***** Deuteronomy 20:1-9

Deuteronomy 20:1–9 (NRSV)

1 When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots, an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. 2 Before you engage in battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the troops, 3 and shall say to them: “Hear, O Israel! Today you are drawing near to do battle against your enemies. Do not lose heart, or be afraid, or panic, or be in dread of them; 4 for it is the Lord your God who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to give you victory.” 5 Then the officials shall address the troops, saying, “Has anyone built a new house but not dedicated it? He should go back to his house, or he might die in the battle and another dedicate it. 6 Has anyone planted a vineyard but not yet enjoyed its fruit? He should go back to his house, or he might die in the battle and another be first to enjoy its fruit. 7 Has anyone become engaged to a woman but not yet married her? He should go back to his house, or he might die in the battle and another marry her.” 8 The officials shall continue to address the troops, saying, “Is anyone afraid or disheartened? He should go back to his house, or he might cause the heart of his comrades to melt like his own.” 9 When the officials have finished addressing the troops, then the commanders shall take charge of them.

Introduction: war is hell, the cutting loose of hell upon earth. War unlocks the chains of hell and sets free the demonic spirits of killing, slaughter, maiming, rape, brutality, savagery, pain, suffering, starvation, destruction of property, economic collapse, and a host of other demonic spirits that destroy the earth and human life. But despite these terrible, horrible evils, there are times when war is necessary. There are times when we must protect ourselves from those who attack and seek either to dominate us or to slaughter our children, wives, and husbands. Because we are living in a sinful world where the heart of man is desperately wicked, there are times when we must declare war and fight for our very survival. There are wars in which the LORD God (Jehovah, Yahweh)—the true and living God—is on one side. Because of this fact, before ever declaring a war, a nation should seek the LORD God to make absolutely sure that the war is God’s will. If it is not God’s will, the war should never be declared.

The present passage concerns the conduct of war waged by the Israelites. God gave very specific laws to govern the wars the Israelites fought. This is the subject of the present passage: Laws That Govern the Conduct of War: A Picture of the Believer’s Spiritual Warfare Against the Enemies of This World, 20:1–20.

1. The assurance of victory (vv. 1–4).

2. The exemptions from military service: the need for total commitment by all in mobilizing for war (vv. 5–9).

3. The strategy for conquest (vv. 10–20).

1 (20:1–4) Victory, Assurance of—Assurance, of Victory—Enemies, Victory over—Fear, Duty—Faint-hearted, Duty: there was the assurance of victory given by God, victory over all enemies. Remember, the Israelites were camped close by the Jordan River in the plain of Moab, right across from the great city of Jericho. They were soon to march across the river and face the enemies of the promised land. The terror of war was staring them in the face. Battle was soon to be waged. As with any people facing battle, apprehension and fear arose and become a threat to the mental and emotional preparedness of the army. Moses knew the importance of preparing the army mentally and emotionally; therefore, he encouraged the people to conquer their fears. Note what he said to them

1. Moses charged the people: do not fear the enemy (v. 1). He warned them that the enemy will have greater numbers and superior military equipment, horses, and chariots. But the superior numbers and equipment were not to strike fear in their hearts. Victory was to be theirs. However, it was not to be achieved through superior numbers or equipment, but rather through God Himself.

2. Note the two strong encouragements that Moses gave the people (vv. 1–4).

a. Moses assured the people that God’s presence and power would be with them. God would deliver them just as He had delivered them from Egyptian slavery. And they were always to remember: Egypt was a far more powerful nation than they. Yet, God delivered them. The implication was clear: if God had delivered them from such a powerful nation as Egypt, He could give them victory over any enemy.

b. The message of the appointed priests was also to be a strong encouragement to the people (vv. 2–4). Before going into battle, the priest was to address the army, giving four charges to them.

⇒ Do not be faint-hearted; do not lose heart.

⇒ Do not be afraid.

⇒ Do not be terrified.

⇒ Do not tremble, panic.

Moses assured the people: God would be with them and would give them victory over all their enemies (v. 4). In the thick of battle, they were to remember this one fact: victory was theirs through the presence and power of God.

Thought 1. The language of warfare is a picture of the believer’s spiritual warfare against the enemies of this world. The war fought by the Christian believer is not an earthly war but a spiritual warfare. As the believer marches to the promised land of heaven, enemy after enemy attacks him, subtle temptations and trials such as …

• disease

• accident

• immorality

• greed

• covetousness

• anger

• discouragement

• depression

• failure

• financial difficulty

• loneliness

• emptiness

• loss of job

• lack of purpose

• death

Some enemies are small and weak, amounting to nothing more than minor temptations or trials. Such enemies are easy to conquer, sometimes even by the arm of the flesh. But there are other enemies that are far more powerful and brutal in their attacks. These enemies could never be defeated by man, such enemies as a terminal disease, a paralyzing accident, the face of death, or the powerful seduction and lust of some sin that so easily entangles us (He. 12:1). Such enemies as these can be conquered only by the presence and power of God Himself.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Co. 10:13).

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ep. 3:20).

“So that we may boldly say, The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (He. 13:6).

“The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Ex. 14:14).

2 (20:5–9) Military, Exemptions from—Exemptions, from Military Service—War, Commitment to: there were the exemptions from military service. The exemptions were allowed because of the need for total commitment by every soldier. Distractions could not be allowed. Anything that might distract a soldier had to be eliminated. Commitment was an absolute necessity when marching into battle. Without commitment, the battle was lost even before it began. For this reason, the basic qualification for a soldier was personal commitment to the army and its purpose. It was not necessary to have the largest possible army but the best possible army. The best possible army was the army totally committed to God, and absolutely confident that God would give them the victory over the enemy.2 Note the exemptions in the Scripture and outline:

1. There was an exemption due to home life (v. 5). If a person had just built a house but had not started to live in it, he was allowed to return home. This exemption was necessary to maintain life in the promised land. Remember, as the Israelites conquered the land, they were to immediately settle down and begin to farm the land. Building homes, growing food, and marrying and having children—all these were necessary to carry on life in the promised land. Without these very basic functions of life, war would be pointless.3 There would be no need to conquer the promised land, no need to seek a full and victorious life in the land promised by God.

2. There was an exemption due to employment (v. 6). If a person had just begun to farm his land, he was allowed to go home.

3. There was an exemption due to marriage (v. 7). Again, this was necessary to maintain life and families within the nation of Israel.

4. There was an exemption due to cowardice (v. 8). This was an absolute essential to maintain the courage and loyalty of the army. A coward was a threat to the courage of the other soldiers. In the rage of battle, especially in a hard fought battle, fear and cowardice can spread like wildfire. Fear and cowardice in the rage of a battle can destroy morale and lead to a fatal retreat. It was, therefore, absolutely necessary to exempt the faint-hearted, the coward. Note this fact: fear and cowardice were spiritual problems. God promised the victory; victory was assured. Going into battle, a person was bound to feel some apprehension, but there was no need to allow the fear to conquer one’s heart and cause panic and terror. God promised His presence and power to help every soldier fight against the enemies of the promised land. Therefore, fear and cowardice were inexcusable. Nevertheless, after all the encouragement, if a person was still faint-hearted, gripped with the spirit of a coward, he was exempt from service.

5. Note that the commanders were appointed only after the exemptions had taken place (v. 9). It was necessary to wait in order to show who was available for military service. Only the loyal and courageous were left: from among them the officers and commanders were to be appointed.

Thought 1. Commitment, courage, and loyalty are absolute essentials in any warfare. This is true of earthly warfare and of spiritual warfare. No matter who the enemy is—man, temptation, or trial—we must be committed to God, loyal to Him, and courageous in order to be victorious. We can conquer the enemies of this life only by the presence and the power of God. Victorious courage—the kind of courage that gives a full and victorious life—can come only from God. Therefore, we must be committed and loyal to God. If we will give Him our hearts and lives, God will infuse us with enormous courage, enough courage to conquer all the enemies of this life.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the LORD” (1 Co. 15:58).

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ep. 3:20).

“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God” (Ph. 1:28).

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Ti. 1:7).