5/12/74
A. The national entity is protected in two ways.
a. Internally by the objectivity of law and by good law enforcement.
b. Externally by the military establishment, Neh 4:14-15.
B. In spite of man’s efforts for peace, warfare will continue until the Millennium, Mt 24:6; Mk 13:7; Lk 21:9. Therefore, warfare is not only a bonified part of history, Eccl 3:8, “There is a time for war,” Num 21:14, but it is also necessary for the maintenance of national sovereignty and freedom. Satan is behind any challenge to freedom. Wars come from the old sin nature.
C. In both the struggle for and the perpetuation of Jewish freedom after the Exodus, Jesus Christ Himself became the commanding general of the armies of Israel, Josh 5:13-6:2. His title was “the Lord of the Armies,” TSEBAOTH.
D. Armies defend freedom and armies destroy freedom, Jer 34:7, 12:12.
E. The issue of national sovereignty, integrity, and freedom always depends on which army wins, Jer 40:1.
F. God uses the military in action to demonstrate the degeneracy of a nation.
1. The failure of a military on the battlefield indicates their lack of self-discipline, lack of spiritual incentive, lack of motivation to courage, and lack of respect for authority, which is basic to success.
2. Failure of the military indicates the lack of character and stability among the citizens of a national entity. Jewish military failure in 586 BC is a good example of spiritual and moral decline of a people.
G. Since the battlefield decides freedom, universal military training is an important function of a nation, Lk 14:31; Num 31:3-5.
H. The importance of military leadership as an index to national character, Prov 24:1-6. Characteristics of good military leadership include:
a. Self and group discipline.
b. A relaxed mental attitude under pressure.
c. A sense of responsibility plus moral courage.
d. Knowledge of military science.
e. Good judgment.
f. Common sense.
g. Loyalty and recognition of authority.
h. Fairness to personnel under one’s command in spite of prejudice.
i. Understanding others.
j. Executive ability, which is the ability to organize, systematize, categorize, and delegate authority.
k. Endurance and good health.
l. Presence, poise, courtesy, flair.
m. For the believer, a functioning spiritual life.
I. The Importance of Military Training. No army can survive lack of adequate training, 1 Sam 31, nor can it survive apostasy and degeneracy. Emotional revolt of the soul destroys the military. Military training is useless if the men of a nation are decadent and full of scar tissue of the soul.
J. Part of divine judgment against a nation is military defeat which precedes the fifth cycle of discipline, Lev 26:27-39. Ephraim in 721 BC; the Assyrians in 612 BC; Judah in 586 BC and 70 AD.
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© 1989, by R. B. Thieme, Jr. All rights reserved.
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