Session 7

Consequences of War: Rise and Fall of the Kingdom of Israel

Every 10 years the United States performs a census as mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution. The first census in 1790 asked just 6 questions for each household.

  1. The name of the head of the family
  2. Number of free white males of 16 years and upward
    • to assess the country’s industrial and military potential
  3. Number of free white males under 16 years
  4. Number of free white females
  5. Number all other free persons
  6. Number of slaves

Problem of War:

  • Christians may be influenced by nationalism to support either side of a conflict leading to Christians killing other Christians on the battlefield
  • As in the case of slavery, scripture interpretation may be skewed in support of the nation’s sin
  • Christians use the same arguments to support war as antebellum Southerners used scriptures to support slavery

Beginning of War:

  • God instituted the law that required men to be killed if they have murdered another human because mankind is created in the image of God.
  • God will use war to punish a nation once the wickedness of that nation has reached a point requiring judgement.

Regulating War: Soldiers

  • God institutes requirements that require the nation of Israel to depend on Him for success.
  • Only soldiers that meet certain qualifications are allowed to fight
  • Soldiers that are scared to fight are allowed to not fight
  • Required to kill combatants and non-combatants in the tribes set aside for destruction
  • Required to offer peace to cities not belonging to the tribes set aside for destruction
  • Only kill combatants in the cities that do not accept peace

Regulating War: Kings

  • God institutes requirements to keep the king from being militaristic
    1. Cannot acquire horses
    2. Cannot form alliances through marriage
    3. Cannot build a large treasury
  • Like soldiers, the king has to depend on the Lord for victory.
  • Kings are required to review the law throughout all their days as a king

Regulating War: Priests

  • God took the Levites in place of the firstborn to serve in His priesthood
  • Priests are not numbered with the military for combat
  • Priests do have a part in war with the blowing of trumpets

Application of War: Conquest of Canaan and Judges

  • Like Rahab and her family, the Canaanites are allowed to repent and join themselves to Israel. God’s command to kill all in the land only applies to those individuals, families, and nations that choose no to accept Him.
  • Joshua relied on the Lord for victory against Jericho.
  • Gideon used the requirements of Deuteronomy 20 to send over 2/3 of his army away.
  • Gideon had to have faith that 300 men was enough to defeat a large army.

Today we will look at God’s model king, David, and his warfare. Every future king will be compared to David to determine if they were a good or evil king. We will look at David’s greatest victory and his worst military failure. Eventually, David’s line became so corrupt causing God to pass judgement on the earthly rule of David’s descendants.

Discussion Questions

Review: 1 Samuel 17:45-47

1.  What did David depend on for victory?

2.  How is this different than the Philistines?

3.  What would be the outcome of a battle done the Lord’s way and by His methods?

4.  How does the words of David show an understanding of the previous war principles?

Review: 2 Samuel 24:1-14

5.  Which Israelite were included in the Census?

6.  What is wrong with taking a census?

Review: Exodus 30:12-16

7.  What requirement did David not perform?

Review: 1 Chronicles 22:6-10

8.  Why was David not able to build the temple?

Review: 2 Kings 21:7-16

9.  What was the reason that the nation of Israel lost their wars to their enemies and ceased from being a nation?

Review: Hosea 10:13-15 (This prophecy pertains to the fall of the Northern Kingdom)

10.  Would the size of Judah’s army, advanced weaponry, alliances, or finances prevent Judah or Israel from falling once the Lord had decided its fate?

Summary

Although the Bible was written by different men over centuries, the character and nature of God remains consistent though the Old Testament. He does not want a kingdom that calls Him Lord, to be dependent on their strength for victory. God desires for nations to come to know Him and warfare is one of many ways that He instructs His people to live differently than all other nations. When a nation fights their battles as God directs, nobody leaves the war wondering which side was fighting for God.

We also see that just being a king waging war has a consequence in building God’s temple. Like the priests, God wanted a King that was known for peace to build His temple. God’s desire is not to forcibly rule His creation, but to establish a kingdom of peace that will draw the nations for worship.  A temple that is established on a location where God’s judgement stops, and His mercy begins.

Finally, when Israel fail to establish a Godly kingdom on this earth, they needed to be judged because of their wickedness. We learn a very important principle. God does not require a “righteous nation” to punish wicked nations. He will and does turn one wicked nation against another wicked nation.   He even reminds Israel (Deuteronomy 9:4-6) that they were not a righteous nation when they conquered the promise land.

Looking ahead: We will start to examine verses pertaining to a King that will put an end to war. Isaiah 2:2-4, Isaiah 9:1-7, Zechariah 9:9-10, Micah 4:1-3, Matthew 4:12-16, Judges 7:21-22, Matthew 21:5, Isaiah 53:5

Exercises

  1. Pray to be open to whatever the Lord may reveal through His scriptures no matter the social, political, or economic cost.
  2. Review 1 Kings 8:41-43. How does Solomon’s prayer relate both to God’s instruction to David to not build the temple and having priests not numbered among the soldiers?
  3. Review 2 Samuel 24:15-25, 2 Chronicles 3:1, what is the connection between David’s census and the location of the temple?
  4. If God required Israel do be dependent on Him military, do you think a kingdom established by the Messiah would demand more or less of its subjects to show the glory of God?

References

1790 Overview. https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/overview/1790.html