So the song goes. These lyrics came into my head the other day, and the song goes on to mention God, and the destruction of 'innocent' lives and so on.
Many Christians would probably think it right and proper to say that war is only good for "absolutely nothing". Nevertheless, many have a totally skewed understanding of who the Lord Jesus is, and what His purposes to accomplish on Earth are; conscientious objectors have opted out from military service citing "Blessed are the peacemakers" Matt. 5:9 to justify themselves for their actions.
Indeed, "Blessed are the peacemakers", the Lord said so Himself! Yet, "The LORD is a Man of war: The LORD is His name." Exo. 15:3. Did He contradict Himself, for it is written "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb. 13:8, and "verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." John 8:58. Furthermore, the incarnate Deity said "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." Matt. 10:34. The apostolic exhortation of "rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15, is needed as always, to make sense of otherwise plainly spoken texts that would appear to be contradictory.
It is important to understand that when God dealt with Old Testament Israel in the giving of the law He dealt with them corporately not individually, this is an important distinction, mark this well. Certainly, He did deal with Israelites as individuals in their various capacities as kings, priests, prophets, servants, etc. Remember, Jacob was an individual, Israel is a nation. When Jacob overcame, he was told by God; "Thy name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." Gen. 32:28. (my emphasis). This took place before God in Christ descended down upon Mount Sinai to give Israel all the commandments in Exodus 20-23; to which they had corporately replied "All the words which the LORD hath said will we do." and Israel "answered with one voice." Ex. 24:3 (my emphasis). When we come to the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, the Lord was addressing "the multitudes" and "His disciples"; in other words individuals, not the nation of Israel. The Lord "Jesus came into the world to save sinners" 1 Tim. 1:15 (my emphasis); "sinners" are individuals like you and me. The Lord came the first time in humility, when He returns, it will be in glory as conquering King! "And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations." Rev. 19:15 (see also Isaiah 11:4, 2 Thess. 2:8).
Some are confused regarding Matt. 25:32;
"And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats."
B.W. Newton writes on this verse, "It is better to adhere to the proper and usual rendering of panta ta ethnee (all the Gentiles) in this passage. This expression, however, does not mean every individual Gentile on the earth, but is limited in the next verse to those who belong to the flock of the Great Shepherd, whether nominally or in truth - whether goats or sheep. The expression, "all the Gentiles," as limited by the next two verses, shows that it means all the Gentiles who professedly own Him as the Shepherd."
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