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| Wartime memorials, like this in one of Savannah, Georgia's squares, give solemn and sad tribute to courageous lives. |
With
Memorial Day approaching, the counter-culture era soul song of the ‘60s, “War,”
came to my mind. Originally sung by the Temptations, and later by other
artists, its lyrics not only reflected the thinking of many during that era,
but also mirrors our feelings today: “War, what is it good for? Absolutely
nothing.”
One of the
great, recurring tragedies of human history has been the ever-present reality
of war – between nations, cultures, and even within nations. The founding of
the United States involved the Revolutionary War, and mortal combat has never
been far from our collective thinking. The War Between the States, World War I,
World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam war, and ongoing conflicts in the
Middle East have been continual reminders of the horrific devastation of
warfare.
As some take
this Memorial Day to protest wars of every kind and form, this is our
opportunity not to commemorate conflict, but to remember those who nobly and bravely
sacrificed their lives to protect and preserve the rights and privileges we
enjoy today – and often take for granted. Most of us have family members or
friends among them, making this observance particularly poignant.
Many whose
time on earth ended abruptly on fields and seas of battle were young men and
women, with hopes and dreams still unfulfilled. They fought to protect freedom,
values and ideals that were threatened by adversarial forces. The conflicts
they engaged in may have been distasteful, but their heroic service should
never be forgotten.
War, of course,
has hardly been an American invention. The annals of time are punctuated by
wars waged throughout the world. Sad as it is, warfare has been a permanent
part of the sin-scarred human condition. Reading the Bible, we find numerous
accounts of war between peoples – often the Israelites in battle against the
Philistines, Babylonians, Hittites, Midianites, Amorites, and all the other “ites.”
We read of
the exploits of good and bad kings like Saul, David, Ahab and Jehoshaphat, as
well as great warriors like Abishai, Nimrod, and a fiercely loyal soldier named
Uriah the Hittite. While Uriah was in the heat of battle, King David chose to
have a dalliance with his wife, Bathsheba. War, as we know, often isn’t the
source of the highest virtues.
As we
contemplate the horrors of war, and those who gave their lives in defense of
their cause, it’s good to remember that our hope should not be placed in
military might. As Psalm 20:7 states, “Some
trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our
God.” Proverbs
21:31 adds, “The horse is prepared for
the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.”
Yes, war might
be good for “absolutely nothing,” as the song says. And it’s often difficult to
discern whose “side” God is on. But in the battle against evil, not only
externally but also within ourselves, our trust must always be in the Lord, not
any human arsenal.
