God has ordained and sanctioned war. But God has no delight in war. He uses war as an instrument and an agent. But as He has no pleasure in the death of a sinner, though He slays the wicked, so God has no delight in war.
I. Mark, first, certain characters that delight in war. (1) Quarrelsome men, fond of the strife and conflict of war, and of the excitement which that strife and conflict brings; (2) restless men, weary of the very quietness and repose of peace; (3) officious men, delighting to meddle with strife belonging not to them, and ready to forward their opinions by war; (4) ambitious men; (5) cruel men; (6) proud and revengeful men, and generally all who do not look upon mankind as the children of one Father in heaven, and adopt the law of love as their rule.
II. The nature and results of war may well lead us to deprecate it. (1) Think of the feelings which must be excited between man and man before war can be declared, and while war is carried on. (2) Look at the actual struggle. "Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood." (3) Reflect upon all that is involved in the struggle. (4) The issues of war, if they decide the might, can never taken alone determine the right. So that on every ground we are bound, as Christians, to pray, "Scatter Thou the people that have pleasure in war."
III. Why should we so pray? Because God alone can prevent war. The love of God will prevent war, the love of Christ, and the love of each other. Until all delight in war is destroyed, it can only be prevented by God scattering those who delight in war.
S. Martin, Westminster Chapel Pulpit,No. 9.
References: Psalms 68 J. G. Murphy, The Book of Daniel,p. 47. Psalms 69:2. Expositor,3rd series, vol. v., p. 360. Psalms 69:10. J. Keble, Sermons for Holy Week,p. 77. Psalms 69:14. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xi., No. 631.Psalms 69:20. T. Armitage, Christian World Pulpit,vol. i., p. 323.