As is true throughout human history, freedom must be purchased at a terrible price. As we consider the cost of freedom, our thinking turns in remembrance of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who made tremendous sacrifices. Many of them made the supreme sacrifice in giving their lives. Those who survived returned from the battlefields to form the noble generations that sustained the peace until duty called once again. While some would desire that freedom be obtained and sustained apart from warfare, the historical principle of freedom through military victory stands firm. That principle has its roots in Scripture. While God is not the cause of warfare, He uses it as a means to provide freedom and prosperity for a people. Out of military victory can come great blessing, protection and peace for future generations. Perhaps the foremost example of a victorious warrior was Israel’s greatest king, David. In securing the borders of the nation during his reign, he made it possible for his successor to enjoy a forty year reign of peace. King David understood his destiny and acknowledged what God would do through him when he wrote --
… “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”(Ps 18:34 NIV)
Later, in one of the Psalms he wrote --
... “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.”(Ps 144:1 KJV)
Though David desired to build a temple in Jerusalem for the worship of the true God, he received a Divine negative to his request. His mission and calling was to secure peace for Israel through military victory; it would be then for his son, Solomon, to build the Temple.
“He (Solomon) shall build a house for My name, and I (Lord God of Israel) will establish the throne of his kingdom (future reign of Jesus Christ) forever.”(2 Sam 7:13 NASB)
While we are all conscious of the visible warfare that occurs in history, there is a more important struggle that is invisible. It is the unseen spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian churches --
… “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”(Eph 6:12 NASB)
It is through this spiritual warfare that Satan, the Adversary, seeks to destroy the very freedoms purchased on the battlefield. That is why we are admonished to pray for the citizens of our nation, for those in authority, such as law enforcement, and for those who hold office in government.
“I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”(1 Tim 2:1- 2 NASB)
We can become discouraged with the conditions that we are seeing in our country, or we can view these challenging times as a great opportunity to ask the God of Heaven to work on our behalf. Recall the words of Scripture --
… “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”(James 5:16 NIV)