Bible Question:
If we are still a Christian Country,
(?) are we to rely on nuclear weapons for our protection?
Ralph T. Lansing, Mich.
Bible Answer:
Well, let's let the Word of God
determine if we act like a Christian country.
I Peter 1:5 “Who are kept
by the Power of God through Faith...”
Deuteronomy 33:12 “Be
strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for
the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail
thee, nor forsake thee.”
Psalms 37:28
“For the Lord ...forsaketh not His saints...”
Psalm 91:1-16 The New Living Bible
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.2 This
I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
He is my God, and I trust Him.3 For He will
rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.4
He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you
with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and
protection.5 Do not be afraid of the terrors
of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.6 Do
not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that
strikes at midday.7 Though a thousand fall
at your side,though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils
will not touch you.8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.9 If you
make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,10
no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your
home.11 For He will order His angels, to
protect you wherever you go.12 They will
hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a
stone.13 You will trample upon lions and
cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!14
The LORD says, "I will rescue those who love me. I
will protect those who trust in my name.15 When
they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I
will rescue and honor them.16 I will reward
them with a long life and give them my salvation."Psalm 27:1-3 The New Living Bible
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?2 When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.
Deuteronomy 33:12 “...The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety...”
Psalm 121 The New Living Bible
1 I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.4 Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.5 The LORD Himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.6 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.7 The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.8 The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Proverbs 1:33 The New Living Bible
2 Chronicles 20:1- 30 The New Living Bible
War with Surrounding Nations
1 After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites* declared war on Jehoshaphat.
2 Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army from Edom* is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.* They are already at Hazazon-tamar." (This was another name for En-gedi.)3 Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.
4 So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD's help.
5 Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the LORD.
6 He prayed, "O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!
7 O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?
8 Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name.
9 They said, `Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war,* plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.'
10 "And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them.
11 Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.
12 O our God, won't you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help."
13 As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children,
14 the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.15 He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.
17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!"
18 And aThen King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD.
19 Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.
20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, "Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed."
21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising Him for His holy splendor. This is what they sang: "Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!"
22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.
23 The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other.
24 So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.25 King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing,* and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!
26 On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing,* which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the LORD there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.27 Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the LORD had given them victory over their enemies.
28 They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the LORD.
29 When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the LORD himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them.
30 So Jehoshaphat's kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
Leviticus 26:1-13
“If ye walk
in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them...I will give
peace...ye shall lie down and none shall make you afraid.”
Nahum 1:7
“The Lord
is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that
trust in Him.”
Psalm 50:15 “And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”
What a great God we serve!
Psalm 103:3,4
“Who
forgiveth all thine iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases; who
Redemeth thy life from
Destruction...”
