1) Even his enemies to be at peace with him
There is some thought that if we are good, or favoured by God (and the two are not the same thing), that things will be nice for us and we will live in peace. But the wisdom of the scriptures, that people are often not as familiar with as they are with humanistic thinking, is very sobering.
A very famous quote from the Bible regarding peace is that quoted by John F. Kennedy. It was made at a Commencement Address at the American University, Washington, D.C. June 10, 1963.
And it is the responsibility of all citizens in all sections of this country to respect the rights of others and respect the laws of the land.
All this is not unrelated to world peace. When a man's ways please the Lord -- the scriptures tell us -- he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. And is not peace, in the last analysis basically a matter of human rights -- the right to live out our lives without fear of devastation -- the right to breathe air as nature provided it -- the right of future generations to a healthy existence?
While we proceed to safeguard our national interests let us also safeguard human interests. And the elimination of war and arms is clearly in the interest of both.
This speech is perhaps made more famous as shortly after, ironically, Kennedy was assassinated on November 22 1963.
It may be that Kennedy's ways did not please the Lord, and/or it may mean that people do not understand what the quote really means in its historical context.
Some feel they can cherry pick quotes from the Bible, as if the Bible is a modern book written yesterday, and apply it to whatever humanistic thought they have. Kennedy did this. Firstly he connected America's 'laws' and 'respect of rights' to ways that 'please the Lord'. Secondly he connected peace to 'human rights'. The second is demonstrably false. A nation may be at peace and its people breathe polluted air. The first connection Kennedy made asks the question as to how far the laws of America are based on statutes given to Moses, as it is clearly stated that the ways that please the Lord are described in his law.
Leviticus 18:2-4 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God. You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God.”
This law, which Christ confirmed that not one jot would pass (Matthew 5:18) and which he fulfilled (Matthew 5:17), does not define America's laws, and, if America's way was 'the way of the Lord', then why is it that America, of all nations, has been more involved in wars than any other?
What 'being at peace' means in context
The quote is from the collection or proverbs attributed to King Solomon' (approx.1000BC). In context,
Proverbs 16:2-7 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the spirits. (3) Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. (4) The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (5) Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. (6) By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. (7) When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Firstly, in context, it says the Lord has made all things and leaves the wicked for the day of evil. It is clear, then, that a person, or nation, may have ways that please the Lord yet still have enemies. In addition the enemies may be wicked. This idea of enemies being at peace comes in a historical context.
The days of Solomon were days of peace. Yet they were achieved due to the lifetime of bloody conquest by his father King David, which pushed the boundaries of the kingdom of the LORD(Yahweh) to their greatest extent (1Chronicles 28:5). It is to be noted that whereas most wonder if Solomon will inherit eternal life, nobody is in doubt about king David!
1Kings 15:5 because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.,
But yet David was a man of war,
1Chronicles 28:3 But God said to me, 'You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.'
Therefore according to Solomon, King David, whose ways pleased the LORD, is an example of how our enemies are made to be at peace with us. Saul sought his life, yet David was given a way of escape. After many years of successful war the kingdom of is expanded. An incident captures the point,
2Samuel 21:15-17 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. (16) And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. (17) But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, “Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.”
It was David who won the heart of Hiram king of Tyre, which benefited Solomon,
1Kings 5:1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
And it was David who destroyed and reduced the numbers of Canaanites and Jebusites so that Israel had peace in the days of Solomon.
1Kings 9:20-22 And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, (21) Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day. (22) But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.
The example of David shows us that, when a man's ways please the LORD, he helps defeat (and as God wills, destroy) the enemies so the remaining enemies finally seek peace.
There is no promise that God will remove the enemies of a person (or a nation) altogether. In fact, the enemies may exist because we have ways that please the Lord.
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved. (cp. Mark 13:13, Luke 21:17)
John 15:20-21 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (21) But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
Luke 6:26-29 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Peter gives some detail
1Peter 4:3-4 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: (4) Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
When we think over every person in the Bible who we know whose ways pleased the Lord, few lived a life without enemies, and none without suffering. Daniel, who was no warrior, was at one point, due to his enemies schemes, lion's meat. And Paul in the letter to he Hebrews makes the possible suffering of the life of faith clear. He also brings it to our attention that not one of the those judged faithful, had a life without enemies
Hebrews 11:32-40 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (33) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (35) Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (36) And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: (37) They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (38) (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (40) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Paul's comment leads us back to the national precedent that was written in Israel's history of peace and warfare.
Further to the historical context
There was also Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae and Samuel. They were men whose way so pleased the Lord that they are called examples of faith and 'obtained a good report'. It is said of them that they 'out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant' and turned to flight the armies of the enemy. Again we are shown that the enemies are made to be at peace by the Lord Yahweh making his people strong, not by the Lord taking away their enemies and making them comfortable.
In each of the instances we know that these were given military victories against great enemies, and in may cases they fought all their lives. Samson fought his enemies until his own death, when he finally prevailed. Few might be aware of the extent that Samuel was a warrior leader.
1Samuel 7:3-13 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. (12) Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto has the LORD helped us. So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
Some may say Samuel was a prophet only, and might not in the instance above have led the men to war, but this might not be sustained seeing how even when Samuel was an old man, Saul called the armed men to follow himself and Samuel (1 Samuel 11:7) and how ready Samuel was with a sword to carry out Saul's omission,
1Samuel 15:31-33 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD. (32) Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. (33) And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
In Samuel's life the way that his enemies (and the nation's enemies) were made at peace was through miraculous conquest, and even to old age, physical strength.
Israel's History as a Nation
In the covenant with Israel made at Horeb which was tied to the giving of the Law, the principle of the Lord making their enemies to be at peace if they walk in His statues is explained
Leviticus 26:3-8 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; (4) Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase,.. and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. (6) And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. (7) And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. (8) And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
The Lord does not promise Israel that they will not have any enemies, rather that if the enemies rise against Israel they would fall by Israel's sword. They also were promised a curse; that they would lose if they did not keep to doing the laws and statutes. The whole of Judges establishes the point.
Judges 2:13-14 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Judges 2:18-19 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
Even, later after Solomon's time, righteous people and kings are given peace through victory. Uzziah had to face the Philistines, and was so helped by a miracle so that all nations feared him. Hezekiah, in the first year of his reign cleanses the Temple and the people repent with great joy in turning to the Lord, yet they are all tested in their faith as they have to face a siege of Jerusalem and the might of the Assyrians.
Israel has a unique history. No other nation can say that over their entire history they have won or lost battles purely based on how righteous, or how closely they, or their leaders, followed their God! Whereas most nations will win battles by having greater strength, Israel could only win if God was pleased with their way, or, even if they had not fully repented, if it was in His purpose to convince the people.
What other nation other than Israel has a national prayer presupposing enemies and also utter loss to enemies and national dispersal?
2Chronicles 6:34-39 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that you shall send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name; (35) Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
(36) If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sins not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near; (37) Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly; (38) If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gave unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: (39) Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.
What other nation has on record in their law a built in expectation of actions required of the people during a loss of nationhood to enemies?
Leviticus 26:37-44 And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursues: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies. (38) And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. (39) And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them. (40) If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; (41) And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: (42) Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. (43) The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. (44) And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.
It is sobering to note that, according to the word of God, all nations are “enemies' lands” to Jews. There was none that could give protection. They were told,
Ezekiel 11:16 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
The nations are all the enemies of God's witnesses, but those who seek to keep the Law in truth and in sincerity were given a little sanctuary, so that the people may learn to rely on God only.
There is a reason for God's promise of sanctuary as Yahweh keeps his promises to the fathers of Israel.
The Christian and enemies made at peace with them.
None of this history is irrelevant. The whole shows how God works. Most importantly it shows the context of the quote, and it cannot be taken out of context. Is there something different for the Christian who knows that those who take the sword perish with the sword?
The Christian, in living in days when the power of God is not openly visible suffers from the same fate as their Lord. The only victory promised them is that given in Christ.
1Corinthians 15:53-58 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
And again,
1John 5:3-4 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
Only personal eternal life is promised. We are not to fear those who kill the body, implying that people may may kill us, but we are to fear those who 'kill' by misleading and destroying a faithful life, which is our hope of eternal life.
Psalm 97:10-11 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserves the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.
In Revelation the prayers of the saints (who are in tribulation over the 1290 years) and who are killed, arise to God and the judgements of the trumpets are sent. It is not the immediate deliverance given in battle to ancient Israel.
Yet in the end the victory of the saints in the resurrection will be of the nature given to Israel, for the same reason, as it was given in the days of Joshua (Yeshua). A woman, Hannah gives us some detail,
1Samuel 2:8-10 He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. (9) He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. (10) The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Psalm 2 speaks of the anointed son of God 'breaking' the power of the nations.
Psalm 2:1-9 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. (6) Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (7) I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (8) Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (9) Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
The power of the nations is their military power. It is to be doubted if breaking of the military powers of the nations will be without bloodshed. The indications are that the wrath of God manifested to bring peace for the people of God will involve victory like as in a battle, but more overwhelming.
Jeremiah 25:31-33 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
As to who is to do this, we are told. Apparently the meek who have not taken the sword wilfully, who have not been arrogant in deciding who God wants killed, rather waiting on his word and the manifestation of his power as in the days of the prophets, will be given a two edged sword.
Psalm 149:4-9 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; (9) To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
This should not surprise us. We are told we shall be like the angels, and the angel who met Balaam carried a sword. Perhaps the angels and saints swords are needed until all things be subdued to God.
1Corinthians 15:22-28 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (23) But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (24) Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (25) For he must reign, till he has put all enemies under his feet. (26) The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (27) For he has put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. (28) And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
At this time for the Messiah, the only one whose way completely pleased the LORD – finally – by the open revelation of the LORD's power, even his enemies are made to be at peace with him.
For more on the Kingdom of the LORD.
Or the widsom of Christians not taking the sword.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)
This may be one of the most misunderstood passages of the Bible. Paul is notorious for long sentences of connected thoughts, and this is part of a complex wide ranging thought which lasts 2 chapters, and includes what seems opposite advice:
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Cor. 5:11-13)
As I was thinking to write this article, having just read Psalm 46 as I do each year on that day, on January 25th a Bible was found untouched after a tornado hit Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
We have been given many time periods to prophetic events in the Bible. Many people think it too hard, and do not make an effort to understand them. However, if they were not to be understood, why were they given? And the Bible says the wise shall understand (Daniel 12:10).
In the light of the findings of science, how literally do we take what the scriptures say about the power of the God of the Bible, Yahweh Elohim (literally He who will become Mighty Ones)? Science at its best is a measurement of observable and repeatable phenomenon wrapped up in explanations which abound in analogy. There is no doubt in the benefit of investigating phenomena of the natural world. The surprising thing is that the more we investigate natural phenomena, the more it fits the explanations recorded over 2000 years ago.
The God of Israel is approachable and reasonable. He often speaks directly to his people. The following will seek to understand a passage where he speaks via the prophet Amos which has a few variant translations.
