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At the beginning we have to realize two very important things. First, God's laws for war and the wars of Israel in the Old Testament were a picture of our spiritual warfare in the New Covenant age. From them we learn the principles of spiritual warfare. Second, the wars of the Old Testament were physical wars and the laws governed natural warfare which means they are still applicable in our natural wars today. God does not change.
Is there such a thing as a just war? Or is all war simply organized murder? Is the attitude represented in the old cold war slogan "better red than dead" correct or is it a coward's excuse?
The fact the Bible lays down laws concerning a just war reveals there must be such an activity as a just war. In a world infected with sin, war becomes a necessary evil. Just as doctors sometimes have to damage the body in order to save a life, so a just war is sometimes necessary to protect against evil.
"Blessed be Jehovah my rock, Who teacheth my hands to war, And my fingers to fight:" Ps. 144:1
"Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war." Pr. 20:18
"For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety." Pr. 24:6
"...a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." Ecc. 3:8
Next let's look at the basic purpose and structure of the military in going into a just war.
"When thou art come unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me; thou shalt surely set him king over thee, whom Jehovah thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee; thou mayest not put a foreigner over thee, who is not thy brother.
"Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses; forasmuch as Jehovah hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
"And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites: and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear Jehovah his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them; that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Israel." Deut. 17:14-20
This section of Scripture is dealing with the Commander-In-Chief [the king in Biblical days]. If it is to be a just war then the leader must also be in right relationship with Jesus Christ. If the leader is not just, the war cannot be just.
So what are the characteristics of this leader?
1. He is chosen or approved by God. This means he must be a dedicated Christian. In a democracy the people may vote but they should be voting for God's choice...a person who is committed to the Word of God above all things. No one else can lead a just war - or a Godly nation.
2. He must be a citizen of the country he is representing.
3. He could not multiply horses. In Bible days, horses were offensive military weapons. This means the basic purpose of the military is defensive. The main concentration of weapons should be with the defense of the country in mind. This also argues for a small core military with a larger reserve force in case of actual attack. It has been observed that there has never in history been a country with a large military that did not use it aggressively. This law works against aggression and for defense.
4. He could not multiply wives. In the Bible days, leaders married wives in order to form political alliances. This means that Christian countries should not enter into political alliances with nations which have an unChristian base. Be not unequally yoked [2 Cor. 6:14] applies to more than marriages. It is difficult to fight a just war when we are compromised with ungodly nations. World War II dramatically illustrates this. Russia murdered far more people than Germany did but they were our "allies" so we looked the other way.
5. He could not multiply silver and gold. In other words, in order to have a just war the motive must be correct. The leader cannot be seeking to increase his own wealth or power. Nor can he seek to increase his national wealth by aggression against a weaker nation. Need and might do not make right.
6. He must not be a proud person but a humble person.
7. He must be a continual student of the Word of God. If fact, he must personally - by hand - write out a copy of the book Deuteronomy for himself. I know of no leaders in the world today who meet this qualification.
In order for a leader to lead a just war he must meet the above qualifications. If he does not, then he should put his own "house" in order before he considers military action.
If the leader's heart and life is right before God, what next?
1. If war has been declared against the Godly nation, then defensive action is automatically legitimate as long as the "terms of engagement" are not violated. We must keep in mind that in the New Covenant age 99% [if not 100%] of a just war is for the purpose of defense.
2. A Godly nation may consider initiating a just war if there is a legitimate and provable [in a public court of law] threat against it. It may also enter a just war in defense of an ally - keeping in mind that it can only enter into alliances with other Christian nations. The motive must be defense [i.e. the protection of its citizens] not political or financial.
3. A just war must recognize the Christian foundation and seek God's will and protection on its soldiers.
"And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies." Num. 10:9
Ultimately victory does not come from military might but from God Himself. This must be recognized. A military that is compromised religiously cannot fight a just war. The soldiers, as well as the leaders, must be in right relationship to the Jehovah God of the Bible.
"When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
"And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." Deut. 20:1-4
It doesn't matter how overwhelmed we may be. If it is truly a just war, and we are committed to fighting on God's terms, then God Himself will do the fighting. Numbers are unimportant. The "odds" don't matter to God. It also means that the causality rate should be much lower than would normally be expected.
Can a nation draft people into the military to fight in the war?
"And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her. And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart. And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people." Deut. 20:5-9
The answer is yes and no. All the men of fighting age were called up. However, since God is in charge of a just war not everyone is needed - that requires faith on the part of the leadership! Anyone who had recently bought/built a new house is dismissed to go home and enjoy it. Anyone who had recently launched a new business/venture is allowed to go home and take care of it. Anyone who is engaged or recently married is allowed to go home and look after his wife.
Finally, a just war is for people of faith; therefore, anyone who would spread doubt and fear is required to leave. Cowards have no place in a just war. This is for people with full confidence in God.
So while the draft is legitimate the exemptions are broad enough that anyone who does not what to be there is excused. God would rather work with a small band of dedicated people than a crowd of half-hearted, fearful people.
"When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee." Deut. 20:10-11
Keep our general context in mind. We are speaking of a nation which has been proven to have aggressive intentions but has not yet attacked. Such a nation is offered peace. This doesn't mean compromising principles or security but seeing if a peaceable solution can be reached. If it can be that is best and safeguards can be put in place to insure the treaty is kept. In the Old Testament times this often involved the paying of tribute.
"And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations." Deut. 20:12-15
If the aggressor will not come to terms then a just war [assuming the other conditions are met] is to be declared. Once a just war is declared it must be pursued whole-heartedly until an unconditional surrender is reached. War is not a political game. It is to be pursued with all legitimate means to the end.
Killing every man seems extreme and unmerciful. In ancient warfare, the men of a city were united in opposition to the attackers. They were committed to their king to the very end. These men were not civilians but active enemy soldiers. They had refused the offer of peace initially given. In modern warfare we are dealing with nations instead of individual city-states. The idea or principle is that those who remain in stubborn resistance are to be executed. To allow them to live is to invite rebellion or terrorist activities which would take the lives of innocent people.
Also the idea of the "spoil" is that the aggressor nation which refused the offer of peace is responsible for the cost of the just war including the wages of the soldiers.
"But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God." Deut. 20:16-18
We need to look at the above Scripture. This describes a unique situation. The nations of Canaan had sinned so much that they were beyond redemption. God authorized their destruction and gave the land to Israel. This is NOT a situation which applies in natural warfare today. It does apply in Spiritual warfare where we are to be ruthless in hunting down and destroying sin in our own lives. Even the smallest sin brings corruption and destruction.
"When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man’s life) to employ them in the siege: Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued." Deut. 20:19-20
There are several points to be gleaned these verses.
1. A just war is to be carried out against military personal. The harming or placing of civilians in unnecessary danger is forbidden. This calls into question the use of such weapons as land mines. Certainly such means would be forbidden where civilian traffic could reasonably be expected.
2. The land is not to be harmed. If it is a just war, then it is made against evil men, not against the innocent or against the land. In other words, weapons or actions which would destroy the fruitfulness of the land are forbidden. This would limit such actions as bombing to strictly military targets. Large scale bombing - or other actions - to destroy the productivity of the land and "starve out" the people are forbidden.
3. In short, a just war effort cannot deliberately destroy a civilian's ability to make a living.
Can women be in the military?
This is an interesting question which deserves a more detailed examination. However, the Bible does seem to give the idea at least some support. Deborah was a civil and religious ruler who became a military adviser to General Barak [Judges 4]. Both Jael [Judges 4] and Rahab [Joshua 2] functioned as spies in a military action [at the risk of their lives]. Esther, in her position as Queen, gave the commands which allowed the Jews to form a just war against their enemies. Certainly, it wasn't a common situation, but the question that has to be answered is: Does the Bible actually forbid it?
What about "wars" on things like drugs, poverty, terrorism, etc.?
These "wars" sound good but often [if not always] they are launched for ungodly political reasons. If you take a close look, you will discover that a] the situation usually gets worse, b] the laws enacted in these "wars" do little to stop the evil but much to limit or hurt the innocent, and c] there is a great unBiblical increase of government power and control. The covert goal of these "wars" is increase in political power and control over the nation's population. It is simply another step in humanistic/Satanic domination as opposed to Godly freedom. They are not just wars but secret wars against freedom.
To summarize:
A just war must:
a. have Godly leadership,
b. have Godly soldiers,
c. have right motives [defense], and
d. be waged within the limits God places on warfare.
For more information on just war and other legal issues see The Institutes Of Biblical Law in our bookstore.
