Why Weapons of War Cannot Defeat Israel

 

No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper … this is the heritage of the servants of Lord, and their righteousness is of Me.  Isaiah 54:17.

Just before dying Moses reminded the Nation that Yahweh was their Protector. Terms such as ‘Thy refuge’ ‘underneath … everlasting arms’, ‘shield of your help’, ‘the sword of your excellency’, expressed this role (Deuteronomy 33:27-29).

Since the Babylonian captivity Israel, and others, must have wondered where His protection had gone. As a Nation they have been scattered, battered and bruised. May 14 1948 witnessed their return to the land but, has the Lord been seen as ‘their refuge’? Not by the majority. The strength of their military arm is their shield. How then can the set verse be considered in this light?  

No Weapon that is formed against you shall prosper.

Such words sound hollow from an historical perspective. Looking at it from what Moses and the prophets wrote reveals a deeper meaning. They foresaw defeat and dispersion due to apostasy. Satan may marshal his forces to destroy completely the chosen race but can never succeed. Isaiah 51 is the Lord of Hosts promise to His afflicted people. They had drunk of their Lord’s ‘cup of wrath’ but the time had come for him to take it away.

Now He would comfort them. In doing that the Lord would also plead their cause and give the ‘cup of anger’ for the Gentile Nations.

Ringed today by hostile forces with missiles and nuclear weapons Israel in prophecy faces a number of major onslaughts (Joel, Ezekiel 37-39, Psalm 2). As strong as their military might is, humanly speaking, it will be insufficient to survive. But God has promised ‘no weapon will prevail.’ How? He will once more look again upon His people. He will stand between them and Satan’s hordes led by the anti-Christ. Daniel and Revelation lifts the curtain on this period. As the Warrior Lord He will fight for them! The prophet Joel sees the time when Yahweh will assemble the Nations in the valley of Jehoshaphat. They are in an aggressive and warlike frame of mind. The land and people of Israel their destination. Before their onslaught God pleads for His heritage.  He has already written out His defence of them in Scripture, which the Gentiles ignored. Now the Lord’s pleading involves raising and using His ‘Sword’!

Every tongue that shall rise up against you in judgement shall be condemned.

It would be impossible to name any other Nation subject to slander, fake news, misrepresentation, vilification through propaganda and media. Think of ‘the Protocols of the Jewish Elders. Goebbels in Hitler’s regime was a master of propaganda which ‘legitimized the Holocaust. Islam continues this line of attack. Unfortunately, various groups in church denominations who call for boycotting goods and service to and from Israel unwittingly buy into ‘the evil tongue’ coalition. All will be confronted by the displeasure of the Warrior Lord.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.

What is understood by ‘heritage of the Lord’? The Hebrew can mean ‘possession’ and ‘peculiar right’. Therefore, the Nation’s security and continuance is guaranteed. They are the Lord’s by creation, redemption and promise. It doesn’t mean they are exempt from discipline, in fact it meant greater chastisement. Micah, confessed his people’s sin and vindicated God’s Judgement. He warned their enemies not to rejoice over their fall as God will one day lift them up, forgive and be merciful. He will honour His word which was sworn unto (Israel’s) Fathers from the days of old’ (7:7-20).