The Commander of Israel’s army.
When
the newly redeemed Nation of Israel left Egypt, they did so under a new
description. We miss this more often due to the images presented by film
directors concerning the Exodus. In this second book of the Bible, chapter
12:51 this fledgling nation is likened to an army. They move out in their
companies. That is a pre-arranged marching order of tribes, clans and family
units. This would have been pre-arranged during the contest between Moses and
Pharaoh. When they marched in the daytime, He is a Pillar of cloud and at night,
a Pillar of fire at the head of the people. At the same time, He is their rear
guard whilst promising to be in their midst.
Pacifists
and others may not like this Scriptural reality, God redeems and at the same
moment, enlist the believer into His command. This remains true under both
testaments. Deuteronomy 20 presents an outline of Israel’s rule for warfare. This
is why one of the titles for Jesus is the Commander of the Lord’s Hosts. In
Deuteronomy 28-31 we can read an outline of God’s promise and warnings to the
Nation. Obedience meant blessings and victory in conflict. Disobedience would
result in a gradual but perceptual recognition of God’s disfavour. The ultimate
disgrace as mentioned in Scripture was to be a casting out of the promised
land.
The
entrance into the land of promise was through a military venture. Joshua was
guaranteed that wherever his soldiers planted their feet they would be
victorious. The inference and implications being, if their ‘feet matched
the obedience and faith of their heart’. We know of the victory of Jericho and
the strange tactics there. However, the defeat at Ai reveals the error of
presuming upon the Lord of Hosts. This attitude of heart seems to have cursed
Israel for generations. The classic is in 1 Samuel 4 with the immorality of the
leading priests, Hophni and Phinehas and the weak leadership of Eli. Faced with
defeat by the Philistines the ark of the covenant was called upon to join the
army. They must have imagined Yahweh would not permit it to be captured. They
were wrong!
Throughout
the Nation’s history men and women of faith called out to Yahweh to return and
take command of the army. They realised defeat, enslavement and dispersion was
ultimately a covenant breaking matter. Psalm 44 is the cry of a hurting,
confused longing man. He remembered past history and the Lord’s deliverances’
and his present day of their despair. “But, you have cast us off, and put us to
shame; You do not go with our armies … “ [verse 9]
Israel
failed Yahweh in every area of their calling. As an army they we mutinous, or
self opiniated, choosing to do things their way, not heeding their Commander’s
orders. The result was defeat, being occupied by hostile nations, and exile
from the land. That which is easily overlooked is the disciplinary action,
indeed the court-martial judgements that must be faced. Such insubordination in
other armies is recorded as warranting the death penalty. In the Roman Legion
after one retreat one in ten soldiers were executed. Should such a sentence be
carried out in Israel the result would be the end of the Nation. However,
judgement must fall.
Once
again, I am overcome by the implications embraced by Isaiah 53. The Commander
of the Army, the Lord, took the place of His rebellious and disreputable troops.
That stigma has been paid for in blood and banished. Though sidelined in this
present age, Israel will face other conflicts. Ezekiel 38-39 highlight such
times. Once again the Lord ‘marches’ with His people. Then the Gentile Nations
will behold the glory of Yahweh. However,
it is worth noting the final conflict. The Messiah comes to claim His throne,
Kingdom and creation as the Lord of Hosts. Though accompanied by angels, Jesus
and He alone, does the fighting. The sword of His mouth, the brightness of His
glory overwhelms the forces aligned against Him. Read Matthew 24 and
Revelation19.
The
more you take the time to read, study, reflect upon Isaiah 53 the more amazing Christ,
the cross and Calvary become. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews said it
succinctly in chapter 12:1-2. ‘Let us run with perseverance the race that is
set before us, looking to Jesus the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith, who for
the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its
shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.’
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