8.25.25 ~ Marriage and War

Good morning!

Over the past 3 weeks we've learned three words: listen, do and see. Spiritual Sesame street at its best.  You can get the more complete details on the Shabbat morning zoom call.

Many have argued that we should love our neighbor as ourselves, and they are 100% correct. The question that enquiring minds want to know is: "How do I do that"? That's what this week's Torah portion, shoftim/judges,  is devoted too; laws on how to rightly love my neighbor as myself (Deut. 16:18-21:19).

Within these right rulings is my favorite topic in all of Scripture: covenantal marriage and war (Deut. 20:1-9). Huh? And no, I don't mean marriage is war...death, yes. War, no!

Many have erroneously conferred a brutal war-like mindset to the God of all creation; after all He is a man of war (Ex. 15:3). But my oh my, how we have forgotten to read the whole book that reveals Who this Super Power really is!

There are four individuals who cannot go to war (Deut. 20:5-8). One of the four benefits the entire platoon, while the other three only benefit the soldier sent home. The 'sent home ones' include someone who has built a new house and hasn't dedicated it. Another is a man that has planted a vineyard and hasn't eaten of its fruit. The final qualification is a man who is betrothed to a wife and hasn't consummated the relationship. The fourth category of disqualifying a soldier for war is a man that is fearful. Later, Moses tells us that there is a minimum time after the man has consummated his relationship that he must spend pleasing his wife, before he can go to war (Deut. 24:5). If you take into consideration the time it takes before you can eat from the vine, 4 complete years (Lev. 19:23-25), we quickly find that the Lord God places a high priority on experiencing specific aspects of life over war. By doing this, it gives man a chance to reflect the image of God as seen in Genesis 2; where He provides a place to live, a vineyard, and a spouse to share it with (Gen. 2:7-22).

Does this have anything to do with Yeshua's second coming? As you "scratch your head" you may be asking, 'what does the qualifications of who can go to war have to do with the second coming of the Messiah'?

My personal belief is that Yeshua is the manifest image of God in the flesh (Col. 1:15). I believe He is the Word that has been from the beginning (John 1:1-18). His name is the Word of God (Rev. 19:13). I believe He's the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). I believe He is the Prophet that Moses spoke of  and others wondered about (Deut. 18:15-18; Matt. 21:21; Mk. 6:15). I believe He kept the Torah flawlessly (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:4,5) and taught it to His disciples (Deut. 13:1-8; Matt. 5:17-20). I believe when He came the first time, the world anticipated a Lion, but got a Lamb (John 1:29). At His second coming, I believe the world will be unprepared again, since He will come as a Lion; devouring His enemies (Rev. 5:5).

All of the 'second coming', theological models have Yeshua coming back in war against His enemies; whether it's a pretrib, mid-trib, or post-trib perspective. In many Shabbat groups mind, that creates a dilemma according to the instructions of who can go to war vs who has to go home until...It creates a problem because He is still building the house for His betrothed (John 14:1-4) and He's still waiting to share the fruit of the vineyard with His honey-bunny (Luke 22:18). On top of that, the relationship needs one year of intimacy (Deut. 24:5)...One thing we do know, He's not afraid! He is a man of war (Ex. 15:3)!

If Yeshua is a Torah-observant Messiah, and He is. If He's the King who obeys the Torah (Deut. 17:18-20) and He is. Then could it be that we haven't considered the necessity of His obedience to Himself, the Word, when it comes to our eschatological views?

But outside of this topic of covenantal marriage and war, isn't it obvious that God wants you to enjoy the relationship with your honey bunny above conquering vast domains in physical and spiritual warfare (1 Tim. 6:17)?

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (1 Tim. 6:17)

Did you learn something about your Creator? In your covenant marriage are you prepared for war against the enemy? As a college student told me years ago, "Alan, priorities always happen"!

They do!

Shalom,
Alan

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

4.10.25

Good morning! The offerings/korbanot were indeed a source of joy and favor every time they were brought to the Temple or Tabernacle. For instance, when the Temple was being dedicated under Solomon's kingship, they had this incredible feast. The nation feasted on these thanksgiving and peace offerings; 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep and goats (2 Chron. 7:5; 1 King. 8:63) and the glory of the Lord, as with the Tabernacle in Exodus 40, filled the Temple (2 Chron. 7:2). There was great joy in the presence of the Lord! And we have this covenantal intimacy because the offerings/korbanot expressed love, joy, loyalty and gratitude.  Let me speak very briefly to one common objection, particularly in a modern sense. Yeah, OK, fine, but still weird! OK, Solomon's dedication doesn't seem consistent with blood and guts, splashing blood, limbs cut off and burning on an altar to appease an angry god for the sinful disobedience of mankind; it is so barbaric. It's disgusting. How could G...
Read more

9.24.25 ~ 10 Days of Too Wonderful

Good morning! A couple of weeks ago I had share with you some thoughts about four concepts in scripture that are too wonderful. With Yom Teruah/shouting-trumpets, Having finished we found ourselves in what I called the 10 days of awe. 10 days of deep introspection, like the days of unleavened bread, research our lives for any areas that are left undone so that when the sealing takes place at Yom Kippur we can launch into the feast of tabernacles and beyond pure and white. From Passover toShavuot, There is a wonderful focuson the book of Ruth. In times past, we haveexamined the importance of the faith-filled, grafted-in Gentile who would restore the heart of the ‘bitter’ Jewish woman Naomi and be the means of redemption through the birth of Obed. We followed that up by walking with the ‘King in the field’ during the Sixth month on God‘s prophetic calendarand we prepared our hearts for Yom Teruah and the sign of Revelation 12. Last night, I had the opportunity to celebrate with beautiful...
Read more

6.8.25 ~ Are You in the Know?

Good morning! Today, we will leave dear people here in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, after 8 great days of study, prayer, and health related instructions :-)! On this 8th day of counting towards the first fruit of the wine, we continue our journey on how to intimately abide in the True Vine (Jn. 15:1-8). This morning I want to share with you a very familiar verse in Hosea 4:6 to continue our theme. Over the years I have heard the first half of this verse quoted, but 99% of the time I have never heard the second half of the verse quoted. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge/da'at (1st part). Because you have rejected/maas knowledge/da'at, I also will reject/maas you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law/torah of your God, I will also forget you." (Hos. 4:6) How often have you heard this verse quoted in a plea for renewed diligence toward the things of God?  The quotation is usually followed by an enumeration of our lack of Bible study, chu...
Read more