by the Rev. Dr Alan Clifford
THE SPARK WHICH IGNITED WWI
Dr Alan C. Clifford
On 28 June 1914, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo. This was the spark which started the ‘Great War’ (1914-18). The European powers then engaged in mutual slaughter. It was a war that should never have happened. Yet is it was promoted with political and religious intrigue (the Vatican being a leading culprit). Much has been written regarding the ethics of war. The following is a contribution to assessing fundamental issues which still trouble today’s world.
OLD TESTAMENT BACKGROUND
In Psalm 18 David describes his various military victories, attributing them to God’s power and grace alone. While Christians are not to emulate David’s militant methods in building Christ’s kingdom, we must always remember that we are still involved in constant conflict. Using spiritual rather than material weapons, how are we to fight? ‘As Satan is daily making new assaults upon us,’ says John Calvin, ‘it is necessary for us to have recourse to arms, and it is meditation upon the Divine Law which furnishes us with armour to resist. Whoever, therefore, would desire to persevere in uprightness and integrity of life, let them learn to exercise themselves daily in the study of the Word of God.’
CHARACTER NOT STRATEGY (Vs. 25-7) In all David’s battles, both personal and military, he stressed the priority of character over strategy and tactics. Even a warrior like David considered that mercy, blameless behaviour, truthful dealing, purity of intention and humility of heart were essential if God’s blessing was to be expected (see also 1 Peter 5: 5-6). It might sound strange that God is ‘shrewd’ with the ‘devious’ (v. 26b). This simply means that God knows the difference between hypocrisy and real humility. In other words, if we are straight with Him, He’ll be straight with us (see also Leviticus 26: 21-4). In short, we can’t fool Him. ‘Painted grace’ just won’t do!
IN GOD WE TRUST (Vs 28-30) As we have seen, David was no stranger to the darkness of despair. He wasn’t always ‘on top’. Yet he knew the comforts of God’s truth and love in times of distress and depression. Aware of periodic weakness, he could testify to times of invincible courage and boundless energy. This was more than just an adrenaline rush in the midst of battle. David knew the power of God’s promises! The perfection of the ‘Word of the LORD’ was ‘proven’ in experience. If arrows were flying around him, God was always David’s ‘shield’.
MAINTAINING MORALE (Vs 31-6) His testimony should encourage us. ‘God never disappoints or deceives His servants,’ says Calvin. ‘But we will never have any nearness to God, unless He first come near to us by His Word.’ So let us never neglect to read our Bibles. Furthermore, we must always have high thoughts of the Bible and its Author. If things don’t always work out in our lives just when and how we want them to, we must beware of unbelief. In frustration and disappointment, we must avoid ‘unhallowed and distrustful thoughts of the Word of God’ (Calvin). Let us always be prayerful and patient. If we trust in God on dark days, we will eventually see and feel the sunshine of His love (see Isaiah 50: 10-11). To use Paul’s language, David certainly knew he was ‘saved by grace alone’ (see Ephesians 2: 8-10). He attributes all his strength, agility and skill in combat to God (see vs. 32-4). Among his other victories, David doubtless had his astonishing contest with Goliath in mind here (see 1 Samuel 17). Having total confidence in God, David’s words remind us our Saviour’s parable about the wise and foolish builders (see Matthew 7: 24-7). Placing his feet firmly on God his rock, he was prevented from ‘slipping’ (v. 36). Was there ever a monarch like ‘David the Great’ (v. 35) who attributed all his greatness to God’s gracious gentleness (or clemency)?
VIOLENCE AND THE GOSPEL (Vs 37-42) It is important to understand this ‘triumphalist’ and violent passage correctly. How should Christians view it in the light of very different New Testament teaching (see Matthew 5: 43-4; 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5; Ephesians 6: 12)? First, Old Testament Israel was a theocracy in which religious and civil functions were united. Thus spiritual and military conflict were aspects of Israel’s struggles with her enemies. Second, unlike Islam (which has no equivalent to a New Testament distinction between church and state, see John 18: 36), Christians are forbidden to use physical force to defend or promote their faith. While the civil power is given authority to resist the state’s internal and external enemies (see Matthew 22: 21; Romans 13), private Christians must be prepared for persecution rather than withstand their persecutors by force. Third, David’s military heroism is not a model for the Church’s mission, a fact often sadly missed by the Roman Catholic Church, e.g. the crusades. However, it illustrates the kind of spiritual courage we need in effective Christian witness (see Jude 3). In short, David’s military methods are not today’s missionary methods. That said, to vindicate David, Calvin’s wisdom is worth considering at this point:
We are apt to think that David here speaks too much after the manner of a soldier, in declaring that he will not cease from the work of slaughter until he has destroyed all his enemies; or rather that he has forgotten the gentleness and meekness which ought to shine in all true believers, and in which they should resemble their heavenly Father; but as he attempted nothing without the command of God, and as his affections were governed and regulated by the Holy Spirit, we may be assured that these are not the words of a man who was cruel, and who took pleasure in shedding blood, but of a man who faithfully executed the judgement which God had committed to him. And, indeed, we know that he was so distinguished for gentleness of disposition as to abhor the shedding of even a single drop of blood, except in so far as duty and the necessity of his office required.
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIERThree further observations are in order. First, we must remember the Messianic dimension to the Psalms. David is prophesying of the future victories of Christ through the preaching of the Gospel throughout the world (see vs. 43-5 and Psalm 2). Second, his language is appropriate to our spiritual conflicts against ‘the world, the flesh and the devil’. Third, without forgetting that even Christians may lawfully serve in the armed forces of their countries (see Acts 10), metaphorical and actual Christian soldiers need to know what is expected of them. Calvin helpfully covers these two concerns as follows: ‘Let us remember the kind of warfare it is to which God is calling us, against what kind of persons he will have us to contend, and with what armour He furnishes us, that it may suffice us to have the devil, the flesh and sin overthrown and placed under our feet by his spiritual power. With respect to those to whom he has given the power of the sword, he will also defend them and not suffer them to be unrighteously opposed, provided they reign under Christ, and acknowledge Him as their head.’
THE GLORY OF GOD (Vs. 46-9) Like the triumphant coda to a Beethoven symphony, David concludes the psalm with praise to God. His throne and kingdom were achieved and established by divine power alone. The King of Israel does not boast in his superior weaponry, brilliant strategies, effective policies and personal charisma. He boasts in God alone. As Paul made clear, this is the disposition of every true Christian (see Romans 1: 16; Galatians 6: 14). We are saved ‘by grace alone’! If we ever think that we contribute the smallest amount of merit to our salvation, we will never praise God like David and Paul. May we always glory in God accordingly. ‘Let the saints be joyful in glory; … Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand’ (Psalm 149: 5-6).
ULTIMATE VICTORY (V. 50) The ‘deliverance’ David rejoices in extended beyond his reign. However, despite his early promise, Solomon frittered away the blessing. Apart from notable exceptions like Asa, Jehoshaphat, Josiah and Hezekiah, later kings of both Israel and Judah followed Solomon’s disobedience. All that David speaks of was fully displayed in our Lord Jesus Christ, ‘great David’s greater Son’ (James Montgomery). Through the preaching of the everlasting Gospel, our once-crucified but risen and reigning Saviour is extending His glorious kingdom day by day. May we joyfully serve Him until His glorious return. Amen!
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A return already 2000 years overdue.
Let us leave aside the wider issues of the First World War – such as the invasion of Belgium and Imperial German plans for European (indeed world – Latin America and so on) domination. And stick to the two murders of these individual human beings.
Someone who felt no shame (and the murderer insisted that he felt no shame – only pride) when he heard Ferdinand’s dying words to his wife “Sophie, Sophie, do not die – stay alive for the children!” was scum.
The politics of it all are (in the end) not relevant – an over “educated” (as David would say “romantic”) student had shot dead two people who had done him no harm – and intended to do him no harm. Who, indeed, intended no harm to anyone. Ferdinand was not even hostile to Slavs (indeed he supported many of their demands), and as for Sophie even the snobs of Vienna (who insisted on putting her body on a lower platform than Franz Ferdinand, literally, because she was not of “Royal blood”, the same reason that would have kept her children off the throne) admitted that Sophie was a kind and good person.
Why was that car in the street at all?
Because Ferdinand and Sophie had insisted on visiting in hospital the victims of a bombing – and there was no time to organise security (there was just one guard – and he was on the wrong side of the car).
It was a vicious crime – and the “intellectual” (emotional claptrap) “justification” of it by the murderer, if anything. makes it worse.
As for “Serbian nationalism” – this is rather undercut by a previous murder organised by the “Black Hand” gang.
The murder (in 1903) of the SERBIAN King and Queen (hacked to death when they were found hiding in a concealed room).
The King and Queen of Serbia in 1903 were just ordinary human beings – they did not fit the image of what Serbian Royalty “should” be.
So this “justified” hacking them to bits.
Whatever the “problem” is – gangs of murdering thugs (who feel not one jot of repentance) such as the “Black Hand” are not the solution.
Let them read their poetry to each other – but no more killing.