Session 4

Regulating War: Kings

The nation of Israel was not like the other nations, so they were not to make war like other nations. The soldiers of Israel depended on God for their victory and not the size of the army. They also knew that the people they were fighting were being destroyed for their wickedness, and God would apply the same standard to the nation of Israel if they became rebellious.

If God required the nation of Israel to wage war differently than the surrounding nations, then how do Christians wage war differently than nonbelievers? Do we try to apply the scriptures of the Old Testament to modern warfare? What if Christians only make up a minority in an army? What if they serve a non-believing officer, general, or president? Would your worldview fit for a Christian living under any nation or only a Christian nation? When does a nation change from Christian to non-Christian or vice versa?

In the Old Testament times, a king led a nation to war. However, in the United States, this power is controlled by Congress and the President. From the article War Powers:

The Constitution of the United States divides the war powers of the federal government between the Executive and Legislative branches: the President is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces (Article II, section 2), while Congress has the power to make declarations of war, and to raise and support the armed forces (Article I, section 8). Over time, questions arose as to the extent of the President’s authority to deploy U.S. armed forces into hostile situations abroad without a declaration of war or some other form of Congressional approval. Congress passed the War Powers Resolution in the aftermath of the Vietnam War to address these concerns and provide a set of procedures for both the President and Congress to follow in situations where the introduction of U.S. forces abroad could lead to their involvement in armed conflict.

Conceptually, the War Powers Resolution can be broken down into several distinct parts. The first part states the policy behind the law, namely to “insure that the collective judgment of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities,” and that the President’s powers as Commander in Chief are exercised only pursuant to a declaration of war, specific statutory authorization from Congress, or a national emergency created by an attack upon the United States (50 USC Sec. 1541).

The United States has only declared war for 5 conflicts:

  • War of 1812 against Great Britain in 1812
  • Mexican–American War against Mexico in 1846
  • Spanish–American War against Spain in 1898
  • World War I against Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1917
  • World War II against Japan, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, Rumania in 1941 and 1942

 

Discussion Questions

Review: Deuteronomy 17:14 and 1 Samuel 8:6-9

1.  How did God intend Israel to be different than the nations around her?

Review: 1 Samuel 8:10-18

2.  How did the nation of Israel change after the appointment of a king?

Review: Deuteronomy 17:16-17

3.  What are the 3 commands God ordered of the king?

Review: Deuteronomy 17:18-20

4.  In what way did God insure that the king did not forget these commands?

Review: Psalm 20:7, Isaiah 31:1, Joshua 11:4-9, 1 Chronicles 18:4

5.  Why did God not want the nation of Israel to have horses and chariots?

6.  Why was the king not to marry many wives?

Review: 1 Kings 3:1 and 2 Chronicles 18:1

7.  What would be the benefit for a king to marry multiple wives?

Review: 2 Kings 12:18 and 2 Kings 16:5-9

8.  How did a large amount of gold benefit a king?

9.  Why did God place these restrictions on a king?

Review: 1 Kings 10:14-11:3

10.  Which of the three commandments for kings did Solomon break?

Summary

Like the soldier, the king also had to rely on God for victory. Not only did God limit the size of his army, He also removed many of the strategies used by kings to become militarily successful. Why would God send His army in with fewer soldiers, less technology, fewer alliances, and fewer resources? Imagine if a modern army did this! Intentionally placing itself in a weaker position so that it would practically be a miracle if they won. Imagine going into war and deciding not to use the tanks or make alliances with other nations that would have guaranteed victory.

Looking ahead: We will start to examine verses pertaining to war in the Old Testament. Exodus 13:2, Numbers 1:1-3, Numbers 3:12-13, Numbers 1:47-54, Number 10:8-10, Numbers 31:6, 1 Samuel 21:8-9, and 22:18-19

Exercises

  1. Pray to be open to whatever the Lord may reveal through His scriptures no matter the social, political, or economic cost.

References

War Powers. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/law/help/war-powers.php

Official Declarations of War by  Congress. https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/WarDeclarationsbyCongress.htm