The book of 1 Chronicles opens up by tracing the family lines of the Israelites. Chapter ten concerns the death of Saul, the first king of Israel. Chapter eleven is about David becoming king and capturing Jerusalem for his base of operations. Beginning in verse 10 of chapter eleven there is a list of David’s mighty men, all the way through the rest of the chapter. Chapter twelve is about the men who came to David before he was king and was being pursued by Saul. In verse 8 we are told about the Gadites. Here is what the Bible says about them. They were men of war, fit for the battle.
One of the exemptions for not going to war was fear (Deut. 20:8). The reason being if in the heat of battle, the man would break and run, he would cause others to do the same. The ones with David then were men of war who were fit or ready for battle. They understood the enemy was to be killed or made to serve. God desired to reduce the number of Gideon’s army in order for God to get the glory for the coming victory. God tells Gideon to speak to all those gathered and anyone who was fearful could leave. On that occasion some 22,000 returned home (Judges 7:2,3). Since 10,000 remained, it is safe to conclude that the majority did not want to go to war.
God, through Moses and Aaron, used a cloud to lead Israel from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan. The land occupied by the Philistines was almost a straight course into Canaan. God would not lead them that way. Why did God choose a further route through Arabia? His reason was if the people saw war, they would repent and desire to go back to Egypt (Ex. 13:17). The heart must be prepared for war. They would journey under the leadership of God to Mount Sinai. From there they would make their way toward the land promised by God. The decision was made to send out men to spy out the land.(Num. 13).
They returned and told the congregation that the land was everything God said that it was. However, their report also involved the strength of those in Canaan, walled cities and even some giants in the land. The land flowing with milk and honey has a great sound to it. Taking the land, which meant war, was an idea that turned the whole nation. So much so that God declared that all those 20 and above would never enter in to Canaan (Num. 14:29). The writer of Hebrews calls it “unbelief” (Heb. 3:18,19). The unbelief came to the surface on the basis of what it would take to wage war and drive out those in Canaan.
Jesus’ work on earth was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). How then do we understand this description of the work of the Messiah by Isaiah? Isaiah writes that He, the Messiah, would “…smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4). Jesus is the Messiah and, therefore, a connection is made between seeking and saving the lost and Jesus destroying the wicked. How would such be accomplished? Ephesians 6 list the armor which the Christian has received from God. In verse 17, we are told that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.
The Christian then is to wage war with the Word of God as his tool. Paul said the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4). The same verse also tells us that are weapon is mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Our weapon, which is the Word of God is to be used in love (Eph. 4:15). We do not seek the death but instead the life of men. The knowledge about Jesus the true Messiah brings men from the power of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Col. 1:13).
The false messages presented over the “air waves” about having prosperity, wealth and health cloud the minds of many. It is minds that are clouded because the thoughts of “land with milk and honey” is not presented with the idea of war to take it. The war which is waged daily is for our own souls and the souls of as many as we can teach. It is the abundant life promised by Jesus that came about to those who are “men of war and fit for the battle” (John 10:10).