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Godly Wars

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• We read verses 18 through 22, 1 Chronicles chapter 5 verses 18 through 22. The title of the message is Godly Wars. Notice if you would 1 Chronicles chapter 5 beginning with verse 18. The sons of Reuben and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword and to shoot with bow and skillful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore that went out to war. And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them, for they cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him.

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• And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand. For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God, and they dwelt in their steads until the captivity. Stop and think about the title of this message, Godly Wars. It seems whenever war is mentioned, there is not and cannot be anything godly about it. Each one of us have heard the old adage, war is hell, and undoubtedly that is true from one perspective. However, from a biblical perspective, war is oftentimes a biblical remedy for injustice, wickedness, rebellion, tyranny.

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• So for the record let me just go ahead and say this: I am NOT a warmonger. I do not desire or encourage war. I do not wish for war. I do not teach warfare. I have not been trained in warfare and therefore obviously I cannot teach warfare.

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• On the other hand I am NOT a pacifist. I will fight when it is necessary and right. However, my position is very simple. If war can be averted by just and holy means, then those means should be encouraged. However, oftentimes, war is indeed a necessity. In fact, in the Bible, war was a necessity. And we find today, under certain circumstances, war is certainly necessary today. It was in the fourth century when Augustine, one of the early church fathers, developed a concept of a just war. And he pointed out the fact that war should never ever be fought simply for greed, gain, dominance, or simply a desire to subjugate others. A war, of course, in the Bible was used to overthrow tyrants and wickedness and rebellion, as well as being used for self-defense and the defense of the nation. So Augustine not only spoke about the right to go to war, but he also spoke about the right conduct in war, which the Bible teaches very clearly as well. Unhappily today, most wars have absolutely nothing to do with self-defense, nor any godly purpose whatsoever.

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• They're usually unbiblical wars, and they are unnecessary wars because they're motivated by greed, ambition, politics, or simply a desire for empire and dominion. James chapter 4 in verse 1 really hits the nail on the head, for in that passage James says this: From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your own lusts that war in your members? And usually that is true. Wars arise in us individually, familially, ecclesiastically, and even nationally because of that lust in our own members, the wickedness and the greed and the dominance. It was Major General Smedley Butler who said war is a racket. Major General Butler was a retired United States Marine Corps Major General.

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• He was also a two-time recipient of the Medal of Honor. He had fought all of his life and he realized at the end of life that he was not really fighting for anything that was just and holy, but he was being used and it was basically bankers' wars. And he came up with this little booklet, War Is a Racket. You can certainly find it on the internet. If you just type in General Smedley Butler's name or "war is a racket," and it's very easily read. And I would encourage you to read that as well. It was Robert E. Lee who said it is well that war is so terrible lest we should grow too fond of it. So war, like anything else, can be abused, misused for wrong reasons and for wrong motives.

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• However, we've got to understand one very important truth before we ever get started, David, and that is this. War is not evil in and of itself, even though it is associated with death and destruction. And may I point out, that death and destruction are not necessarily evil in and of themselves. Everyone dies, and death is nothing more than the destruction of the body. Moreover, according to the Word of God, there are some things that should be destroyed, and there are some enemies of God that need to be destroyed, of which He will indeed in time destroy them. But anything that is wicked and rebellious and treasonous to God who is the rightful owner and creator of this world, and the judge of all the earth, those individuals will indeed face his wrath and his judgment when he does come down upon them.

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• Now, it was Frédéric Bastiat, who was a Frenchman in 1850, he said this: if every person has the right to defend, even by force, his person, his liberty, and his property, then it follows that a group of men have the right to organize and support a common force to protect these rights constantly. So he says if there's an individual right, there's a family right. If there's a family right, there's a church right. If there's a church right, there's a state right. If there's a state right, there's a nation right as well.

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• It was General John J. Pershing, and I wish I had time to tell you several illustrations that happened in his life. He died in 1948. But he said this: if you know how to shoot and are quite ready to shoot, the chances are you won't have to shoot. That's true. If you know how to shoot and are ready to shoot, the chances are you won't have to shoot.

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• Now we're specifically told in 1 Chronicles chapter 5 and verse 22, "for there fell down many slain because the war was of God." So that means the war against the Hagarites was indeed a godly war, but there were other godly wars as well. You ask how do I know that and the answer is because it's revealed in the Bible. Let me just try to save some time by quoting some scriptures, but in Numbers chapter 21 in verse 14 the Bible says this, "Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, what he did in the Red Sea, and in the brooks of Arnon." Note, if you would, "Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD." Now, we know the Hagrite war was a godly war. It was of God because the Bible says so. But there were other godly wars as well. We must understand that anything that God is involved in is holy, just, and right. And you also must remember that God is a warrior.

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• That is, God fights, and yes, God wars. You see, in Exodus chapter 15 in verse 3, the Bible says, "The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name." And then in Psalm 24 and verse 8, "Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle." So, very obviously, God is indeed a man of war. So, I want you to hold 1 Chronicles 5. Look in your Bibles, if you would please, to Revelation chapter 19. And let me just point out the fact, it's not only that God the Father is a man of war, but also God the Son is a man of war as well. So if you look in Revelation chapter 19, beginning there with verse 11, look, if you would, at what is written. Revelation 19 verse 11, John writes, "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, that's the Lord Jesus, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war."

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• His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Here it is: and he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And if you'll go back to verse 11, this King of kings and Lord of lords, who is called Faithful and True, the Bible says, in righteousness he doth judge and make war. So war cannot be evil in and of itself if God the Father and God the Son engage in war.

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• Oftentimes God uses war to deliver His people. God defeats His enemies by war. He helps His people in the time of war. He defends His people in the time of war. And God oftentimes uses war to defeat and to destroy His enemies.

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• Now, I suppose that one of the main problems that we encounter with war today is that our wars are not godly wars. That is, they're not based upon biblical principles. Usually, our wars are fought over oil, natural resources, or desire to conquer and subjugate, or desire to rule, or desire simply to have an empire. In other words, these wars today are basically based upon wicked and depraved motives.

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• There is a book that I would encourage everyone to read. It is now in an audio book as well, if you prefer to listen to it. But the title of the book is Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, written by John Perkins. If you read that book, you will understand why all of the other nations hate America. Because he reveals in that book exactly what we do as a nation.

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• How we deceive, bribe, steal, invade, and assassinate leaders who will not go along with the political establishment in this country. It's an astounding book, and I would encourage you to read the book. It's an eye-opening book, and you will understand where we are and why we are so hated. But when any country, when any state, when any nation, when any church, when any family are invaded by a hostile force, it is indeed their right to defend themselves. The invaded people have a right to fight back and to defend and restrain the invader by any means necessary. Interestingly, when the North invaded the South in 1861, the South resisted with military force. And of course, it was indeed a biblical right.

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• And may I point out again, I've said it many times, the war was not over slavery. In fact, most Southerners did not own slaves because they were very expensive. And moreover, many people do not realize there were abolitionist societies in the South and probably even more than were in the North. But the truth of the matter is when most of the Confederate soldiers who were captured by the Northern troops were asked why they were fighting, the stock and the standard answer was this: because you were here. The South did not invade the North. The North invaded the South.

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• And of course, that was exactly what they were saying. You are here. You do not need to be here. If you had stayed where you were, we would be where we are and there would not be any fighting going on whatsoever. So what I want to do today is this. I want to share with you some biblical principles based upon 1 Chronicles chapter 5. But this single message on godly wars, this single message does not take the place of that 15-part series that I did a number of years back on the biblical doctrine of war. So, I want you to look, if you would please, at verse 18. The very first point I'm going to cover today is this, that war is a necessity.

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• He says, "...the sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skillful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore that went out to the war." Now, when I make the statement that war is a necessity, I do not mean that it is necessary that we be engaged in constant and consistent physical warfare. No. What I mean by that is very simple.

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• It means that we do have enemies, and those enemies seek our destruction. Our Lord Himself told us that there are going to be wars and rumors of war. And as long as evil, wicked, and depraved men rule, there will be war simply because of greed, a desire for gain, dominance, and wicked motives. That is for sure. Well, I will say it very plainly that I desire peace.

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• In fact, we are given a command in Romans chapter 12 and verse 18 where God says, listen carefully, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Now notice what the scripture said: "if it be possible." In other words, there are some circumstances in which it is not possible to live peaceably with all men, and God certainly recognizes that. So if fighting breaks out, you do not want it to be on your part; you want it to be on the part of the other individual because you are a peaceable individual. You know there was a TV program when I was a boy.

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• The grandpa who was the grandpa, he would always say—he was a very prominent actor—he would always say, "I'm a peaceable man, but don't get me riled." And that's the way it is. We want to live peaceably with all men if we can.

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• Now, I want you to hold 1 Chronicles 5. But look, if you would please, in Deuteronomy chapter 20. I want you to see what God says in this passage. Deuteronomy 20 and verse 1. Look at this. Deuteronomy 20 and verse 1. So the Word of God says it like this: "When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." Now note verse 1, "...when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies." Not if. You do have enemies, and there will be war, and you will have to fight. So he says, "...when thou goest out to battle against thine enemies."

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• In other words, he's admonishing the people not to be fearful of a multitude or their might. They may have multitude on their side, they may have might on their side, but, he says, the LORD thy God is with thee. And so, certainly, we'd rather have God on our side than might or multitude. And, of course, you've heard the old adage, if you want peace, then prepare for war. Now, the truth is that most people, and especially most Christians, are not prepared for war. In fact, the truth is, most Christians are not even prepared to fight. Most Christians will not fight mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or physically. And we've overlooked the fact that the Christian life is likened to a warfare.

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• It was the Apostle Paul who told Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 6 and verse 12 to fight the good fight of faith. And then, of course, in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 3, he told Timothy, "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." And, of course, when you get to the book of Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 through 18, God then delineates all of the armor that we must use and apply in our lives to fight the good fight of faith. Now, if we are not to fight, if we're not to war, why in the world did God provide all of this armor? And if you will notice that passage in detail, you will discover that there is no armor for the back. There's only armor for the front, which means we're not to be running. We're not to be turning our backs to the enemy. We are to be fighting against the enemy.

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• To be absolutely honest, I have no idea what makes Christians think that they will fight physically when they refuse to fight spiritually. Our primary warfare, of course, is a spiritual warfare. However, I understand, and certainly does the Bible, that there are times when that spiritual warfare may become actually physical warfare. So let me ask some questions, and I want you to think about these in light of what I'm going to be teaching today.

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• And that's, the first one is this. Will you fight for your life? You may answer yes, but here's another question that you must answer at the same time. Are you prepared to fight for your life? What kind of physical shape are you in? What kind of physical abilities and fighting abilities do you possess? How would you defend yourself against an armed attacker? If you were armed and you were attacked with arms, would you shoot back? Would you be able to shoot straight and accurately under intense pressure with emotion and adrenaline flowing?

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• What if you were outnumbered? What if you were facing a squad of men? What if you were facing a group of trained foreign fighting troops? I'm just simply saying that we need to consider these questions and try to answer them biblically. So if it's right and honorable and biblical to defend yourself against one individual who's attacking you, it's certainly right and honorable and biblical to defend yourself against two or three, or a whole squad, or a whole nation who's attacking you. In other words, the right of self-defense is indeed biblical and right. It was Samuel Adams who said this: "If ever a time should come when vain and aspiring men shall possess the high seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." I'm afraid that what old Samuel Adams said has come true. We have vain and aspiring men in control of this country today.

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• It was President Theodore Roosevelt who said this. I want you to listen. My, how times have changed. But Roosevelt said this: "The great body of our citizens shoot less as time goes on. We should encourage rifle practice among schoolboys and indeed among all classes as well as the military service by every means in our power. Thus and not otherwise may we be able to assist in preserving peace in the world. The first step in the direction of preparation to avert war if possible, and to be fit for war if it should come, is to teach men how to shoot." Isn't that amazing? So he's actually following that adage, if you want peace, prepare for war. So if you cannot shoot quickly, if you cannot shoot accurately, you must learn to do so.

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• Skill with arms is a necessary acquirement. This is what I'm talking about and what the Bible is referring to when I say that war is a necessity. We do have enemies, and there will be times that we must defend ourselves physically.

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• Now, here's the second point. I want you to watch this in verse 18. War is for men. He said, "the sons of Reuben and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skillful in war." So let me just make this very plain. War is not for women and children. It is for men.

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• I know that that statement goes contrary to political correctness. It is also contrary to the modern day feminist movement. It is also contrary to what the world today calls equality. Yet it is indeed a biblical truth. I want you to turn, holding 1 Chronicles, but turn, if you would, to Deuteronomy chapter 22, and look at verse 5 just momentarily, because I want to explain this passage in a little more detail than is usually given. You'll notice Deuteronomy 22 and verse 5, the Bible says, "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God." The interesting thing about this passage is that whenever it is read or quoted, people are willing to argue over clothing. Now, I will admit that clothing is involved to a degree, but the truth is there is much more revealed in this verse than mere clothing.

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• So let me try to make this clear and plain. First of all, notice if you would, He says in verse 5, "the woman." First of all, the word for woman, the Hebrew word, is the word ishshah, which refers to a wife, a woman, a woman as opposite to a man, hence a female. Now note if you would next, he says in verse 5, "the woman shall not wear that which pertains to a man." You would automatically think that the word man here would be from the Hebrew word ish, but it's not.

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• You remember when God brought Eve to Adam. Adam said, "she shall be called Ishshah." Why? Because she was taken out of ish. That is, she shall be called a woman because she's taken out of man. So the Hebrew word here is the word gibbor, which means a man, a man-child, a warrior, a strong man, that which emphasizes strength and the ability to fight.

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• Now, watch it in verse 5. "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man." Now, let me take care of this phrase, "that which pertaineth unto a man." It comes from the Hebrew word keli, and it is translated in our Bibles as vessel, 166 times, as instrument 39 times, as weapon 21 times, as armor 10 times, and it's even translated as armor bearer and furniture. Hence this passage or this phrase refers to implements, tools, weapons, and equipment. So it's not just that a woman shall not wear a man's clothing, it's she is not to be a warrior.

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• Because this, or a soldier as such, because this is talking about any profession that is distinctly male. Now, before I go further in this verse, let me explain something to you. If it comes to a fight, I'm talking about a military fight, I'd much rather have next to me a 6'3", 250-pound man than I had a 5'2", 130-pound woman. I don't care how beautiful or resourceful the woman is. I'd still rather have the man. Why?

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• Well, a number of reasons. But first of all, if I'm wounded, if I'm hurt, I want someone who can drag me or throw me over their shoulder and carry me to help. And usually a 5 foot 2, 130 pound woman is not going to be carrying a 200 pound man over her shoulder. It's just not going to work like that. So all I'm saying is I'd rather have fighting strength and ability rather than feminine charms.

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• Now, let me just kind of explain it a little bit further. I know I'm old. I know I'm feeble and you want to call me decrepit, that's fine. But I can challenge any woman in this congregation to a fight and I believe I can win. You see what I'm saying? Why? Well, obviously, women are usually not a match for men.

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• Now, I usually say this, I know there has to be a few women somewhere that could really whip me and wear me out, especially those that are trained in martial arts. I understand that. But the truth of the matter is, most women cannot defeat or fight successfully against men, contrary to movies in Hollywood. When they portray these little 110-115 pound women whipping these 230-240 pound men, it usually just does not really happen like that.

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• And I've often made this statement. I've watched some of these little female cops. And I've often thought, if they tried to arrest me, as old as I am, and I didn't want to be arrested, they'd have a fight on their hands, probably more than they could handle. I know they're trained at the academy, I understand that. But the truth of the matter is most women cannot overpower a man.

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• You'll remember in Atlanta a few years back, if it's been that long, there was a huge male felon that was waiting to go into court and they put a female cop in with this huge male felon to guard him while he was waiting to go into the courtroom. And what did he do? He jumped her, beat her, took her weapon, murdered her, and left the building. I think he was shot finally outside of the building, but I'm just simply saying, why in the world are they going to send a 5'2", 110, 115 pound woman to guard a 220 or 230 pound man? I mean, it's insane, even if she does have a weapon.

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• So, here's what scripture says, Titus chapter 2 verses 4 and 5, listen carefully, talking about women, "that they may teach the young women"—the older women now—"that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." So it says your women should be keepers at home. Then in 1 Timothy chapter 5 in verse 14, he says, "I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully."

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• Now, before anyone objects and tries to attack me verbally, let me set the record straight. No, I am not against women. I love women. My mother was a woman. My wife is a woman. My sister is a woman. All my daughters are women. I even had a female horse. And I also have a female dog. So I'm just simply saying, I'm not against women. Whether it is admitted or not, the truth is there are more than physical differences between men and women.

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• And yes, we are equal in certain ways. I will give you three of those ways very quickly. First of all, men and women are equally the creatures of God. The woman is just as much a creature of God as the man is. And so we stand on equal footing before God as being His creatures. Secondly, men and women are equally sinners and equally depraved. Without Jesus Christ, we're equally lost. The man is not necessarily more depraved than the woman, nor the woman necessarily more depraved than the man. We're equally depraved, totally depraved. And thirdly, men and women may be equally redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. A woman may be saved exactly as a man may be saved. Men are no better in the standing of redemption. But there are differences. For instance, I could make a woman cry a whole lot easier and a whole lot quicker than I could make a man cry.

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• And I'm not talking about pain. I'm just simply talking about talking, saying things, and their emotions are different than a man's. And God ordained that. That's not putting them down. That's just saying that those are created differences. You know what the Bible says in 1 Peter 3 and verse 7? Listen to this. "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." Now the Bible specifically calls the woman the weaker vessel. So the woman, the female, is the weaker vessel.

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• Now a lot of men say that means we're strong. No, that's not what it means. We don't like to think that. But if a woman is called the weaker vessel, it means the man is weak as well. The woman is just weaker than he is. So 1 Peter 3 and verse 7 tells you very clearly that the woman is the weaker sex. I think a woman's place basically is in the home and certainly not on the battlefield, not on an electrical pole, and not in a fire station somewhere. Anything that would include instruments of war, weapons, armor and equipment that belong completely to men. I certainly hope I do not have to say any more on Deuteronomy 22 verse 5, especially that latter part when it said, "neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God."

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• So the Bible forbids the crossing of the sexes is what he's doing there. There must be a distinction between the sexes. And when any man dresses as a woman, he is not called a trans according to Scripture. He's called an abomination according to Scripture. Because he is trying to cross that line. And contrary to what modern-day political correctness teaches, there are only two sexes, male and female. Not 20, according to the Democrats. Okay? Male and female.

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• So war is a necessity. And secondly, war involves men.

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• Thirdly, if you look in verse 18 again of 1 Chronicles chapter 5, here's the third truth. He says, "the sons of Reuben and the Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword and to shoot with a bow and skillful in war." So it's not just men, it's skillful men. Men able to bear buckler and sword, the buckler was the heavy shield, the sword, and the following clause would also read, or at least indicate, able to shoot with a bow, because the next clause declares, "and skillful in war." So in order to be skillful, you had to be able to use the buckler, or the shield, and the bow, and the sword as well. Now, I want you to look at verse 18, because he calls them valiant men.

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• The Hebrew word for valiant here is the word chayil, which means men of valor, strength, might, brave, and men of efficiency. Note, if you would, he calls them able to bear. The Hebrew word for able is the word nasa, and it means to bear, to carry up, to lift up, to sustain, to endure. And it's translated as armor bearer 18 times in scripture. So the text then is speaking of hardness, courage, endurance, and efficiency.

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• And this certainly would eliminate women on the battlefield. I want to give you a quote. This is from a news article talking about the diversity in the standards in the Army or the coming diversity. It was also reported by Stars and Stripes. But listen carefully. Recently, the Army announced that it intends to lower the standards of the Army Combat Fitness Test because biological differences between men and women were resulting in an appalling failure rate among women.

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• Now, let me just stop there. Did you hear that? The Army is planning on lowering the standard for the Army Combat Fitness Test because biological differences between men and women is causing an appalling failure on the part of women. So in order to get women in, what we're going to do is lower the standard over here. Okay, listen carefully. As reported in Stars and Stripes, this change comes from demands by Democrats like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat New York, Richard Blumenthal, Democrat Connecticut, and that the army cease implementation of changes to the gender-neutral army combat fitness training until the test could be evaluated for its fairness to women completing the test successfully. The same article went on to say this, listen carefully, an 80-pound ruck, that is a rucksack, what you'd carry on your back, which would not count your weapon, which would not count the ammo on you, which would not count your vest on you, anything like it, it's just an 80-pound rucksack. An 80-pound rucksack

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• does not discriminate against anyone. No matter your race or sex, it still weighs 80 pounds and you have to carry it a long distance. And then it closes with this paragraph: "The military is a selective service; it picks and chooses the best people for the jobs it needs to be done by using batteries of aptitude tests, competitive instruction, medical standards, physical standards, and even moral standards. The military is not an equal opportunity employer by any means."

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• Human beings have made war on each other for a very long time, and the lessons of those thousands of years of warfare have distilled the important qualities of the combat soldier down to just a few things as predictors of success, such as the ability to run, lift, jump, dodge, and crawl. From the modern army infantry soldier to the Roman legionnaire of 2,000 years ago, these are the physical abilities that count the most on a field of battle. Gender equality is not one of them." End quote. And that is true.

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• And so he's talking about men able to do this. We're talking about warfare. I'm just simply saying he's talking about men of ability, valiant men.

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• Now, if you look back in 1 Chronicles chapter 5, here's another truth. Watch carefully in verse 20. War is a time to examine oneself and to exercise faith in God. Look in verse 20. "And they"—that is the sons of Reuben, the Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh—"and they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them." Why? "For they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them; because they put their trust in him."

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• Now, I'm sure you're aware of the old adage that there are no atheists in foxholes. In a time of war, I not only want help, I want divine help. I want God's hand to be upon me. And in the time of battle, it is specifically time to call upon the Lord. I remember years ago watching the movie Cromwell and he was about to battle with the King's men and he was riding back and forth on his horse and he prayed and he said this, "Lord, I shall be busy about many things today.

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• And if I forget thee, please do not thou forget me." And certainly that is true. We want divine help. You know what David said in Psalm 140 in verse 7? He said, "O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle." And that's what we want. We want divine protection. That's why in Proverbs 21 in verse 31 says this: "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD." So it doesn't matter what weaponry you have, doesn't matter what machinery you have. It doesn't matter how many men you have. If God does not protect you, you are not protected. It's just that simple. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord.

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• If you look very quickly in your Bibles to Psalm 27, Psalm 27, and let's read the first six verses. Look at this Psalm, Psalm 27. Beginning there in verse one, David says, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host"—that is an entire army—"should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

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• For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD." May I remind you that in Numbers chapter 31, God ordered a war against the Midianites. The Midianites had seduced the children of Israel into fornication and idolatry.

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• I want you to turn there just momentarily. Look, if you would, at Numbers chapter 31. Here's an interesting thing as you look at this passage, Numbers chapter 31. I'm just going to point out the first three verses and we'll skip down just momentarily. But look at Numbers chapter 31. The Bible says in verse 1, "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites.

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• Afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian." Now, I find it interesting in verse 2, God told Moses to avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites. But when you get to verse 3, Moses tells them, the Israelites, to avenge the LORD against the Midianites. You can read this chapter and you can find out that great war and what was accomplished in that war. But what I want to point out is in verse 49. If you'll skip down, after the war was over, everything's divided up, all the booty, all the spoil.

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• The commanders, of course, come and they bring a special offering to the Lord. And here's why, look in verse 49, "and they"—that is the commanders, the officers—"said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us." Not one Israelite was lost in that war. Not one. That's why I'm saying we need the Lord, and I'd much rather have the Lord on my side than might and multitude. I'd much rather have truth and honesty and holiness and justice on my side than I had the arm of the flesh.

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• When God fights, there's always victory. When God fights, we are the conquerors. When God fights, we win. That is why the Apostle Paul said in Romans 8 and verse 37, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

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• Now, I want you to turn back to 1 Chronicles chapter 5, because I've got one last point. And that is this: war is not only a time of trusting, war is also a time of testing. I want you to understand that victory can be turned into defeat through pride and disobedience. Here is something that is absolutely astounding to me. God had given them this great victory.

  #65 | 45:33 to 46:02 | cleaned

• But look, if you would please, at what happened in verses 25 and 26. "And they"—that is, again, the sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, to whom God had given this great victory—"and they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them. And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day." Can you believe this? When God sovereignly delivered His people, instead of praising Him, and honoring Him, and giving thanks unto Him, and being obedient to Him, and worshiping Him, what did they do? They turn to the gods of the defeated people. Why would you turn and change from a god of victory to a god of defeat?

  #66 | 46:03 to 47:10 | cleaned

• Wow. You know, when you read through the Bible, you will find many times that God destroys a people because of their pride, arrogance, and self-will. You remember, in fact, I just read here where God used the Assyrians on the ten northern tribes and, of course, here with the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. But I want you to listen to this. When God is going to send them against these people in Isaiah chapter 10, verses 5 through 7, let me read it. Listen to what God says. "O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger." So God is calling the Assyrians the rod of his anger. "And the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

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• I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few." God said, I'm sending the Assyrians. The rod in their hand is the rod of my wrath. The staff in their hand is the staff of my indignation. I'm giving him a charge. I want him to take out this wicked, disobedient, dishonorable people. But then he said this, "Howbeit he"—the Assyrian—"meaneth not so in his heart." In other words, the Assyrian did not come, attack Israel and say, "Wow, you fellas have sinned against God. We're going to wipe you out because God has sent us and we're doing this for God's honor, God's glory." No, they didn't do that. The only reason they wanted to come is they wanted to rob, rape, pillage, kill, steal, murder. That's all that was in their heart. God did use them. Do you know what happened to the Assyrians after God used them? He judged them. He destroyed them.

  #68 | 48:08 to 49:23 | cleaned

• Why? Let me give you the answer. Isaiah 10 verse 12 through 16. Listen. "Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people.

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• And as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped." Then God asked, "Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood?

  #70 | 50:02 to 50:25 | cleaned

• Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire." What did the king of Assyria say? It's my victory. It's my wisdom. It's my might. I did this. God said, really? Shall the axe boast itself against him who heweth therewith? No. God said, you didn't do it. I did it. And you're stealing my honor and my glory. And God judged them.

  #71 | 50:26 to 50:57 | cleaned

• War is a time of testing. Victory will often lead to defeat unless we humbly acknowledge God's grace and mercy and goodness, and unless we are obedient to him. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 44. This is one of my favorite passages. I want you to look at it and think about it in light of what we've just talked about godly wars and in light of the fact that God must help us or we're not helped. In Psalm 44 verse 1, the psalmist said, "We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old." In other words, we've heard all the stories, we've heard all the miracles. "How thou"—that is God—"how thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them"—that is the people. "How thou didst afflict the people"—that is the Canaanites—"and cast them out. For they"—that is Israel—"got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them."

  #72 | 50:58 to 52:10 | cleaned

• Then he says this. "Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow"—that is, my AR or my shotgun or my .30-06—"I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever." Now when you look at verses 1 through 3, he's talking about the mighty works of God that God performed in the days of battle and how God destroyed and defeated the enemies of Israel. And then he says it again in verse 4, "Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob." Literally here's what he says: do it again, O Lord, do it again. You gave victory in time past, give victory now. Let me make a couple of applications.

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• The first one is as strange as it may seem. It is possible for a war to be a godly war. War is not evil in and of itself. And when one has a just cause or when one has a defensive cause and fights according to the rules and the principles laid down in the word of God, according to the Bible, it is a godly war. It is godly fighting. The second one is this. If the war is godly, then that means we must be fighting based upon biblical principles. And if we're fighting based upon biblical principles, we should immediately seek for divine help. That's what the Bible says about these.

  #74 | 53:15 to 53:58 | cleaned

• They cried unto the Lord in the time of battle. And He was entreated for them. Why? Because they trusted in Him. So if we've got a godly war and there is a godly cause and we are godly people, we should instantly beseech Him for His divine help and mercy. God will always help in a godly cause; He is not going to help in an unholy and an ungodly cause. The third one is this: In our text God allowed His people to win, to experience victory and defeat their enemies, because they cried unto Him. So it's always safe to trust in the Lord. We really need to trust in the Lord in times of danger. But the truth is we must trust in the Lord when there are not times of danger as well. But if we trust in Him on a daily basis, when we do get into danger, it should be a whole lot easier to trust Him because we're used to trusting Him and crying unto Him. And the last one is this: we must learn to fight and to defend ourselves and to do so in a biblical, in a godly manner.

  #75 | 53:59 to 55:18 | cleaned

• Now, let me point something out. When I said learn to fight, learn to defend ourselves, obviously we're not going to be like some 20 year old. We're just not going to be that way. There's no way in the world I can be flexible like some 16, 18, 20 year old. It's impossible. There are some things I cannot do, but there are some things I can do and I can learn some basic principles and I can learn some basic skills and I can learn to shoot.

  #76 | 55:18 to 55:53 | cleaned

• If you have not heard, or if you have forgotten the messages, having heard them, I would encourage you to listen to those two messages I preached years ago on the biblical doctrine of self-defense. It is godly, it is right, it is holy to defend our lives, our families, our neighbors, our community, our state, and our nation. There are godly wars. I do not want war, but I can assure you one thing, if I'm involved in a war, I want it to be a godly war, not an ungodly one. And if it's a godly war, it will be fought along godly and biblical principles.

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• So what does the scripture say? "For there fell down many slain, for the war was of God." We need to prepare our hearts, our minds, our bodies. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to you today. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. And we ask Lord that you would indeed build us up in the most holy faith. Give us Lord a holy, godly fighting mentality that we might fight mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and whenever necessary, even physically, that your name might be honored and glorified in all that we say and do. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

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• so so

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T23:07:24Z