Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. (Psalm 46:8-9)
In these verses a very interesting notion is addressed which is, in the last days, God will put an end to war by warring against wicked men. Though it will be difficult for some to perceive, in reality, by destroying the armies of evil men God will grant mercy to all mankind and particularly His people. On the surface this seems to contradict the fact that He abhors violence and aggression, in fact, He is God of the living, not the dead. Yet He is also the One who, in His wisdom, saw the need to flood the earth and destroy those who were in the process of destroying His creation. As it is written, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11).
The point is that, when it becomes necessary to deliver His people and sustain His Will, He goes to war with the intent to remove the threat to His purpose. When the nations gather against Jerusalem to rid the earth of His people, He goes to war on their behalf. The prophet said that the handful of Jews in the city will not be cut off and that “The Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle” (Zechariah 14:3). When the nations see that their armies and weapons are useless against the Almighty, they will throw down their weapons and destroy them. As it written, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).
By going to war, the Creator brings an end to war. By fighting on our behalf, He puts an end to our need to fight. When this hope becomes reality, what a glorious day that will be. In the meantime, however, we are surrounded by adversaries and are called upon to contend for the Kingdom of Heaven. Still, we have the assurance that we do not fight alone because our God fights for us. Moreover, with all the arms the adversary has at his disposal, we have this promise: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the Lord (Isaiah 54:17).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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