And when ye shall hear of wars.
Troublous times
I. We are here forewarned to expect trouble, “Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars”; and it follows, “such things must needs be”; look for no other. Is not our life a warfare?
1. This points immediately at those wars which brought on the final ruin and overthrow of the Jewish church and nation.
2. It looks further, and is intended as an intimation to us all, and to all Christians, to count upon trouble in this world. When ye hear wars (so the word is), when ye hear war at home, the noise of it, for war in a country makes a noise; never more than since the invention of guns, the most noisy way of fighting; yet of old they complained of the noise of war (Nahum 3:2; Exodus 32:17-18). When we hear the rumours of wars, the reports or tidings of wars. We commonly call uncertain reports rumours, and in time of war we often hear such, but the original word signifies intelligences, that of which we hear. Doctrine: That though it be very sad, yet it is not at all strange in this world, to hear of wars and rumours of wars.
There are three sorts of wars:
1. Law wars among neighbours and relations, bad enough, and very common, through too much love of the world, and too little of our brother. There are few of the spirit of Abram (Genesis 13:8).
2. Book wars among scholars and Christians. Different sentiments maintained by each side with great heat, too often greater than the occasion demands.
3. Sword wars among nations and public interests: of these the text speaks. Whence is it that so much mischief should be done in the world by wars? considering
(1) What principles there are in the nature of man. Is there not such a thing as humanity? Man is not born for war, but naked and unarmed; not fierce, as birds and beasts of prey.
(2) What promises there are in the Word of God. It seems hard to reconcile this text with Isaiah 2:4. and with Isaiah 11:6, etc. The Jews object it, Christ Himself has said otherwise (Luke 12:51, and in the text). How shall we reconcile these two? I reply, Those promises are in part fulfilled already. Christ was born at a time of general peace. The gospel has prevailed much to the civilizing of the nations, and as far as it is received, it disposes men to peace. The primitive Christians were of a peaceable disposition. They will have a more full accomplishment in the latter days. Though contrary events come between, that word shall not fall to the ground. Yet the commonness of war in every age takes off the strangeness of it. What do we hear of at this day so much as of wars? Now this we are not to think strange. Because men are so provoking to God, and He does thus in a way of righteous judgment punish them for their sins (Isaiah 34:5). War is one of God’s sore judgments, with which He corrects the people of His wrath (Ezekiel 14:17; Ezekiel 14:21). Sometimes God thus makes wicked men a scourge one to another, as Nebuchadnezzar was to the nations. Sometimes a scourge to His own people (Isaiah 10:6). Because men are so provoking one to another, and they do thus give way to their own lusts (James 4:1-2). No war carried on but there is certainly a great deal of sin on both sides, as 2 Chronicles 28:9.
But as to the cause of war.
1. Sometimes men’s lusts on both sides begin the war, and where there may be a right and colour of reason on both sides, yet not such as on either to justify the taking up of arms, and while there are such follies set in great dignity (Ecclesiastes 10:6), no marvel if we hear much of wars; punctilios of honour, inconsiderable branches of right, to which lives and countries are sacrificed by jealous princes; the mouth justly opened to denounce war, but the ear unjustly deaf to the proposals of peace.
2. Where the war on the one side is just and necessary, it is men’s lusts on the other side that make it so. And if we see it, we need not marvel at the matter. Here is the original of war and bloodshed.
(1) Men’s pride and ambition sometimes make a war just and necessary.
(2) Men’s covetousness and injustice sometimes make a war just and necessary.
(3) Men’s treachery sometimes makes war. No marvel we hear of wars, when all men are liars, and no confidence is to be put in them.
(4) Oppression and persecution sometimes make war just.
II. We are here forearmed against the trouble we are bid to expect. When you are yourselves disturbed with the alarms of war, be not troubled, i.e., be not inordinately dejected and cast down, be not terrified, whatever happens; keep trouble from your heart (John 14:1) if war come to your door. It is both for caution and comfort. You need not be troubled, therefore give not way to it. Doctrine: That the faithful disciples of Jesus Christ ought not to be inordinately troubled, when there are wars and rumours of wars.
1. As for others, they have reason to be troubled. Those that are not the disciples of Jesus Christ, and are not interested in His merit and grace, have cause for trouble when God’s judgments are abroad (see Isaiah 33:14). Terrors belong to them, and as for comforts, they have no part nor lot in the matter (see Luke 21:25-26). Those that have the most cause to be troubled commonly put trouble furthest from them.
2. There is cause for the disciples of Christ themselves, upon some accounts, and in some degree, to be troubled. Christ would not have His followers to be without feeling. God calls to mourning at such a time. This is a doctrine that needs explication and limitation. When you hear of wars be ye troubled after a godly sort. There is a three-fold trouble commendable:
(1) Sympathy with the sufferers.
(2) Sorrow for sin. It is sin that makes all the mischief. Mourn for the sin that is the cause of the war, and the sin that is the effect of it.
(3) Solicitude for the ark of God. For this our hearts should tremble, lest religion in its various interests suffer damage. The desolations of the sanctuary should trouble us more than the desolations of the earth: this is a holy fear.
3. Christians ought not to be inordinately troubled. When ye hear this, be not troubled, i.e.,
(1) Be not disquieted, but make the best of it. It is not our wisdom to aggravate to ourselves the causes of trouble, nor to make them worse than they are.
(2) Be not affrighted, but hope the best from it. When we hear the rumours of war, we must not be of doubtful mind; not as Ahaz (Isaiah 7:2; Isaiah 8:11-12). We must not give up all for lost upon every disaster and disappointment. Courage is an excellent virtue in time of war, and needful at home as well as abroad.
(3) Be not amazed, but prepare for worse after it. There seems to be this also intended in the caution; compare Mark 5:8, “These are the beginnings of sorrows.” Weep not for this, but get ready for the next (Luke 23:28-29.) Faint not in these lesser conflicts, for then what will you do when greater come (see Jeremiah 12:5). Several considerations will be of use to keep trouble from the heart of good Christians, when we hear of wars.
(a) The righteous God sits in the throne judging right, therefore be not troubled. God is King of nations, and presides in the affairs of nations. Men talk of the fortune of war, but it is not a blind fortune; the issue is determined by a wise God.
(b) The church is built upon a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, therefore be not troubled.
(c) Christ is His people’s peace, therefore be not troubled. The remnant of those that fear God, find rest in Christ, even in troublous times (see Micah 5:5; John 16:33).
(d) The name of the Lord is a strong tower, therefore be not troubled. Into this citadel the vanquished may retire and find shelter, and a refuge that they cannot be beaten out of (Proverbs 18:10). This is a stronghold, inaccessible, insuperable, and which cannot be taken. The power and providence of God are fortifications which cannot be scaled, nor battered, nor undermined. What need good people fear? (Psalms 46:1-2) They have always a God to whom they may go.
(e) Men are God’s hand, therefore be not troubled. God is doing their own work by them all this while, and they are accomplishing His purpose, though they mean not so (Isaiah 10:5; Isaiah 10:7; Isaiah 10:15; Psalms 17:13-14).
(f) There will come a reckoning day, when all these things shall be reviewed; therefore be not troubled. Behold, the Judge standeth before the door and the mighty men shall shortly stand at His bar (Isaiah 26:21; Revelation 6:10).
(g) The wars of the nations perhaps may end in the peace of the church. God can bring light out of darkness and meat out of the eater.
(h) However, we are sure in heaven there are no wars nor rumours of wars, therefore be not troubled. All will be well there. To conclude:
1. Let us thankfully own God’s great goodness to us in this nation-that we have peace at home, a happy government, peaceable habitations, a defence on our glory (Isaiah 33:20).
2. Let us not complain of the inconveniences that attend our being interested in the present war; the expense of it, or the abridging and exposing of our trade and property.
3. Let rumours of wars drive us to our knees. Pray, pray, and do not prophesy. Spread the matter before God, and you may greatly help the cause by your supplications.
4. Patiently wait the issue with a humble submission to the will of God. Do not limit Him, nor prescribe to Him. Let Him do His own work in His own way and time. (Matthew Henry.)
The sorrow of war
The conqueror of Bonaparte at Waterloo wrote, on the day after the 19th of June, to the Duke of Beaufort:-“The losses we have sustained have quite broken me down, and I have no feeling for the advantages we have acquired.” On the same day, too, he wrote to Lord Aberdeen:-“I cannot express to you the regret and sorrow with which I look round me and contemplate the loss which I have sustained, particularly in your brother. The glory resulting from such actions, so dearly bought, is no consolation to me, and I cannot suggest it as any to you and his friends; but I hope that it may be expected that this last one has been so decisive as that no doubt remains that our exertions and our individual losses will be rewarded by the early attainment of our just object. It is then that the glory of the actions in which our friends and relations have fallen will be some consolation for their loss.” He who could write thus had already attained a greater victory than that of Waterloo; and the less naturally follows the greater. (Julius C. Hare.)