Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Last day of April already! Whew! No jog again this morning…even though I could afford the time. I’m still trying to bring some infection under control that developed in a couple of my wounds following my pole barn fall last Wednesday. So there’s even some warfare going on in my own bloodstream!

May the grace of our Lord inspire and help us to do what we should do. Amen? Amen.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Once again, I have to conclude that war is here to stay on planet earth. I don’t like it. And I don’t really like the description given here in the FOCUS VERSE. Furthermore, I don’t think I’m required to like it. All the conquest, destruction, death, plundering, and resulting slavery seem like violations of over-arching Biblical principles—all for purposes of expanding power and control—and in this record, all done in the Name of the LORD. (This can sure come close to home—I’ve seen a lot of church wars waged in the Name of the LORD too!) War was so regular and predictable surrounding the times of our reading that they gave it a season—“In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war…”—kind of like hunting season, fishing season, or football season. I wonder if any Israeli soldiers ever raised a question like, “Well—who are we going to wipe out next season?”

On the other hand, my reasoning also gives some ideological endorsement to war. Is that a paradox? Example: If the peace and freedom of any nation is threatened by another, they would have a right to defend themselves. In such a case, I would lean toward “total victory” rather than turning it into a political chess-like game—where a decisive victory is not allowed. While I don’t spend a lot to time thinking about this stuff, I’m inclined to agree with the view that says, “If a war is worth fighting, it’s worth winning.” Get in there, confront the threat, remove the threat, and go home. But here’s the big problem that wars against such straightforward solutions: This approach requires UNITY. That’s a commodity in very short supply—especially in an out-of-balance democracy that is corrupted by sin—where good is called evil, and evil is called good. “United we stand; divided we fall.”

Now notice verse 1 of chapter 21. “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.” Do you see what’s going on here? Are we as aware as we should be that we are involved right now in war—a spiritual battle for ownership and control of the territory of human hearts—including our own? “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:10-13). Do you recognize the danger of becoming caught up in the debate over the morality of international war while we are oblivious to the moral war within?

David was apparently focusing on the threat of the Ammonites over there, and totally oblivious to the subtle attack of Satan in here (Point to your heart and mind, wherever that is). War inside these earthen vessels while on planet earth is here to stay too. Advice: Read your Bible, seek God, put on your internal armor, and deal with it.