The Consciousness of Holy War

“The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name.” -Ex. 15.3

The Lord is a warrior, there is an enemy, and we are in the midst of a holy war. Do we have a consciousness of this?

For ancient Israel, the wars that they fought were literally seen as acts of worship unto God. Their faith did not just provide a context for war. Holy war was itself in the character and essence of their faith. Do we know the God who is a warrior? Is holy war a part of our own spiritual consciousness, in the “character” of our faith, or are we treating life like a mere game?

“No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs…” -2 Tim. 2.4

Leonard Ravenhill used to quote Paul’s statement from Eph. 6: “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities…”

His commentary on this verse, in terms that unfortunately describe the bulk of western Christianity, was this:

The problem with we western believers is that the verse stops earlier for us. For most pastors and their congregations, it can only be said, ‘We wrestle not!’

Can this be said of us? Have we lost the consciousness of the soldier, the awareness that we are in a war? I’m not speaking of a physical war, but a battle against unrighteousness, against complacency, against lovelessness, against the powers of darkness and their false value systems? Or have we bought into the lie, become entangled with “civilian affairs,” and taken the attitude of the spiritual pacifist, who criticizes from a cushy and comfortable place while others go out to the bloody conflict and crushing pressures of war?

Are we cowards, sleeping our way through the conflict of the ages, or are we soldiers on the frontlines, following the Master wheresoever He goes? It’s time to wake up and listen to the voice of our great Captain and King. The Lord of hosts is His name.

O Lord our God, arouse us; we are sleeping,
Dreaming we wake….
Hail the vain dream that stayeth us awhile.
Shame on the sloth that would our strength beguile!

What aileth us, that drowsy indecision
Hark, hark, the call to war!
Lord God of battles, fear we man’s derision?
Are we as those for whom doth shine no vision?

See o’er the hills the dawn awake. Bedew us,
O Refreshing Dew; on our long-silent lyre
Breathe, Wind of God. Forgiving Love, renew us;
Form us and discipline to Thy desire.
O Man of War, great Son of Man, endue us;
O mighty Spirit, kindle with Thy fire!

(Amy Carmichael, Mountain Breezes)