Regulating War: Soldiers
In the previous session, we learned that God’s justice requires murders to be killed and wicked nations to be brought to judgement. However, God showed mercy to Cain and was slow to anger with the Amorites. Over the next several sessions, we will study the regulations that God placed on soldiers, kings, and priests during war.
All countries must decide how they would raise a army in the event of a war. When a volunteer army is not enough to meet the demands, the government may institute a draft. The federal government first implemented the draft during the civil war. Once the war was over, it was dissolved until it was again needed for World War I. Again, it was soon dissolved after the war. The process repeated itself for World War II. The draft was then instituted from 1948 to 1973 during times of peace and war. Currently, men must register when they turn 18 in case the draft needs to be resumed in the event of a war.
Use the war theory worksheet to categorize the below verses to the category you think will best fit.
Questions
Review: Deuteronomy 20
1. How does verse one compare with the fifth criteria of the Just War Theory?
2. How would God’s deliverance from Egypt encourage Israel’s warriors before battle?
3. According to verses 2-4, what is the role of the priest before a battle?
4. According to verses 5-8, what four questions did the officers ask the men before battle?
5. What does verse 9 reveal to us about how the army of Israel was organized?
6. How does verse 10 and 11 compare with the sixth criteria for the Just War Theory?
7. Why are only the males killed in verse 12-13, yet everyone is killed in verse 17-18?
Review: Deuteronomy 9:4-6
8. What was the reason for war against these nations?
9. What would happen to the women and children if the Israelites did not take them?
10. Why would God require that fruit trees to not be cut down for siege works?
Review: Exodus 23:20,22
11. What is required for this warfare to work?
Review: Exodus 23:23,28-30, Joshua 24:12
12. How else did God assist in the military campaign against the people groups in verse 17?
Review: 1 Kings 9:20-21 and 2 Chronicles 8:7-8
13. What eventually happened to these people groups in verse 17?
Review: Deuteronomy 28:15, 25-26
14. How does God hold Israel to the same standard as the other nations?
Summary
Looking ahead: We will start to examine verses pertaining to war in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 17:14-20, 1 Samuel 8
Exercises
- Pray to be open to whatever the Lord may reveal through His scriptures no matter the social, political, or economic cost.
- What would be the attitude of Israel after a military victory?
- How would Israel defeating larger armies impact the beliefs and attitudes of the enemy nations around her?
- Would these principles still hold true today? If yes, then why do you think more nations do not use this strategy?
References
Background of Selective Service. https://www.sss.gov/About/History-And-Records/Background-Of-Selective-Service
Thoughts of War 