weaver] Thou shalt have a place also without the camp whither thou shalt go forth abroad." And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon, and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back, and cover that which cometh from thee. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of the camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee." I want you to note how God is demanding holiness in the camp. First of all, the person who has become unclean through a nightly occurrence, or what we would call an accident, so to speak, wants to go out of the camp and remain there until evening, until he has ceremoniously cleansed himself. Moreover, God says you must have a latrine outside the camp. And he said each soldier was to have a paddle or a shovel or digging implement so that he went outside to use the bathroom or to ease himself.

[John Weaver] He dug a hole and then when he finished he turned again and covered it. Now, this may be part of where we get our slogan, Cleanliness is next to Godliness. By the way, that phrase is not in the Bible, although a lot of people think it is. But let me tell you something. As important as sanitation is, and as important as cleanliness is, this wall does not have in view sanitary reasons behind it. Why did God tell them you've got to have a latrine outside the camp? You use a shovel.

[John Weaver] You cover that which comes of yourself. Why would God say that? Look in verse 14. Here's why. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemy before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away. from thee." God says, I want the camp to be holy. The camp must be holy and it must be kept holy because Jehovah himself works there in the midst of his people. These requirements were to be followed, are you listening, out of consideration for and reverence to God and his holiness. You see, it is not that the excrement from man was shameful in and of itself. It's not a shameful thing that we have to go to the bathroom. That's the way God made us. Okay? It's not that that was shameful in and of itself, but through disobedience and a lack of reverence which the people would display in not removing it, it would offend the Lord and drive him out of the camp.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make this point. Here is an argument from the lesser to the greater. Are you listening? If God is so fastidious If God is so peculiar, if God is so particular about what you and I would call little things, I mean, you know, just keeping a clean bathroom, just having cleanliness in your body, if God is so fastidious and so concerned about that, How much greater is he concerned

[John Weaver] about impure thoughts, immoral words, ungodly attitudes, and wicked actions? You see what I'm saying? God is saying, I want this little thing taken care of that you may know, I want the big things taken care of as well. Because he said, I am holy, and if I want to walk in your camp, I don't want any unclean thing around. I want absolute holiness. So we're not only to have a holy cause, a holy army, but a holy camp.

[John Weaver] I told you this before, or at least most of you I've told, but I'll point it out again. You remember that one of the nicknames for a prostitute is a hooker. Remember I told you how they got that nickname? Because the Yankee general fighting Joe Hooker in order to boost the morale of his soldiers let the ladies of the night into his camp for his men. And these prostitutes were known as Hooker's Ladies. Later on, the term ladies was dropped, and they were just known as hookers. God demands that the camp be holy, as well as the men, as well as the cause. One last thing today, and that is this. Fourthly, the leader must be holy.

[John Weaver] Do you realize Divine warfare is usually not mediated by a Pentagon official or a cabinet officer. I can assure you that Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell would never make it in one of God's wars as a leader. Bill Clinton certainly could never make it in his reign. Because God demands that the leader be holy, usually when divine warfare is ordered. Not only do you have a holy cause, a holy army, a holy camp, but you have a holy leader.

[John Weaver] You have a Moses or a Joshua. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 17. Exodus 17, and let's begin reading there with verse 8. Exodus 17, verse 8. Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out, men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." The rod spoke of authority. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him and fought with Amalek, and Moses and Aaron and her went up to the top of the hill. It came to pass when Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy. And they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat there on, and Aaron and her stayed on his hands, stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side, and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

[John Weaver] And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for memorial in a book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." Now, what in the world was Moses doing? Moses was up on the hill holding up the rod of God which spoke of authority, no doubt interceding and praying at the same time while Joshua was down there fighting with a sword.

[John Weaver] I wonder how many prayer councils and prayer meetings that our leaders had over in Desert Storm or over in Vietnam. Do you understand what I'm saying? Probably none. I'm sure the men who prayed were in foxholes, but the leaders didn't have the prayer meeting. They didn't hold up the Word of God or the authority of God. Turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Hebrews, chapter 11. Watch this. Hebrews 11.

[John Weaver] Book what the author of the book of Hebrews says, Hebrews 11, verse 32, and what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthah and of David and of Samuel and of the prophets, watch, who through faith subdued kingdoms. wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." I want to call your attention to the fact that it was Gideon and Samson and Barak and Samuel and Jephthah and the prophets.

[John Weaver] In other words, they were godly men. You know, we think from time to time that what we need in this country is a good, strong, tough, disciplined, knowledgeable military leader, to lead us in a battle that we might win. I've got news for you folks. You can pick the top and the toughest and the most disciplined military leader in the world, and we will not win. without God. And what we do not need is a taught leader. What we do need is a holy, godly leader who's tuned to the Lord Himself.

[John Weaver] Because God's battles are built around the premise of holiness and righteousness and justice. Now let me make just a couple of applications. First of all, number one, it is each man's responsibility to determine according to the word of God the holiness and the justice of a cause. It is each man's responsibility to determine according to the word of God the holiness and the justice of a cause. That means we must know what God teaches in every area of life, and we must always act in accordance with the word of God.

[John Weaver] I'll share this with you in the last unregistered conference up in Indy. There were probably several hundred men who went forward at the end of the service and made a covenant with God and with each other that if any agency ever came to take each other's children, The rest of us would go there and do whatever was necessary to preserve those children. You say, Brother Weaver, I wouldn't fight for that. Well, you better find out what God says about children being the heritage of the Lord. See what I'm saying? We better know what the Word of God teaches.

[John Weaver] If we have to wait until it's too late Most of us will never act. We better know what a holy cause is. We better know that God demands his army to be holy, his camp to be holy, and his leaders to be holy.

[John Weaver] Secondly, once we determine to fight and war, we must remember that God has rules of engagement. God has laws and ordinances concerning war and fighting, and we must remember that above all, we must be holy in order that we will not be an Achan in the camp. An Achan only destroys. He never protects. He never preserves. If a man is in a battle for what he can get out of the battle, he's in it for the wrong reason. We've got to learn to be holy in every area of our life. We need to pray, Lord, help me never to be naked. Help me to think of others as well as your honor and your glory. and put you and others above myself and my desires, and I will be holy in every situation. There is holy war. Shall we pray? Father, we ask you today to help us, to teach us, to build us up in the most holy faith. Enable us, Lord, to understand the concept that God is a warrior. and that your wars are indeed holy.

[John Weaver] Enable us, Lord, to always be able to examine everything in light of the Word of God. And that once we know what thou dost teach, to act upon it. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, You may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abracorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406.

[John Weaver] Or give us a call at 912-925-7000.

[John Weaver] You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com

Concepts of a Holy War, Part 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	127111030167
Subject	Sermon Series
Course	Sermon Series: Holy War, Prayer, and Spiritual Conflict
Genre	Sermon
Date	1996-11-10
Dictation Name
Book	Book 102: Concepts of a Holy War — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	80

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous lesson on God as a warrior and the concept of holy war, noting that 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord as an act of worship.

This is the passage that we read last week. I want to read again and then continue on the message. Remember, we've been dealing with the subject, the biblical doctrine of war. In the first lesson, I dealt with the fact that God is a warrior, and I showed you over and over in Scripture how the Word of God emphasizes the fact that the Lord is a man of war, and how the Lord fights over and over. Then, if you will, in Joshua 4 and verse 13, we began last week with this on the concept of holy war. The Bible says about 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle to the plains of Jericho. Of course, just simply reviewing last week, I told you about the Islamic jihad, which is just simply the Islamic holy war. And there is a concept of holy war that is taught in the Bible. In fact, all of the wars that God ordered Israel to engage in are referred to as the wars of the Lord.

As I quoted earlier, how the Bible calls God Himself a man of war. The Bible teaches that God delivered Israel by means of war. So very obviously there is a concept of holy war. Remember, as I ended the message last week, I dealt with this phrase, how these 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord. That is, they passed over as unto the Lord, not only in the presence of, but as unto the Lord.

All Life is Religious and Covenantal

Warfare is not secular but sacred, regulated by God's covenant. New Testament passages like 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23 show every activity must glorify God.

It was part and parcel of their worship. Let's begin today by letting me make this statement. In ancient Israel, all life was religious. And all life was covenantally related to God, and warfare was no exception. I'm going to prove this to you later on as we get into this study, not necessarily today, but warfare is not only religious in the Bible, but it is covenantally related to God. In ancient Israel as today, and I'll explain later, there is no such thing as a division between the secular and the sacred. You don't have a secular area here and a sacred area here. That is absolute heresy. According to the Bible, not only in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, absolutely everything is sacred, and war was certainly no exception. You see, warfare, according to the Bible, reminds you that the Bible is the book of the covenant. In the Bible, the Bible gives us the rules and the regulations and the parameters for engaging in warfare. So war was an aspect of worship for Israel.

I want you to understand that it had to be conducted according to the rules laid out by the sovereign God of the Bible. We should not think these statements strange because of the teachings of the New Testament. Let me show you, turning your Bibles, if you would please, first of all to 1 Corinthians 10 and look at verse 31. Notice what the Word of God says.

1 Corinthians 10 verse 31. God says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 10:31

"Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Now, whether I eat or drink, I am to eat and drink for God's glory. Whatever I do, whether it's digging a ditch or whether it's preaching or whether it's fighting, I am to do all for the honor and the glory of God. So there is no division, then, between the secular and the sacred. If you would turn right over to the book of Colossians chapter 3 and look at verse 23, the book of Colossians, chapter 3, and note verse 23. Here the Word of God says, "And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men." So whatever I am engaged in, once again, whether it's preaching or whether it's digging a ditch or whether it's farming or whether it's fighting in a holy war, I'm to do heartily as unto the Lord. So every sphere of our life is to be regulated by the Word of God.

Every activity of our life is to be done in honor and in the glory of God. So very obviously there is no distinction between the secular and the sacred. By the way, let me just point out the fact that this is one of the errors of modern-day churchism. Most people will go to church on Sunday, and they will appear so pious and so holy and so godly, and then they leave and go out Monday through Saturday, and they're as wicked as the devil himself. In other words, they're saying this part is sacred and this part is secular. That's absolutely hilarious in the sense that it's so absolutely false. And that's why many of you saw the articles in the paper over here where the judge wrote that Christians, especially preachers, should not be engaged in politics. That's absolutely ridiculous. That's saying here's an area over which God has absolutely no authority and the Bible has absolutely nothing to say about. There is no area, there is no sphere, there is no room in any place whatsoever over which God does not have absolute authority and absolutely sovereign control. So every sphere, every activity, every attitude of our life is to be regulated by the Word of God. And war is absolutely no exception to the fact that when we fight, we fight according to God's terms, that is in faith for God's honor and glory based upon God's law.

The Meaning of 'Prepare War'

The Hebrew word 'kodesh' translated 'prepare' in passages like Jeremiah 6:4 means to sanctify or make holy. God commands war to be sanctified.

Now, I've been developing this concept of holy war, and I asked this question last week. How can something so devastating, so destructive and so deadly as war be considered holy in any sense whatsoever? Well, let me give you a surprise today. I want you to turn in your Bibles to several passages. First of all, look in the book of Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse 4. In fact, we'll look at a number of these passages in Jeremiah, and there is a particular word that I want you to underline. Look in Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse 4 to begin with. Jeremiah 6 verse 4. God says, "Prepare ye war against her."

"Arise and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us, for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out." Now, let's go back to this word, prepare. "Prepare ye war against her." Now, I want you to underline that little word, prepare. Turn over your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 22 and look at verse 7. Jeremiah 22 and verse 7. Here God says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 22:7

"And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons, and they shall cut down my choice cedars and cast them into the fire."

Now, there's the little word, prepare.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 22:7

"And I will prepare destroyers against thee."

Turn right over to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 51. Jeremiah 51, and let's read verses 27 and 28. Jeremiah 51, verse 27. God says, "Set you up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz, appoint a captain against her, cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillars. Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, and the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion."

So twice now God has said, prepare, and of course in the context He's talking about preparing war. Now, if you look in the little book of Joel, Hosea, Joel, Amos. Look at Joel chapter 3 and verse 9. Joel 3 verse 9. Look what God says. Joel 3, verse 9, "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles, Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up." Now, in each passage that I have read, we've come across this one little word, prepare. God says, prepare war. Now, the interesting thing about the word prepare is the Hebrew word is Kodesh. What does that mean? The Hebrew word Kodesh literally means to make clean. It means to make holy, ceremoniously or morally. It means to consecrate, to dedicate, to be holy, to be sanctified, to be hallowed. Literally, when God said, prepare war, He is saying, sanctify war.

Now, let me show you. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Genesis, chapter 2 and verse 3. Genesis 2 and verse 3. Watch carefully. And on the seventh day, this is verse 2, of Genesis 2,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 2:3

"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made."

Watch verse 3,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 2:3

"And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it,"

or literally, "and prepared it." It is exactly the same Hebrew word, Kodesh. God sanctified or prepared the seventh day. If you turn over in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, chapter 29, Exodus chapter 29, and look at verse 43. Exodus 29, verse 43. Look what God says. "And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory." Literally, the tabernacle shall be prepared by my glory.

Now, the interesting thing is this. The Hebrew word Kodesh, which is translated prepare when he said prepare war, is the only Hebrew word in the Old Testament that is translated sanctified. So the word sanctify and the word prepare are synonymous. So when God says prepare war, He is saying sanctify war. It is the only word that is used over and over in the Old Testament for sanctification or for holiness or for righteousness as such. Now look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah 13 and you will see this word used and it is translated, sanctified. Look in your Bibles, Isaiah chapter 13, and let's begin reading there with verse 1. Isaiah chapter 13, verse 1. Notice what God says.

"For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land. And the stranger shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the Lord shall take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids. And they shall take them captives, whose captives they were, and they shall rule over their oppressors." "It shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from thy hard bondage where thou wast made to serve. Thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased, the golden city ceased? Note now, the Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers." He has broken the scepters of the rulers.

Now, this is not the passage that I wanted, but it's the passage I got on reading in chapter 14, no wonder. Chapter 13 is what I wanted. Are you in chapter 13? Okay, I was in fourteen. I knew I was wrong. "The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. Lift ye up a standard upon the high mountain. Exalt the voice unto them. Shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles."

"I have commanded my sanctified ones." That's what I want, and I want you to note this is referring to the army, to the invading army. "I have commanded my sanctified ones. I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people, a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together." "The Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, watch, and the weapons of his indignation to destroy the whole land."

Now, the point I want to make is this. First of all, in verse 4, the Lord of hosts mustereth, that is, He calls together the host of the battle. Note verse 5, they are the weapons of His indignation to destroy the whole land, but in verse 3, He said, "I have commanded my sanctified ones" or "my prepared ones," it is exactly the same word. So very obviously, there is a concept of holy war because the word sanctified is used over and over, not only in reference to war, but in reference to the holy things of God as well. Now, in order for war to be holy, several biblical principles must be evident. I'm going to give you four biblical principles of holy war today.

First Principle: The Cause Must Be Holy

A holy war requires a just cause, not selfish gain. David fought Goliath because God was dishonored; Nehemiah fought to defend families and God's work.

Let me explain by making this statement. The list I'm going to give you may not be exhaustive. There may be other things that you could add to this list. But what I'm going to give you is an irreducible minimum. These four things must be, if war is to be holy.

Now, we know there is such a thing as holy war, for God Himself is engaged in it, and God has used the word sanctified over and over when He said, sanctify war or prepare war. Now, what are the four principles that determine whether or not a war is holy? First of all, number one, the cause must be holy. The cause must be holy. The cause is that for which one is fighting. It is his reason for fighting. It is his goal in fighting. It is his aim in fighting. That means the cause must be holy. The cause is that which motivates one, which pushes one, which exerts power over one. What makes men fight? Well, you say they have a cause. Well, let me tell you. Do you realize some people will fight without a cause? I want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 109, and I want you to note that it is the wicked, it is the ungodly, that make war without a cause. Note, if you would please, Psalm 109, and let's begin reading there with verse 1.

"Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me, they have spoken against me with a lying tongue, they compass me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause." So the wicked and the heathen fight without a cause. You could go ahead and say this, that the wicked and the heathen will fight with an unholy and with an unjust cause. But when the godly fight, there is a cause, and it is to be a holy cause. Let me put this out. Simply because some person, or simply because a number of people, or one nation, wishes to possess the resources of another people, or another nation, is not a sufficient cause to fight. That is nothing more than selfishness and covetousness and greediness. We don't whip people and fight people just to possess their oil wells and diamond mines and gold mines.

Now, let me show you what I'm talking about. There must be a cause, and the cause must be holy. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel, chapter 17. I'm sure that everyone will be familiar with this passage. 1 Samuel, chapter 17, this is when David goes to fight Goliath. And I'm not going to be developing this whole story. But everyone knows how the Philistine has presented himself morning and evening for forty days, challenging the armies of Israel and, of course, the God of Israel as well. Let's begin reading with verse 22 of 1 Samuel, chapter 17. David has been sent now to check on his brothers, and David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage and ran into the army and came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion of the Philistines, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words, and David heard them. So now David has heard Goliath challenge God and the armies of Israel.

"And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were sore afraid. The men of Israel said, Have you seen this man that has come up? Surely to defy Israel has he come up? It shall be that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? The people answered him after the manner saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. And Eliab, his eldest brother, heard when he spake unto the men, and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart, for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle."

So now Eliab is looking down his nose upon David. He said, David, you're not even a warrior, you're not even fit to fight, get out of here. Watch verse 29, "And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" Now, skip down to verse 36. David says, "Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God." Now skip down to verse 45. Then said David, he's going out to meet Goliath, "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." Look what he said in verse 29. "Is there not a cause?" God was dishonored.

His people disgraced and his army dismayed. David said, look, this is the cause. And the cause is God is being dishonored. God is not receiving the honor and the glory that's due in His name from this. Moreover, His people are being disgraced. There is a cause. I'll fight the man. I'm ready to fight. I'm willing to fight. And the same God that delivered me out of the mouth of the lion and the bear, He'll deliver me out of the hands of this uncircumcised Philistine. So very obviously there was a cause.

Now, I'm not going to take the time today to go down through scripture and list all of the holy causes, but I do want to show you another one. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Nehemiah chapter 4. Nehemiah chapter 4, right after the book of Ezra, Ezra and Nehemiah. Nehemiah chapter 4, and everybody knows the story, or at least you should know the story, how Nehemiah is rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. And there were some men that conspired against Nehemiah to stop the work and to kill him and the people who were helping him. Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian, the Ammonites, the Ashdodites, all these people were gathering together. They were going to plan a surprise attack and thus destroy the work and Nehemiah and those people. Let's begin reading Nehemiah 4, verse 8. "And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem and to hinder it."

Scripture Reading — Nehemiah 4:8-14

"Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and we set a watch against them day and night because of them. And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burden is decayed, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build a wall. And our adversary said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease."

So they are planning a surprise attack. They're going to destroy the work and kill Nehemiah and the people working on the wall. Verse 12,

Scripture Reading — Nehemiah 4:8-14

"And it came to pass that when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said unto us, Ten times from all places whence ye shall return unto us, they will be upon you."

Now, that's really encouraging, isn't it? Because here are the ones dwelling close to the enemy. They said, You can't win. I mean, man, they'll kill you before you know what's going to happen. Watch verse 13.

"Therefore, said I, in the lower places behind the wall, and in the higher places I even set the people after their families with their swords and their spears and their bows. And I looked and rose up and said unto the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren and your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses." Now, what was he saying? He's saying, look, they're going to come upon us and kill us. We better fight. We better fight, first of all, for our God. We better fight, secondly, for our brethren, for our sons, for our daughters, for our wives, for our houses. In other words, it is a holy fight and a fight for the people that God has entrusted to you. Whether it's defending your family, or defending your neighbors, or defending your brethren, it's a holy fight. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to 2 Samuel 10.

Let's begin reading there with verse 6. 2 Samuel 10, verse 6.

2 Samuel 10, verse 6, "And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah twenty thousand footmen, and of the king of Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the hosts of the mighty men. And the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate. And the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and of Ishtob and Maacah were by themselves in the field. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians. And the rest of the people he delivered in the hand of Abishai, his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me, and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come to help thee."

Watch, "Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people and for the cities of our God, and the Lord do that which seemeth him good." What is he saying? Be of good courage, let's fight for our people and for our cities, that is, for the possessions that God has given unto us. So it is a holy and just cause then to fight to preserve your nation or your city or your family or your country in any way you want to say it. Like I said earlier, it's not my intent today to list all the holy causes. I'm sure that would be humanly impossible, because there are causes that will come up that I don't even know about.

There are circumstances that would arise that I would certainly be unfamiliar with. But the point is this. Whatever cause we are going to fight for, that cause must be scrutinized. That cause must be closely studied and compared with the Word of God. Let me put it plainly. It is your responsibility to make sure that the cause is holy and right. It is your responsibility to consider whatever you're willing to fight for in light of the Word of God. It's your responsibility to make sure that you do not fight for anything unbiblical, unchristian, and ungodly. It is your responsibility to make sure that you're not hoodwinked, you're not suckered, and that you don't run off half-cocked into something that you shouldn't be involved in. You follow that? Because the cause must be holy. And how in the world can you determine whether or not a cause is holy unless you examine it in light of the Word of God? Now, if you were to just take that one principle and compare it with the wars that were fought in the last twenty or thirty years, you'd probably find that we don't have a holy cause to fight in most of those wars.

Second Principle: The Army Must Be Holy

Deuteronomy 23:9 commands the army to keep from every wicked thing. Achan's sin at Jericho shows how one man's impurity brings defeat and curse on the whole camp.

So the cause must be holy. That's the first prerequisite. Secondly, the army must be holy. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 23. Deuteronomy 23. And look, if you would please, at verse 9. Look what God tells His people. Deuteronomy 23 and verse 9. God says, "When the host," that is, when the army, "goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing." Now, note that. When the host, that is, when the army, goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. God says, I not only want a holy cause, I want a holy army. If you're involved in fighting my battle, said God, you make sure that you keep yourself from every wicked thing.

Now here is the second principle. God not only demands that the cause be holy, He demands that the people who fight for the holy cause be holy themselves.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 23:9

"Keep thee from every wicked thing."

Now, the word wicked is the Hebrew word ra. It means that which is bad, evil, wicked, and wrong. Let me show you several passages. I want you to turn first of all to Deuteronomy chapter 17. Let's begin reading there with verse 1, Deuteronomy 17, verse 1. Remember God said,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 23:9

"Keep thee from every wicked thing."

God says, "Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any ill-favouredness, for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God. If there be found among you within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that have wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, either the sun or the moon, or any of the hosts of heaven, which I have not commanded. And it be told thee that thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently. And behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel, Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman which hath committed that wicked thing unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and thou shalt stone him with stones till they die." Now, what is the wicked thing in the context here? The wicked thing in the context happens to be idolatry.

He says in verse 5, "...then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman which hath committed that wicked thing." Remember he said, when your army goes forth to war against your enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. In this context, the wicked thing happens to be idolatry. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 30 and verse 22.

1 Samuel 30, verse 22. "Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them aught of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart. And David said, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us." "...who hath preserved us and delivered the company that came against us into our hand." Now, note back, if you would, please, at verse 22. "Then answered all the wicked" what? "Men." That's the same word. "Then answered all the wicked men."

Now, I'm trying to point out the fact that in Deuteronomy 17, the wicked thing was idolatry. In 1 Samuel chapter 30, the wicked thing is an attitude. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Kings chapter 17 and verse 11. 2 Kings 17 verse 11.

"And there they burned incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them, and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger." So once again, the phrase, wicked things, here is in reference to idolatry and all of those things that go along with it. Let me point this out. When God says, when your host goes out to battle against your enemy, then keep thee from every wicked thing. The word thing is dabar in the Hebrew, and it means, listen, a word, a matter, a thing, or a cause. So when God says, keep thee from every wicked thing, He's not just talking about actions. He's talking about attitudes. He's talking about ideas and speech as well. We're to keep everything holy. Our minds, our bodies, our attitudes. "Then keep thee from every wicked thing." In other words, God desires to use holy vessels for His work.

Now, look in your Bible. Let me show you several illustrations. Look in your Bibles. First of all, to the book of Joshua chapter 3. Joshua chapter 3, verse 5. The children of Israel are crossing over the river. Look what God tells them through Joshua. Joshua 3, verse 5. "And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."

Now, what did he tell them? Sanctify yourselves. Why? For tomorrow the Lord is going to do wonders among you. Look in verse 13 of chapter 4, our text. "About 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle." Isn't it interesting? He just got out of his mouth, sanctify yourselves.

Now he says you pass over to the battle. Why? Because God not only desires a holy cause, but He desires a holy people to fight in that holy cause. Turn right over to the book of Joshua, chapter 6. Since we're talking about Jericho, I want you to understand that Jericho was totally cursed. Look in Joshua 6, verses 17 and 18. God says, Joshua 6 verse 17, "...and the city," that is Jericho, "...shall be a curse, even it, and all that are therein to the Lord, only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in her house, because she hid the messengers that we sent."

"And you," watch now, "...and you in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing," you might also say wicked thing, "lest you make yourselves accursed, when you take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel accursed and troubled." Now, look what God said. God said, Jericho is totally dedicated for destruction. The people and everything in it. I want it all destroyed. Now, God said, you make sure that you keep yourself from that accursed thing. If you don't, you're going to become accursed just like Jericho is accursed.

Now, let's go to chapter 7. Chapter 7, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Joshua 7:1-13

"But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing. For Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. Then they returned to Joshua and said unto him, Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up, and smite Ai, and make not all the people to labor thither, for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men, and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote them, about thirty and six men, and they chased them from before the gate, even to Shebarim, and smote them in the going down."

"Therefore the hearts of the people melted and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord, until the eventide. He and the elders of Israel had put dust upon their heads, and Joshua said, O LORD God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we had been content to dwell on the other side of Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us around, and cut off our name from the earth. And what wilt thou do unto thy great name? And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up. Wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant, which I commanded them. For they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed."

Watch it. "Neither will I be with you any more, except you destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of you, O Israel. Thou canst not stand before thine enemies until thou takest away the accursed thing from among you."

Now what had Achan done? Achan had seen the goodly Babylonian garment and the wedge of gold and silver and he had stolen it and taken it and hidden it in his tent. What happened to Achan? He was caught. He was condemned. He and his family were burned to death and stoned and covered up and left. Why? Because he committed an unholy act. He took that which God had said was not to be taken.

Everything in Jericho was dedicated to destruction. Now, I will hasten to tell you that there is a law of booty in the Bible, and we'll discuss that. But this is a distinct and separate thing, because God had specifically said everything in Jericho was dedicated to destruction. Everything in Jericho was to be accursed. And Achan stole and took that and brought the curse upon himself, upon his family, and upon the nation. And did you hear what God said? "Neither will I be with you any more until you deal with this." Now let me tell you something, folks. Sin does not just affect us alone. I've heard men say that we're drunkards. Well, bless God, so what if I get drunk? It's not affecting anybody but myself. That's not true. It affects your wife. It affects your children, it affects your family, and if you have a car that can kill somebody, it affects somebody else too, you see? You can't just sin by yourself and say, well, it's not going to affect anybody but me. Sin always affects other people as well. God says, look, I want a holy army because your sin will affect those that you associate with. Let me tell you something, folks. If I'm in a hole fighting for a holy cause, I want somebody next to me that's holy as well. I don't want some drunken pervert next to me that's going to bring the wrath and the curse of God down upon me because I'm next to him. I want somebody next to me that's going to do what's right.

Third Principle: The Camp Must Be Holy

God required sanitation and ceremonial cleanliness in the war camp because He walked among them. This lesser matter points to the greater need for moral purity.

And whoever is next to me is going to want somebody next to him who is going to do what's right. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to 2 Chronicles 25. Let me show you another illustration. 2 Chronicles 25, beginning with verse 5. Amaziah, king of Judah, had hired some men of Israel to go with him to fight. Only one problem. Israel, the northern tribes, were involved deeply in idolatry and Baal worship at this particular time. So he had hired 100,000 Israelites to help him fight. Watch this. 2 Chronicles 25, verse 5. "Moreover, Amaziah gathered Judah together and made them captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers throughout all Judah and Benjamin."

"And he numbered them from twenty years old and above and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war that could handle spear and shield." So he's got 300,000 soldiers. Watch verse 6. "He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor out of Israel for 100 talents of silver. But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee. For the Lord is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim." "But if thou wilt go, do it. Be strong for the battle. God shall make thee fall before the enemy, for God hath power to help and to cast down."

Now, let me stop right there. Now, the man of God said, look, don't let the Israelites go with you. God's not with them. They're unholy. They're involved in idolatry. Don't let them go. But if you're going to go, King, and take them, I want you to understand God is going to cast you down before your enemy. You're going to lose. That's all there is to it. Watch verse 9. Here's a true politician. "And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?" What are we going to do about all the money I've already spent? "And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this." Don't worry about the 100,000 talents of silver. God can take care of that.

You see what I'm saying? But now God says, don't let them go with you because at this time they are unholy. Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke, chapter 3. The book of Luke, chapter 3. God not only demands a holy cause, but a holy people to fight in that cause. Luke, chapter 3. John has been preaching repentance. There come some soldiers to John, and they ask the question, what shall we do? That is, what shall we do to evidence our repentance? Look what he says in Luke chapter 3, verse 14. "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do?" That is, how shall we evidence our repentance? "And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages." Let the camp be holy. The camp. Deuteronomy 23, beginning there with verse 9. He says, "When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing." Now, here's the camp. "If there be among you any man that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp." We're talking about the war camp now. "But it shall be when evening cometh on he shall wash himself with water, and when the sun is down he shall come into the camp again."

"Thou shalt have a place also without the camp whither thou shalt go forth abroad. And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon, and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back, and cover that which cometh from thee. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of the camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee." I want you to note how God is demanding holiness in the camp. First of all, the person who has become unclean through a nightly occurrence, or what we would call an accident, so to speak, wants to go out of the camp and remain there until evening, until he has ceremoniously cleansed himself. Moreover, God says you must have a latrine outside the camp. And he said each soldier was to have a paddle or a shovel or digging implement so that when he went outside to use the bathroom or to ease himself.

He dug a hole and then when he finished he turned again and covered it. Now, this may be part of where we get our slogan, Cleanliness is next to Godliness. By the way, that phrase is not in the Bible, although a lot of people think it is. But let me tell you something. As important as sanitation is, and as important as cleanliness is, this law does not have in view sanitary reasons behind it. Why did God tell them you've got to have a latrine outside the camp? You use a shovel.

You cover that which comes of yourself. Why would God say that? Look in verse 14. Here's why. "For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemy before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee." God says, I want the camp to be holy. The camp must be holy and it must be kept holy because Jehovah Himself walks there in the midst of His people. These requirements were to be followed, are you listening, out of consideration for and reverence to God and His holiness. You see, it is not that the excrement from man was shameful in and of itself. It's not a shameful thing that we have to go to the bathroom. That's the way God made us. Okay? It's not that that was shameful in and of itself, but through disobedience and a lack of reverence which the people would display in not removing it, it would offend the Lord and drive Him out of the camp.

Now, let me make this point. Here is an argument from the lesser to the greater. Are you listening? If God is so fastidious, if God is so peculiar, if God is so particular about what you and I would call little things, I mean, you know, just keeping a clean bathroom, just having cleanliness in your body, if God is so fastidious and so concerned about that, how much greater is He concerned about impure thoughts, immoral words, ungodly attitudes, and wicked actions? You see what I'm saying? God is saying, I want this little thing taken care of that you may know, I want the big things taken care of as well. Because He said, I am holy, and if I want to walk in your camp, I don't want any unclean thing around. I want absolute holiness. So we're not only to have a holy cause, a holy army, but a holy camp.

Fourth Principle: The Leader Must Be Holy

Divine warfare is led by godly men like Moses and Joshua, not merely skilled generals. Victory depends on holy leadership and prayer.

I told you this before, or at least most of you I've told, but I'll point it out again. You remember that one of the nicknames for a prostitute is a hooker. Remember I told you how they got that nickname? Because the Yankee general fighting Joe Hooker in order to boost the morale of his soldiers let the ladies of the night into his camp for his men. And these prostitutes were known as Hooker's Ladies. Later on, the term ladies was dropped, and they were just known as hookers. God demands that the camp be holy, as well as the men, as well as the cause. One last thing today, and that is this. Fourthly, the leader must be holy.

Do you realize divine warfare is usually not mediated by a Pentagon official or a cabinet officer. I can assure you that Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell would never make it in one of God's wars as a leader. Bill Clinton certainly could never make it in his reign. Because God demands that the leader be holy, usually when divine warfare is ordered. Not only do you have a holy cause, a holy army, a holy camp, but you have a holy leader. You have a Moses or a Joshua. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 17. Exodus 17, and let's begin reading there with verse 8. Exodus 17, verse 8. "Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." The rod spoke of authority. "So Joshua did as Moses had said to him and fought with Amalek, and Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass when Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy. And they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat thereon, and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side, and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun."

"And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." Now, what in the world was Moses doing? Moses was up on the hill holding up the rod of God which spoke of authority, no doubt interceding and praying at the same time while Joshua was down there fighting with a sword. I wonder how many prayer councils and prayer meetings that our leaders had over in Desert Storm or over in Vietnam. Do you understand what I'm saying? Probably none. I'm sure the men who prayed were in foxholes, but the leaders didn't have the prayer meeting. They didn't hold up the Word of God or the authority of God. Turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Hebrews, chapter 11. Watch this. Hebrews 11.

Look what the author of the book of Hebrews says, Hebrews 11, verse 32, "And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthah and of David and of Samuel and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." I want to call your attention to the fact that it was Gideon and Samson and Barak and Samuel and Jephthah and the prophets. In other words, they were godly men. You know, we think from time to time that what we need in this country is a good, strong, tough, disciplined, knowledgeable military leader, to lead us in a battle that we might win. I've got news for you folks. You can pick the top and the toughest and the most disciplined military leader in the world, and we will not win without God. And what we do not need is a taught leader. What we do need is a holy, godly leader who's tuned to the Lord Himself.

Because God's battles are built around the premise of holiness and righteousness and justice. Now let me make just a couple of applications. First of all, number one, it is each man's responsibility to determine according to the Word of God the holiness and the justice of a cause. It is each man's responsibility to determine according to the Word of God the holiness and the justice of a cause. That means we must know what God teaches in every area of life, and we must always act in accordance with the Word of God.

Applications and Conclusion

Believers must evaluate causes by Scripture, maintain holiness, and avoid being an Achan. God's rules of engagement require holiness in every area of life.

I'll share this with you. In the last unregistered conference up in Indy, there were probably several hundred men who went forward at the end of the service and made a covenant with God and with each other that if any agency ever came to take each other's children, the rest of us would go there and do whatever was necessary to preserve those children. You say, Brother Weaver, I wouldn't fight for that. Well, you better find out what God says about children being the heritage of the Lord. See what I'm saying? We better know what the Word of God teaches. If we have to wait until it's too late, most of us will never act. We better know what a holy cause is. We better know that God demands His army to be holy, His camp to be holy, and His leaders to be holy.

Secondly, once we determine to fight and war, we must remember that God has rules of engagement. God has laws and ordinances concerning war and fighting, and we must remember that above all, we must be holy in order that we will not be an Achan in the camp. An Achan only destroys. He never protects. He never preserves. If a man is in a battle for what he can get out of the battle, he's in it for the wrong reason. We've got to learn to be holy in every area of our life. We need to pray, Lord, help me never to be an Achan. Help me to think of others as well as Your honor and Your glory, and put You and others above myself and my desires, and I will be holy in every situation. There is holy war. Shall we pray? Father, we ask You today to help us, to teach us, to build us up in the most holy faith. Enable us, Lord, to understand the concept that God is a warrior, and that Your wars are indeed holy.

Enable us, Lord, to always be able to examine everything in light of the Word of God. And that once we know what Thou dost teach, to act upon it. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406. Or give us a call at 912-925-7000.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Holiness of Warfare

Summary: Warfare in the Bible is not secular but a sacred act of worship, sanctified by God's command.

Evidence: The Hebrew word 'kodesh' means both 'prepare' and 'sanctify,' used in commands like 'prepare war' (Jeremiah 6:4).

Covenantal Nature of All Life

Summary: Every sphere of life, including war, is religious and governed by God's covenant; there is no secular-sacred divide.

Evidence: 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23 command doing all to God's glory, including fighting.

Necessity of a Holy Cause

Summary: A just war must have a cause that honors God, not selfish ambition; believers must scrutinize causes by Scripture.

Evidence: David fought Goliath because God was defied (1 Samuel 17:29); Nehemiah fought for families and God's city (Nehemiah 4:14).

Purity of the Army and Camp

Summary: God demands holiness in the soldiers and the camp; impurity brings His curse and defeat.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 23:9-14 commands keeping from wickedness and maintaining cleanliness because God walks in the camp.

Godly Leadership in War

Summary: Victory in holy war requires leaders who are holy and prayerful, not just militarily skilled.

Evidence: Moses interceded with the rod of God while Joshua fought (Exodus 17); Hebrews 11 lists faith-filled warriors.

Key Arguments

War is an act of worship

Summary: In ancient Israel, warfare was part of worship and conducted according to God's rules, not a secular activity.

Evidence: The 40,000 prepared for war 'passed over before the Lord' as unto the Lord (Joshua 4:13).

The word 'prepare' means 'sanctify'

Summary: The Hebrew 'kodesh' used for 'prepare war' is the same word for sanctifying the Sabbath and tabernacle, proving war is to be made holy.

Evidence: Jeremiah 6:4 says 'prepare war'; Genesis 2:3 uses the same word for God sanctifying the seventh day.

A holy cause is essential

Summary: Fighting for selfish gain is wicked; a holy cause is one that defends God's honor, His people, and their inheritance.

Evidence: Psalm 109:3 says the wicked fight without a cause; David asked, 'Is there not a cause?' when God was defied (1 Samuel 17:29).

Sin in the camp brings defeat

Summary: Achan's theft of the accursed thing caused Israel's defeat at Ai, showing that one man's sin can bring God's curse on the whole army.

Evidence: Joshua 7:11-13 states Israel could not stand before enemies because they were accursed until the sin was removed.

God demands physical and moral cleanliness

Summary: The camp latrine law was not merely sanitary but a matter of reverence for God's holy presence, implying greater concern for moral purity.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 23:14 says the camp must be holy because God walks there to deliver them.

Holy leaders are required for divine victory

Summary: God's battles are led by prophets and godly men who exercise faith and prayer, not merely by military experts.

Evidence: Moses held up the rod of God in prayer while Joshua fought (Exodus 17); Hebrews 11:32-34 lists men of faith who conquered.

Scripture References

Joshua 4:13

Context: 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord, showing war as worship.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Context: Whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God, proving no secular-sacred divide.

Colossians 3:23

Context: Whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, applying to all activities including war.

Jeremiah 6:4

Context: God commands 'Prepare ye war,' using the Hebrew word for sanctify.

Jeremiah 22:7

Context: God says 'I will prepare destroyers,' again using the word for sanctify.

Jeremiah 51:27-28

Context: Commands to prepare nations for war, using the sanctify word.

Joel 3:9

Context: Proclaim among the Gentiles, 'Prepare war,' meaning sanctify war.

Genesis 2:3

Context: God sanctified the seventh day, using the same Hebrew word as 'prepare war.'

Exodus 29:43

Context: The tabernacle shall be sanctified by God's glory, same word as prepare.

Isaiah 13:3-5

Context: God commands His sanctified ones (army) as weapons of His indignation.

Psalm 109:2-3

Context: The wicked fight without a cause, contrasting with holy warfare.

1 Samuel 17:29, 36, 45

Context: David asks 'Is there not a cause?' and fights because Goliath defied the armies of the living God.

Nehemiah 4:8-14

Context: Nehemiah calls the people to fight for their brethren, families, and houses as a holy cause.

2 Samuel 10:12

Context: Joab says to play the men for our people and the cities of our God, a holy cause.

Deuteronomy 23:9

Context: When the host goes forth against enemies, keep from every wicked thing.

Deuteronomy 17:1-5

Context: Idolatry is a wicked thing; the army must avoid such wickedness.

Joshua 3:5

Context: Joshua tells the people to sanctify themselves for the Lord will do wonders.

Joshua 6:17-18

Context: Keep yourselves from the accursed thing lest you make the camp accursed.

Joshua 7:1-13

Context: Achan's sin caused defeat; God says sanctify the people and remove the accursed thing.

Deuteronomy 23:9-14

Context: Laws for camp cleanliness because God walks in the camp; the camp must be holy.

Historical References

Islamic jihad

Context: Mentioned as a contrast to the biblical concept of holy war; Islamic holy war is different from the wars of the Lord.

General 'Fighting Joe' Hooker

Context: Union general in the American Civil War who allowed prostitutes in his camp, leading to the term 'hooker.'

Desert Storm and Vietnam

Context: Modern wars cited as likely lacking holy leadership and prayer councils among commanders.

Important Quotes

In ancient Israel, all life was religious. And all life was covenantally related to God, and warfare was no exception.

Significance: Establishes the foundational premise that war is a sacred, covenantal act, not a secular endeavor.

Prepare ye war against her.

Significance: Key verse showing the command to sanctify war, using the Hebrew word kodesh.

The Hebrew word Kodesh literally means to make clean. It means to make holy, ceremoniously or morally. It means to consecrate, to dedicate, to be holy, to be sanctified, to be hallowed.

Significance: Defines the critical Hebrew term that links preparation for war with sanctification.

Is there not a cause?

Significance: David's rhetorical question highlighting that a holy war requires a just cause—God's honor was at stake.

When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.

Significance: Direct command that the army must be holy, avoiding all wickedness in action and attitude.

Neither will I be with you any more, except you destroy the accursed from among you.

Significance: God's warning that sin in the camp removes His presence and ensures defeat.

For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemy before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

Significance: The theological reason for camp cleanliness: God's holy presence demands holiness.

I have commanded my sanctified ones.

Significance: God refers to His army as sanctified ones, directly linking warfare to holiness.

Discussion Questions

How does the biblical concept of holy war differ from the Islamic concept of jihad?

Context: Weaver contrasts the two at the beginning of the sermon.

In what ways do 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23 challenge the modern division between sacred and secular activities?

Context: Weaver uses these verses to argue that all of life, including war, is to be done for God's glory.

Why is it significant that the Hebrew word for 'prepare' is the same as 'sanctify'? How does this shape our understanding of holy war?

Context: Weaver explains the meaning of kodesh in Jeremiah and other passages.

What criteria should believers use to determine if a cause for war is holy and just?

Context: Weaver emphasizes personal responsibility to scrutinize causes by Scripture.

How does the story of Achan illustrate the corporate effects of individual sin in a community engaged in God's work?

Context: Weaver uses Joshua 7 to show how one man's sin brought defeat on all Israel.

What does the camp latrine law teach us about God's concern for both physical and moral purity?

Context: Weaver argues from the lesser (sanitation) to the greater (moral purity) in Deuteronomy 23.

Why does God require holy leaders for warfare, and how does this contrast with modern military leadership?

Context: Weaver points to Moses, Joshua, and the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.

What practical steps can believers take to ensure they are not an 'Achan' in their families, churches, or nations?

Context: Weaver applies the lesson by urging holiness and self-examination.

Applications

Personal Responsibility to Evaluate Causes

Summary: Each believer must scrutinize any cause for war or conflict by the Word of God to ensure it is holy and just.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'It is your responsibility to make sure that the cause is holy and right... examine it in light of the Word of God.'

Maintain Personal Holiness

Summary: Believers must keep themselves from every wicked thing in thought, word, and deed, especially when engaged in spiritual battles.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 23:9 commands keeping from wickedness; Weaver warns against being an Achan who brings a curse.

Corporate Holiness Matters

Summary: Individual sin affects the whole community; we must pursue holiness for the sake of others and God's presence among us.

Evidence: Achan's sin caused Israel's defeat; God said He would not be with them until the accursed thing was removed.

Reverence for God's Presence

Summary: Even practical matters like cleanliness should be done out of reverence for God who walks among His people.

Evidence: The camp latrine law was given because God walked in the camp; we must honor His holiness in all details.

Need for Godly Leadership

Summary: In any conflict, we need leaders who are holy, prayerful, and reliant on God, not just human skill.

Evidence: Moses interceded while Joshua fought; modern wars lack such spiritual leadership.

Act on Biblical Knowledge

Summary: We must know what God's Word teaches about every area of life and be ready to act accordingly before crises arise.

Evidence: Weaver urges knowing what a holy cause is, referencing the covenant made at a conference to defend children.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:09:25Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:48:39Z

Clean Transcript

Concepts of a Holy War, Part 2

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

This is the passage that we read last week. I want to read again and then continue on the message. Remember, we've been dealing with the subject, the biblical doctrine of war. In the first lesson, I dealt with the fact that God is a warrior, and I showed you over and over in Scripture how the Word of God emphasizes the fact that the Lord is a man of war, and how the Lord fights over and over. Then, if you will, in Joshua 4 and verse 13, we began last week with this on the concept of holy war. The Bible says about 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle to the plains of Jericho. Of course, just simply reviewing last week, I told you about the Islamic jihad, which is just simply the Islamic holy war. And there is a concept of holy war that is taught in the Bible. In fact, all of the wars that God ordered Israel to engage in are referred to as the wars of the Lord.
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As I quoted earlier, how the Bible calls God Himself a man of war. The Bible teaches that God delivered Israel by means of war. So very obviously there is a concept of holy war. Remember, as I ended the message last week, I dealt with this phrase, how these 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord. That is, they passed over as unto the Lord, not only in the presence of, but as unto the Lord.
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It was part and parcel of their worship. Let's begin today by letting me make this statement. In ancient Israel, all life was religious. And all life was covenantally related to God, and warfare was no exception. I'm going to prove this to you later on as we get into this study, not necessarily today, but warfare is not only religious in the Bible, but it is covenantally related to God. In ancient Israel as today, and I'll explain later, there is no such thing as a division between the secular and the sacred. You don't have a secular area here and a sacred area here. That is absolute heresy. According to the Bible, not only in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, absolutely everything is sacred, and war was certainly no exception. You see, warfare, according to the Bible, reminds you that the Bible is the book of the covenant. In the Bible, the Bible gives us the rules and the regulations and the parameters for engaging in warfare. So war was an aspect of worship for Israel.
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I want you to understand that it had to be conducted according to the rules laid out by the sovereign God of the Bible. We should not think these statements strange because of the teachings of the New Testament. Let me show you, turning your Bibles, if you would please, first of all to 1 Corinthians 10 and look at verse 31. Notice what the Word of God says.
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1 Corinthians 10 verse 31. God says, "Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God." Now, whether I eat or drink, I am to eat and drink for God's glory. Whatever I do, whether it's digging a ditch or whether it's preaching or whether it's fighting, I am to do all for the honor and the glory of God. So there is no division, then, between the secular and the sacred. If you would turn right over to the book of Colossians chapter 3 and look at verse 23, the book of Colossians, chapter 3, and note verse 23. Here the Word of God says, "And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men." So whatever I am engaged in, once again, whether it's preaching or whether it's digging a ditch or whether it's farming or whether it's fighting in a holy war, I'm to do heartily as unto the Lord. So every sphere of our life is to be regulated by the Word of God.
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Every activity of our life is to be done in honor and in the glory of God. So very obviously there is no distinction between the secular and the sacred. By the way, let me just point out the fact that this is one of the errors of modern-day churchism. Most people will go to church on Sunday, and they will appear so pious and so holy and so godly, and then they leave and go out Monday through Saturday, and they're as wicked as the devil himself. In other words, they're saying this part is sacred and this part is secular.
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That's absolutely hilarious in the sense that it's so absolutely false. And that's why many of you saw the articles in the paper over here where the judge wrote that Christians, especially preachers, should not be engaged in politics. That's absolutely ridiculous. That's saying here's an area over which God has absolutely no authority and the Bible has absolutely nothing to say about. There is no area, there is no sphere, there is no room in any place whatsoever over which God does not have absolute authority and absolutely sovereign control. So every sphere, every activity, every attitude of our life is to be regulated by the Word of God. And war is absolutely no exception to the fact that when we fight, we fight according to God's terms, that is in faith for God's honor and glory based upon God's law.
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Now, I've been developing this concept of holy war, and I asked this question last week. How can something so devastating, so destructive and so deadly as war be considered holy in any sense whatsoever? Well, let me give you a surprise today. I want you to turn in your Bibles to several passages. First of all, look in the book of Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse 4. In fact, we'll look at a number of these passages in Jeremiah, and there is a particular word that I want you to underline. Look in Jeremiah chapter 6 and verse 4 to begin with. Jeremiah 6 verse 4. God says, "Prepare ye war against her."
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"Arise and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us, for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out."
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Now, let's go back to this word, prepare. "Prepare ye war against her." Now, I want you to underline that little word, prepare. Turn over your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 22 and look at verse 7. Jeremiah 22 and verse 7. Here God says, "And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons, and they shall cut down my choice cedars and cast them into the fire." Now, there's the little word, prepare. "And I will prepare destroyers against thee." Turn right over to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 51. Jeremiah 51, and let's read verses 27 and 28. Jeremiah 51, verse 27. God says, "Set you up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz, appoint a captain against her, cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillars. Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, and the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion."
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So twice now God has said, prepare, and of course in the context He's talking about preparing war. Now, if you look in the little book of Joel, Hosea, Joel, Amos. Look at Joel chapter 3 and verse 9. Joel 3 verse 9. Look what God says. Joel 3, verse 9, "Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles, Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up." Now, in each passage that I have read, we've come across this one little word, prepare. God says, prepare war. Now, the interesting thing about the word prepare is the Hebrew word is Kodesh. What does that mean? The Hebrew word Kodesh literally means to make clean. It means to make holy, ceremoniously or morally. It means to consecrate, to dedicate, to be holy, to be sanctified, to be hallowed. Literally, when God said, prepare war, He is saying, sanctify war.
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Now, let me show you. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Genesis, chapter 2 and verse 3. Genesis 2 and verse 3. Watch carefully. And on the seventh day, this is verse 2, of Genesis 2, "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made." Watch verse 3, "And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it," or literally, "and prepared it."
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It is exactly the same Hebrew word, Kodesh. God sanctified or prepared the seventh day. If you turn over in your Bibles to the book of Exodus, chapter 29, Exodus chapter 29, and look at verse 43. Exodus 29, verse 43. Look what God says. "And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory." Literally, the tabernacle shall be prepared by my glory.
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Now, the interesting thing is this. The Hebrew word Kodesh, which is translated prepare when he said prepare war, is the only Hebrew word in the Old Testament that is translated sanctified. So the word sanctify and the word prepare are synonymous. So when God says prepare war, He is saying sanctify war. It is the only word that is used over and over in the Old Testament for sanctification or for holiness or for righteousness as such. Now look in your Bibles to the book of Isaiah 13 and you will see this word used and it is translated, sanctified. Look in your Bibles, Isaiah chapter 13, and let's begin reading there with verse 1. Isaiah chapter 13, verse 1. Notice what God says.
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"For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land. And the stranger shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the Lord shall take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids. And they shall take them captives, whose captives they were, and they shall rule over their oppressors."
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"It shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from thy hard bondage where thou wast made to serve. Thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased, the golden city ceased? Note now, the Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers." He has broken the scepters of the rulers.
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Now, this is not the passage that I wanted, but it's the passage I got on reading in chapter 14, no wonder. Chapter 13 is what I wanted. Are you in chapter 13? Okay, I was in fourteen. I knew I was wrong. "The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. Lift ye up a standard upon the high mountain. Exalt the voice unto them. Shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles."
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"I have commanded my sanctified ones." That's what I want, and I want you to note this is referring to the army, to the invading army. "I have commanded my sanctified ones. I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people, a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together."
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"The Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, watch, and the weapons of his indignation to destroy the whole land."
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Now, the point I want to make is this. First of all, in verse 4, the Lord of hosts mustereth, that is, He calls together the host of the battle. Note verse 5, they are the weapons of His indignation to destroy the whole land, but in verse 3, He said, "I have commanded my sanctified ones" or "my prepared ones," it is exactly the same word. So very obviously, there is a concept of holy war because the word sanctified is used over and over, not only in reference to war, but in reference to the holy things of God as well. Now, in order for war to be holy, several biblical principles must be evident. I'm going to give you four biblical principles of holy war today.
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Let me explain by making this statement. The list I'm going to give you may not be exhaustive. There may be other things that you could add to this list. But what I'm going to give you is an irreducible minimum. These four things must be, if war is to be holy.
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Now, we know there is such a thing as holy war, for God Himself is engaged in it, and God has used the word sanctified over and over when He said, sanctify war or prepare war. Now, what are the four principles that determine whether or not a war is holy? First of all, number one, the cause must be holy. The cause must be holy. The cause is that for which one is fighting. It is his reason for fighting. It is his goal in fighting. It is his aim in fighting. That means the cause must be holy. The cause is that which motivates one, which pushes one, which exerts power over one. What makes men fight? Well, you say they have a cause. Well, let me tell you. Do you realize some people will fight without a cause? I want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 109, and I want you to note that it is the wicked, it is the ungodly, that make war without a cause. Note, if you would please, Psalm 109, and let's begin reading there with verse 1.
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"Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise. For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me, they have spoken against me with a lying tongue, they compass me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause." So the wicked and the heathen fight without a cause. You could go ahead and say this, that the wicked and the heathen will fight with an unholy and with an unjust cause. But when the godly fight, there is a cause, and it is to be a holy cause.
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Let me put this out. Simply because some person, or simply because a number of people, or one nation, wishes to possess the resources of another people, or another nation, is not a sufficient cause to fight. That is nothing more than selfishness and covetousness and greediness. We don't whip people and fight people just to possess their oil wells and diamond mines and gold mines.
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Now, let me show you what I'm talking about. There must be a cause, and the cause must be holy. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel, chapter 17. I'm sure that everyone will be familiar with this passage. 1 Samuel, chapter 17, this is when David goes to fight Goliath. And I'm not going to be developing this whole story. But everyone knows how the Philistine has presented himself morning and evening for forty days, challenging the armies of Israel and, of course, the God of Israel as well. Let's begin reading with verse 22 of 1 Samuel, chapter 17. David has been sent now to check on his brothers, and David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage and ran into the army and came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion of the Philistines, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words, and David heard them. So now David has heard Goliath challenge God and the armies of Israel.
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"And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were sore afraid. The men of Israel said, Have you seen this man that has come up? Surely to defy Israel has he come up? It shall be that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? The people answered him after the manner saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. And Eliab, his eldest brother, heard when he spake unto the men, and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart, for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle."
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So now Eliab is looking down his nose upon David. He said, David, you're not even a warrior, you're not even fit to fight, get out of here. Watch verse 29, "And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" Now, skip down to verse 36. David says, "Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God." Now skip down to verse 45. Then said David, he's going out to meet Goliath, "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." Look what he said in verse 29. "Is there not a cause?" God was dishonored.
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His people disgraced and his army dismayed. David said, look, this is the cause. And the cause is God is being dishonored. God is not receiving the honor and the glory that's due in His name from this. Moreover, His people are being disgraced. There is a cause. I'll fight the man. I'm ready to fight. I'm willing to fight. And the same God that delivered me out of the mouth of the lion and the bear, He'll deliver me out of the hands of this uncircumcised Philistine. So very obviously there was a cause.
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Now, I'm not going to take the time today to go down through scripture and list all of the holy causes, but I do want to show you another one. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Nehemiah chapter 4. Nehemiah chapter 4, right after the book of Ezra, Ezra and Nehemiah. Nehemiah chapter 4, and everybody knows the story, or at least you should know the story, how Nehemiah is rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. And there were some men that conspired against Nehemiah to stop the work and to kill him and the people who were helping him. Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian, the Ammonites, the Ashdodites, all these people were gathering together. They were going to plan a surprise attack and thus destroy the work and Nehemiah and those people. Let's begin reading Nehemiah 4, verse 8. "And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem and to hinder it."
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"Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and we set a watch against them day and night because of them. And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burden is decayed, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build a wall. And our adversary said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease." So they are planning a surprise attack. They're going to destroy the work and kill Nehemiah and the people working on the wall.
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Verse 12, "And it came to pass that when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said unto us, Ten times from all places whence ye shall return unto us, they will be upon you." Now, that's really encouraging, isn't it? Because here are the ones dwelling close to the enemy. They said, You can't win. I mean, man, they'll kill you before you know what's going to happen. Watch verse 13.
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"Therefore, said I, in the lower places behind the wall, and in the higher places I even set the people after their families with their swords and their spears and their bows. And I looked and rose up and said unto the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren and your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses."
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Now, what was he saying? He's saying, look, they're going to come upon us and kill us. We better fight. We better fight, first of all, for our God. We better fight, secondly, for our brethren, for our sons, for our daughters, for our wives, for our houses. In other words, it is a holy fight and a fight for the people that God has entrusted to you. Whether it's defending your family, or defending your neighbors, or defending your brethren, it's a holy fight. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to 2 Samuel 10.
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Let's begin reading there with verse 6. 2 Samuel 10, verse 6.
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2 Samuel 10, verse 6, "And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah twenty thousand footmen, and of the king of Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the hosts of the mighty men. And the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate. And the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and of Ishtob and Maacah were by themselves in the field. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians. And the rest of the people he delivered in the hand of Abishai, his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me, and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come to help thee."
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Watch, "Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people and for the cities of our God, and the Lord do that which seemeth him good." What is he saying? Be of good courage, let's fight for our people and for our cities, that is, for the possessions that God has given unto us. So it is a holy and just cause then to fight to preserve your nation or your city or your family or your country in any way you want to say it. Like I said earlier, it's not my intent today to list all the holy causes. I'm sure that would be humanly impossible, because there are causes that will come up that I don't even know about.
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There are circumstances that would arise that I would certainly be unfamiliar with. But the point is this. Whatever cause we are going to fight for, that cause must be scrutinized. That cause must be closely studied and compared with the Word of God. Let me put it plainly. It is your responsibility to make sure that the cause is holy and right. It is your responsibility to consider whatever you're willing to fight for in light of the Word of God. It's your responsibility to make sure that you do not fight for anything unbiblical, unchristian, and ungodly. It is your responsibility to make sure that you're not hoodwinked, you're not suckered, and that you don't run off half-cocked into something that you shouldn't be involved in. You follow that? Because the cause must be holy. And how in the world can you determine whether or not a cause is holy unless you examine it in light of the Word of God? Now, if you were to just take that one principle and compare it with the wars that were fought in the last twenty or thirty years, you'd probably find that we don't have a holy cause to fight in most of those wars.
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So the cause must be holy. That's the first prerequisite. Secondly, the army must be holy. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 23. Deuteronomy 23. And look, if you would please, at verse 9. Look what God tells His people. Deuteronomy 23 and verse 9. God says, "When the host," that is, when the army, "goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing." Now, note that. When the host, that is, when the army, goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. God says, I not only want a holy cause, I want a holy army. If you're involved in fighting my battle, said God, you make sure that you keep yourself from every wicked thing.
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Now here is the second principle. God not only demands that the cause be holy, He demands that the people who fight for the holy cause be holy themselves. "Keep thee from every wicked thing." Now, the word wicked is the Hebrew word ra. It means that which is bad, evil, wicked, and wrong. Let me show you several passages. I want you to turn first of all to Deuteronomy chapter 17. Let's begin reading there with verse 1, Deuteronomy 17, verse 1. Remember God said, "Keep thee from every wicked thing."
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God says, "Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any ill-favouredness, for that is an abomination unto the Lord thy God. If there be found among you within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that have wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, either the sun or the moon, or any of the hosts of heaven, which I have not commanded. And it be told thee that thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently. And behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel, Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman which hath committed that wicked thing unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and thou shalt stone him with stones till they die." Now, what is the wicked thing in the context here? The wicked thing in the context happens to be idolatry.
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He says in verse 5, "...then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman which hath committed that wicked thing." Remember he said, when your army goes forth to war against your enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. In this context, the wicked thing happens to be idolatry. Look in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 30 and verse 22.
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1 Samuel 30, verse 22. "Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them aught of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart. And David said, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us."
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"...who hath preserved us and delivered the company that came against us into our hand." Now, note back, if you would, please, at verse 22. "Then answered all the wicked" what? "Men." That's the same word. "Then answered all the wicked men."
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Now, I'm trying to point out the fact that in Deuteronomy 17, the wicked thing was idolatry. In 1 Samuel chapter 30, the wicked thing is an attitude. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to 2 Kings chapter 17 and verse 11. 2 Kings 17 verse 11.
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"And there they burned incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them, and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger." So once again, the phrase, wicked things, here is in reference to idolatry and all of those things that go along with it. Let me point this out. When God says, when your host goes out to battle against your enemy, then keep thee from every wicked thing. The word thing is dabar in the Hebrew, and it means, listen, a word, a matter, a thing, or a cause. So when God says, keep thee from every wicked thing, He's not just talking about actions. He's talking about attitudes. He's talking about ideas and speech as well. We're to keep everything holy. Our minds, our bodies, our attitudes. "Then keep thee from every wicked thing." In other words, God desires to use holy vessels for His work.
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Now, look in your Bible. Let me show you several illustrations. Look in your Bibles. First of all, to the book of Joshua chapter 3. Joshua chapter 3, verse 5. The children of Israel are crossing over the river. Look what God tells them through Joshua. Joshua 3, verse 5. "And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you."
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Now, what did he tell them? Sanctify yourselves. Why? For tomorrow the Lord is going to do wonders among you. Look in verse 13 of chapter 4, our text. "About 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle." Isn't it interesting? He just got out of his mouth, sanctify yourselves.
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Now he says you pass over to the battle. Why? Because God not only desires a holy cause, but He desires a holy people to fight in that holy cause. Turn right over to the book of Joshua, chapter 6. Since we're talking about Jericho, I want you to understand that Jericho was totally cursed. Look in Joshua 6, verses 17 and 18. God says, Joshua 6 verse 17, "...and the city," that is Jericho, "...shall be a curse, even it, and all that are therein to the Lord, only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in her house, because she hid the messengers that we sent."
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"And you," watch now, "...and you in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing," you might also say wicked thing, "lest you make yourselves accursed, when you take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel accursed and troubled." Now, look what God said. God said, Jericho is totally dedicated for destruction. The people and everything in it. I want it all destroyed. Now, God said, you make sure that you keep yourself from that accursed thing. If you don't, you're going to become accursed just like Jericho is accursed.
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Now, let's go to chapter 7. Chapter 7, verse 1. "But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing. For Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. Then they returned to Joshua and said unto him, Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up, and smite Ai, and make not all the people to labor thither, for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men, and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote them, about thirty and six men, and they chased them from before the gate, even to Shebarim, and smote them in the going down."
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"Therefore the hearts of the people melted and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord, until the eventide. He and the elders of Israel had put dust upon their heads, and Joshua said, O LORD God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we had been content to dwell on the other side of Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us around, and cut off our name from the earth. And what wilt thou do unto thy great name? And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up. Wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant, which I commanded them. For they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed."
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Watch it. "Neither will I be with you any more, except you destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of you, O Israel. Thou canst not stand before thine enemies until thou takest away the accursed thing from among you."
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Now what had Achan done? Achan had seen the goodly Babylonian garment and the wedge of gold and silver and he had stolen it and taken it and hidden it in his tent. What happened to Achan? He was caught. He was condemned. He and his family were burned to death and stoned and covered up and left. Why? Because he committed an unholy act. He took that which God had said was not to be taken.
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Everything in Jericho was dedicated to destruction. Now, I will hasten to tell you that there is a law of booty in the Bible, and we'll discuss that. But this is a distinct and separate thing, because God had specifically said everything in Jericho was dedicated to destruction. Everything in Jericho was to be accursed. And Achan stole and took that and brought the curse upon himself, upon his family, and upon the nation. And did you hear what God said?
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"Neither will I be with you any more until you deal with this." Now let me tell you something, folks. Sin does not just affect us alone. I've heard men say that we're drunkards. Well, bless God, so what if I get drunk? It's not affecting anybody but myself. That's not true. It affects your wife. It affects your children, it affects your family, and if you have a car that can kill somebody, it affects somebody else too, you see? You can't just sin by yourself and say, well, it's not going to affect anybody but me. Sin always affects other people as well. God says, look, I want a holy army because your sin will affect those that you associate with. Let me tell you something, folks. If I'm in a hole fighting for a holy cause, I want somebody next to me that's holy as well. I don't want some drunken pervert next to me that's going to bring the wrath and the curse of God down upon me because I'm next to him. I want somebody next to me that's going to do what's right.
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And whoever is next to me is going to want somebody next to him who is going to do what's right. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to 2 Chronicles 25. Let me show you another illustration. 2 Chronicles 25, beginning with verse 5. Amaziah, king of Judah, had hired some men of Israel to go with him to fight. Only one problem. Israel, the northern tribes, were involved deeply in idolatry and Baal worship at this particular time. So he had hired 100,000 Israelites to help him fight. Watch this. 2 Chronicles 25, verse 5. "Moreover, Amaziah gathered Judah together and made them captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers throughout all Judah and Benjamin."
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"And he numbered them from twenty years old and above and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war that could handle spear and shield." So he's got 300,000 soldiers. Watch verse 6. "He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor out of Israel for 100 talents of silver. But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee. For the Lord is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim."
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"But if thou wilt go, do it. Be strong for the battle. God shall make thee fall before the enemy, for God hath power to help and to cast down."
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Now, let me stop right there. Now, the man of God said, look, don't let the Israelites go with you. God's not with them. They're unholy. They're involved in idolatry. Don't let them go. But if you're going to go, King, and take them, I want you to understand God is going to cast you down before your enemy. You're going to lose. That's all there is to it. Watch verse 9. Here's a true politician. "And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?" What are we going to do about all the money I've already spent? "And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this." Don't worry about the 100,000 talents of silver. God can take care of that.
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You see what I'm saying? But now God says, don't let them go with you because at this time they are unholy.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke, chapter 3. The book of Luke, chapter 3. God not only demands a holy cause, but a holy people to fight in that cause. Luke, chapter 3. John has been preaching repentance. There come some soldiers to John, and they ask the question, what shall we do? That is, what shall we do to evidence our repentance? Look what he says in Luke chapter 3, verse 14. "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do?" That is, how shall we evidence our repentance? "And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages." Let the camp be holy. The camp. Deuteronomy 23, beginning there with verse 9. He says, "When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing." Now, here's the camp. "If there be among you any man that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp." We're talking about the war camp now. "But it shall be when evening cometh on he shall wash himself with water, and when the sun is down he shall come into the camp again."
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"Thou shalt have a place also without the camp whither thou shalt go forth abroad. And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon, and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back, and cover that which cometh from thee. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of the camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee." I want you to note how God is demanding holiness in the camp. First of all, the person who has become unclean through a nightly occurrence, or what we would call an accident, so to speak, wants to go out of the camp and remain there until evening, until he has ceremoniously cleansed himself. Moreover, God says you must have a latrine outside the camp. And he said each soldier was to have a paddle or a shovel or digging implement so that when he went outside to use the bathroom or to ease himself.
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He dug a hole and then when he finished he turned again and covered it. Now, this may be part of where we get our slogan, Cleanliness is next to Godliness. By the way, that phrase is not in the Bible, although a lot of people think it is. But let me tell you something. As important as sanitation is, and as important as cleanliness is, this law does not have in view sanitary reasons behind it. Why did God tell them you've got to have a latrine outside the camp? You use a shovel.
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You cover that which comes of yourself. Why would God say that? Look in verse 14. Here's why. "For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemy before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee." God says, I want the camp to be holy. The camp must be holy and it must be kept holy because Jehovah Himself walks there in the midst of His people. These requirements were to be followed, are you listening, out of consideration for and reverence to God and His holiness. You see, it is not that the excrement from man was shameful in and of itself. It's not a shameful thing that we have to go to the bathroom. That's the way God made us. Okay? It's not that that was shameful in and of itself, but through disobedience and a lack of reverence which the people would display in not removing it, it would offend the Lord and drive Him out of the camp.
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Now, let me make this point. Here is an argument from the lesser to the greater. Are you listening? If God is so fastidious, if God is so peculiar, if God is so particular about what you and I would call little things, I mean, you know, just keeping a clean bathroom, just having cleanliness in your body, if God is so fastidious and so concerned about that, how much greater is He concerned
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about impure thoughts, immoral words, ungodly attitudes, and wicked actions? You see what I'm saying? God is saying, I want this little thing taken care of that you may know, I want the big things taken care of as well. Because He said, I am holy, and if I want to walk in your camp, I don't want any unclean thing around. I want absolute holiness. So we're not only to have a holy cause, a holy army, but a holy camp.
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I told you this before, or at least most of you I've told, but I'll point it out again. You remember that one of the nicknames for a prostitute is a hooker. Remember I told you how they got that nickname? Because the Yankee general fighting Joe Hooker in order to boost the morale of his soldiers let the ladies of the night into his camp for his men. And these prostitutes were known as Hooker's Ladies. Later on, the term ladies was dropped, and they were just known as hookers. God demands that the camp be holy, as well as the men, as well as the cause. One last thing today, and that is this. Fourthly, the leader must be holy.
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Do you realize divine warfare is usually not mediated by a Pentagon official or a cabinet officer. I can assure you that Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell would never make it in one of God's wars as a leader. Bill Clinton certainly could never make it in his reign. Because God demands that the leader be holy, usually when divine warfare is ordered. Not only do you have a holy cause, a holy army, a holy camp, but you have a holy leader.
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You have a Moses or a Joshua. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Exodus chapter 17. Exodus 17, and let's begin reading there with verse 8. Exodus 17, verse 8. "Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." The rod spoke of authority. "So Joshua did as Moses had said to him and fought with Amalek, and Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass when Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy. And they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat thereon, and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side, and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun."
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"And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." Now, what in the world was Moses doing? Moses was up on the hill holding up the rod of God which spoke of authority, no doubt interceding and praying at the same time while Joshua was down there fighting with a sword.
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I wonder how many prayer councils and prayer meetings that our leaders had over in Desert Storm or over in Vietnam. Do you understand what I'm saying? Probably none. I'm sure the men who prayed were in foxholes, but the leaders didn't have the prayer meeting. They didn't hold up the Word of God or the authority of God. Turn in your Bibles, if you would please, to the book of Hebrews, chapter 11. Watch this. Hebrews 11.
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Look what the author of the book of Hebrews says, Hebrews 11, verse 32, "And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthah and of David and of Samuel and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." I want to call your attention to the fact that it was Gideon and Samson and Barak and Samuel and Jephthah and the prophets.
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In other words, they were godly men. You know, we think from time to time that what we need in this country is a good, strong, tough, disciplined, knowledgeable military leader, to lead us in a battle that we might win. I've got news for you folks. You can pick the top and the toughest and the most disciplined military leader in the world, and we will not win without God. And what we do not need is a taught leader. What we do need is a holy, godly leader who's tuned to the Lord Himself.
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Because God's battles are built around the premise of holiness and righteousness and justice. Now let me make just a couple of applications. First of all, number one, it is each man's responsibility to determine according to the Word of God the holiness and the justice of a cause. It is each man's responsibility to determine according to the Word of God the holiness and the justice of a cause. That means we must know what God teaches in every area of life, and we must always act in accordance with the Word of God.
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I'll share this with you. In the last unregistered conference up in Indy, there were probably several hundred men who went forward at the end of the service and made a covenant with God and with each other that if any agency ever came to take each other's children, the rest of us would go there and do whatever was necessary to preserve those children. You say, Brother Weaver, I wouldn't fight for that. Well, you better find out what God says about children being the heritage of the Lord. See what I'm saying? We better know what the Word of God teaches.
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If we have to wait until it's too late, most of us will never act. We better know what a holy cause is. We better know that God demands His army to be holy, His camp to be holy, and His leaders to be holy.
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Secondly, once we determine to fight and war, we must remember that God has rules of engagement. God has laws and ordinances concerning war and fighting, and we must remember that above all, we must be holy in order that we will not be an Achan in the camp. An Achan only destroys. He never protects. He never preserves. If a man is in a battle for what he can get out of the battle, he's in it for the wrong reason. We've got to learn to be holy in every area of our life. We need to pray, Lord, help me never to be an Achan. Help me to think of others as well as Your honor and Your glory, and put You and others above myself and my desires, and I will be holy in every situation. There is holy war. Shall we pray? Father, we ask You today to help us, to teach us, to build us up in the most holy faith. Enable us, Lord, to understand the concept that God is a warrior, and that Your wars are indeed holy.
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Enable us, Lord, to always be able to examine everything in light of the Word of God. And that once we know what Thou dost teach, to act upon it. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. This program was produced by Dominion Ministry. For more information about Pastor Weaver's sermons, you may contact Dominion Ministry by mail at 7400 Abercorn, that's A-B-E-R-C-O-R-N, Street, Suite 705, PMB 175, Savannah, Georgia, 31406.
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Or give us a call at 912-925-7000.
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You can also visit our website at www.dominionministry.com
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:09:25Z

Concepts of a Holy War, Part 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver continues his study on the biblical doctrine of holy war, emphasizing that warfare in Scripture is a religious and covenantal act of worship. He demonstrates that the Hebrew word for 'prepare' (kodesh) is the same word for 'sanctify,' showing that God commands war to be made holy. Weaver then outlines four irreducible principles for a war to be considered holy: the cause must be holy, the army must be holy, the camp must be holy, and the leader must be holy. He supports each principle with extensive Scripture, warning that sin in the camp brings God's curse and defeat. Applications stress personal responsibility to evaluate causes by God's Word and to maintain holiness in all aspects of life.

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous lesson on God as a warrior and the concept of holy war, noting that 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord as an act of worship.

All Life is Religious and Covenantal

Warfare is not secular but sacred, regulated by God's covenant. New Testament passages like 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23 show every activity must glorify God.

1 Corinthians 10 verse 31. God says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 10:31

"Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God."

The Meaning of 'Prepare War'

The Hebrew word 'kodesh' translated 'prepare' in passages like Jeremiah 6:4 means to sanctify or make holy. God commands war to be sanctified.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 22:7

"And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons, and they shall cut down my choice cedars and cast them into the fire."

Now, there's the little word, prepare.

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 22:7

"And I will prepare destroyers against thee."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 2:3

"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made."

Watch verse 3,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 2:3

"And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it,"

First Principle: The Cause Must Be Holy

A holy war requires a just cause, not selfish gain. David fought Goliath because God was dishonored; Nehemiah fought to defend families and God's work.

Scripture Reading — Nehemiah 4:8-14

"Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and we set a watch against them day and night because of them. And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burden is decayed, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build a wall. And our adversary said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease."

So they are planning a surprise attack. They're going to destroy the work and kill Nehemiah and the people working on the wall. Verse 12,

Scripture Reading — Nehemiah 4:8-14

"And it came to pass that when the Jews who dwelt by them came, they said unto us, Ten times from all places whence ye shall return unto us, they will be upon you."

Let's begin reading there with verse 6. 2 Samuel 10, verse 6.

Second Principle: The Army Must Be Holy

Deuteronomy 23:9 commands the army to keep from every wicked thing. Achan's sin at Jericho shows how one man's impurity brings defeat and curse on the whole camp.

Now here is the second principle. God not only demands that the cause be holy, He demands that the people who fight for the holy cause be holy themselves.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 23:9

"Keep thee from every wicked thing."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 23:9

"Keep thee from every wicked thing."

Now, let's go to chapter 7. Chapter 7, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Joshua 7:1-13

"But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing. For Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing, and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. Then they returned to Joshua and said unto him, Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up, and smite Ai, and make not all the people to labor thither, for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men, and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote them, about thirty and six men, and they chased them from before the gate, even to Shebarim, and smote them in the going down."

Third Principle: The Camp Must Be Holy

God required sanitation and ceremonial cleanliness in the war camp because He walked among them. This lesser matter points to the greater need for moral purity.

Fourth Principle: The Leader Must Be Holy

Divine warfare is led by godly men like Moses and Joshua, not merely skilled generals. Victory depends on holy leadership and prayer.

Applications and Conclusion

Believers must evaluate causes by Scripture, maintain holiness, and avoid being an Achan. God's rules of engagement require holiness in every area of life.

Concepts of a Holy War, Part 2

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	127111030167
Subject	Sermon Series
Course	Sermon Series: Holy War, Prayer, and Spiritual Conflict
Genre	Sermon
Date	1996-11-10
Dictation Name
Book	Book 102: Concepts of a Holy War — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	80

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the previous lesson on God as a warrior and the concept of holy war, noting that 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord as an act of worship.
All Life is Religious and Covenantal: Warfare is not secular but sacred, regulated by God's covenant. New Testament passages like 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23 show every activity must glorify God.
The Meaning of 'Prepare War': The Hebrew word 'kodesh' translated 'prepare' in passages like Jeremiah 6:4 means to sanctify or make holy. God commands war to be sanctified.
First Principle: The Cause Must Be Holy: A holy war requires a just cause, not selfish gain. David fought Goliath because God was dishonored; Nehemiah fought to defend families and God's work.
Second Principle: The Army Must Be Holy: Deuteronomy 23:9 commands the army to keep from every wicked thing. Achan's sin at Jericho shows how one man's impurity brings defeat and curse on the whole camp.
Third Principle: The Camp Must Be Holy: God required sanitation and ceremonial cleanliness in the war camp because He walked among them. This lesser matter points to the greater need for moral purity.
Fourth Principle: The Leader Must Be Holy: Divine warfare is led by godly men like Moses and Joshua, not merely skilled generals. Victory depends on holy leadership and prayer.
Applications and Conclusion: Believers must evaluate causes by Scripture, maintain holiness, and avoid being an Achan. God's rules of engagement require holiness in every area of life.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

War is an act of worship

In ancient Israel, warfare was part of worship and conducted according to God's rules, not a secular activity.

The 40,000 prepared for war 'passed over before the Lord' as unto the Lord (Joshua 4:13).

The word 'prepare' means 'sanctify'

The Hebrew 'kodesh' used for 'prepare war' is the same word for sanctifying the Sabbath and tabernacle, proving war is to be made holy.

Jeremiah 6:4 says 'prepare war'; Genesis 2:3 uses the same word for God sanctifying the seventh day.

A holy cause is essential

Fighting for selfish gain is wicked; a holy cause is one that defends God's honor, His people, and their inheritance.

Psalm 109:3 says the wicked fight without a cause; David asked, 'Is there not a cause?' when God was defied (1 Samuel 17:29).

Sin in the camp brings defeat

Achan's theft of the accursed thing caused Israel's defeat at Ai, showing that one man's sin can bring God's curse on the whole army.

Joshua 7:11-13 states Israel could not stand before enemies because they were accursed until the sin was removed.

God demands physical and moral cleanliness

The camp latrine law was not merely sanitary but a matter of reverence for God's holy presence, implying greater concern for moral purity.

Deuteronomy 23:14 says the camp must be holy because God walks there to deliver them.

Holy leaders are required for divine victory

God's battles are led by prophets and godly men who exercise faith and prayer, not merely by military experts.

Moses held up the rod of God in prayer while Joshua fought (Exodus 17); Hebrews 11:32-34 lists men of faith who conquered.

Scripture References

Joshua 4:13: 40,000 prepared for war passed over before the Lord, showing war as worship.
1 Corinthians 10:31: Whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God, proving no secular-sacred divide.
Colossians 3:23: Whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, applying to all activities including war.
Jeremiah 6:4: God commands 'Prepare ye war,' using the Hebrew word for sanctify.
Jeremiah 22:7: God says 'I will prepare destroyers,' again using the word for sanctify.
Jeremiah 51:27-28: Commands to prepare nations for war, using the sanctify word.
Joel 3:9: Proclaim among the Gentiles, 'Prepare war,' meaning sanctify war.
Genesis 2:3: God sanctified the seventh day, using the same Hebrew word as 'prepare war.'
Exodus 29:43: The tabernacle shall be sanctified by God's glory, same word as prepare.
Isaiah 13:3-5: God commands His sanctified ones (army) as weapons of His indignation.
Psalm 109:2-3: The wicked fight without a cause, contrasting with holy warfare.
1 Samuel 17:29, 36, 45: David asks 'Is there not a cause?' and fights because Goliath defied the armies of the living God.
Nehemiah 4:8-14: Nehemiah calls the people to fight for their brethren, families, and houses as a holy cause.
2 Samuel 10:12: Joab says to play the men for our people and the cities of our God, a holy cause.
Deuteronomy 23:9: When the host goes forth against enemies, keep from every wicked thing.
Deuteronomy 17:1-5: Idolatry is a wicked thing; the army must avoid such wickedness.
Joshua 3:5: Joshua tells the people to sanctify themselves for the Lord will do wonders.
Joshua 6:17-18: Keep yourselves from the accursed thing lest you make the camp accursed.
Joshua 7:1-13: Achan's sin caused defeat; God says sanctify the people and remove the accursed thing.
Deuteronomy 23:9-14: Laws for camp cleanliness because God walks in the camp; the camp must be holy.

Historical References

Islamic jihad: Mentioned as a contrast to the biblical concept of holy war; Islamic holy war is different from the wars of the Lord.
General 'Fighting Joe' Hooker: Union general in the American Civil War who allowed prostitutes in his camp, leading to the term 'hooker.'
Desert Storm and Vietnam: Modern wars cited as likely lacking holy leadership and prayer councils among commanders.

Important Quotes

In ancient Israel, all life was religious. And all life was covenantally related to God, and warfare was no exception.

Establishes the foundational premise that war is a sacred, covenantal act, not a secular endeavor.

Prepare ye war against her.

Key verse showing the command to sanctify war, using the Hebrew word kodesh.

The Hebrew word Kodesh literally means to make clean. It means to make holy, ceremoniously or morally. It means to consecrate, to dedicate, to be holy, to be sanctified, to be hallowed.

Defines the critical Hebrew term that links preparation for war with sanctification.

Is there not a cause?

David's rhetorical question highlighting that a holy war requires a just cause—God's honor was at stake.

When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.

Direct command that the army must be holy, avoiding all wickedness in action and attitude.

Neither will I be with you any more, except you destroy the accursed from among you.

God's warning that sin in the camp removes His presence and ensures defeat.

For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemy before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.

The theological reason for camp cleanliness: God's holy presence demands holiness.

I have commanded my sanctified ones.

God refers to His army as sanctified ones, directly linking warfare to holiness.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the biblical concept of holy war differ from the Islamic concept of jihad?

[Context]

Weaver contrasts the two at the beginning of the sermon.

[Question]

In what ways do 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23 challenge the modern division between sacred and secular activities?

[Context]

Weaver uses these verses to argue that all of life, including war, is to be done for God's glory.

[Question]

Why is it significant that the Hebrew word for 'prepare' is the same as 'sanctify'? How does this shape our understanding of holy war?

[Context]

Weaver explains the meaning of kodesh in Jeremiah and other passages.

[Question]

What criteria should believers use to determine if a cause for war is holy and just?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes personal responsibility to scrutinize causes by Scripture.

[Question]

How does the story of Achan illustrate the corporate effects of individual sin in a community engaged in God's work?

[Context]

Weaver uses Joshua 7 to show how one man's sin brought defeat on all Israel.

[Question]

What does the camp latrine law teach us about God's concern for both physical and moral purity?

[Context]

Weaver argues from the lesser (sanitation) to the greater (moral purity) in Deuteronomy 23.

[Question]

Why does God require holy leaders for warfare, and how does this contrast with modern military leadership?

[Context]

Weaver points to Moses, Joshua, and the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.

[Question]

What practical steps can believers take to ensure they are not an 'Achan' in their families, churches, or nations?

[Context]

Weaver applies the lesson by urging holiness and self-examination.

Applications

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