What does Scripture say about Military Service? Is there any Scriptural basis for how Servicemembers should respond to combat or as a result of it? It’s important, first of all, to consider who served and the light that God puts on them. How does God talk to them or about them? What did they do and how did they do it? Later posts will consider the effects of war on a Warriors life. What happened in battle, how did they respond, and how should we respond when we are faced with similar challenges?
David and Jonathan were both Soldiers: we see David face multiple challenges as a Soldier. David also prayed multiple times for (or perhaps I should say against) his enemies in what are called “the Imprecatory Psalms.” Jonah faced Sailors that wanted to do the right thing. The narrative New Testament passages talk about Soldiers and they are referred to as examples in Paul’s writings.
We specifically gain insight into David’s life as he faced having to balance time with battle buddies and with family relationships, (1 Sam 18:1-5 and 20) addressing challenging leadership in King Saul (1 Sam 19), losing family members in combat (1 Sam 30), temptation to sin against authority (1 Sam 19, 24 and 26), temptation to react in anger to what could have been a fratricide issue (1 Sam 25:2-44), the blessings of winning battles and wars (2 Sam 8, 10). He showed kindness to someone who didn’t deserve it (2 Sam 9). He faced temptations in and out of battle (2 Sam 11) and gave into them. He recognized the rebuke of a Pastoral counselor (2 Sam 12). He repented and turned from his sin (Psalm 51). He prayed that God would not take his child as a result of his sin (2 Sam 12:15-23), yet recognized God was gracious even when he did take him. He faced the challenge of people who were not comfortable with his leadership (2 Sam 16:5-14).
In Jonah 1:5-16, we see Sailors who were working to find who was at fault for the storm. They woke Jonah and the lot fell on him. It was all his fault. They ignored Jonah’s pleas to be thrown overboard and stopped to recognize the God of all creation when they eventually did.
The word imprecatory means to invoke or call down (evil or curses), as upon a person.[1] The Imprecatory Psalms are 5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 69, 70, 79, 83, 109, 129, 137, 140. These reveal that our hearts are torn between growing and pleasing God and struggling with our enemies. Many of these were penned by David in the situations above. They demonstrate that God knows our thoughts already. We should recognize that and ask him to help us in the situation and request that he help the circumstances. Much has been written on this topic.[2]
Centurions (the Roman equivalent of a company commander, commanding 100 Soldiers) demonstrate great faith in the New Testament. In Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7, Jesus commends a Centurion for his faith as Jesus heals his servant. It is a centurion (the one that oversaw Jesus’ crucifixion) that declares Jesus’ identity at His death by declaring, “Truly this man was the Son of God (Mark 15:39).” In Acts 10, the Holy Spirit comes upon Gentiles, starting with the Centurion and all who are in his household (Acts 10). A group of Soldiers and Centurions keeps Paul’s beating from going further in Acts 20. Jesus also challenged Soldiers in Luk 3:14 to “… not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” and the Soldiers in Luke 23 are found to be mistreating Christ, as they mock Him, spit on Him, and punch Him.
As Paul’s journey to Rome starts, (Acts 27) we see Sailors and Soldiers listening to the lowly prisoner Paul to ensure the safety of the crew and prisoners.[3]
Paul challenges Timothy to “share in suffering as a good Soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 2:3) and recognizes Archippus in Philemon 1:2 and Epaphroditus in Phil 2:25 as fellow Soldiers.[4] (Phil 1:2)” We see Paul throw down and gauntlet as he challenges us with the statement that, “No Soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him (2 Tim 2:4).”
This is a cursory look at these topics and this list could be added to and deepened. As I looked at each of these passages, I was encouraged that the majority of these interactions show Servicemembers in a positive light. I was challenged to help Soldiers in this arena. What challenges does God give us as Servicemembers? Does that correlate to others? How can Servicemembers and Civilians engage in mutual encouragement for the glory of God from this information?
[1] “Dictionary.com,” accessed June 7, 2017, http://www.dictionary.com/browse/imprecatory?s=t.
[2] “Biblegateway.com,” accessed June 7, 2017, https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/asbury-bible-commentary/Imprecatory-Psalms
[3] Much can be gleaned on this topic from “The Book on Leadership” by Dr. John MacArthur
[4] This could be referring to a fellow Soldier as a fellow follower of Christ or, in Colossae, he could have been a Soldier. Context points to the former but the term is still used in positive light.