Psalm 144

“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle - my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, who subdues [a]my people under me.  Psalm 144:1-2 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm begins with David declaring that the Lord trains his hands for war and his fingers for battle.  Some folks may find that a strange statement, because many people (even within the Church) hold to a false idea of God, that He is a pacifist.  We must remember there was a lot of warfare in the Old Testament, which the Lord commanded.  While it should be the last resort, there is a time when warfare becomes the only wise choice:

“…a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:8 (NKJV)

If you are scratching your head, wondering how a God who prefers love and peace would both train soldiers and ordain hate and warfare, it helps to understand that terms of peace are always His first option, even in the Old Testament.  

“When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it.  And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you. Now if the city will not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.”  Deuteronomy 20:10-12 (NKJV)

Likewise, in the New Testament, God offers us terms of love and peace through a saving relationship with the “Son of David,” Messiah Jesus.  

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years.  Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, “They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.” So I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter My rest.” Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.’”  Hebrews 3:7-13 (NKJV)

Make no mistake, just as David was trained for warfare against unbelievers, so Jesus is also readied.  

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.  And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.  He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.  And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.  He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”  Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV)