1 “When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you! 2-4 When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. For the  Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’

5-7 “Then the officers of the army must address the troops and say, ‘Has anyone here just built a new house but not yet dedicated it? If so, you may go home! You might be killed in the battle, and someone else would dedicate your house. Has anyone here just planted a vineyard but not yet eaten any of its fruit? If so, you may go home! You might die in battle, and someone else would eat the first fruit. Has anyone here just become engaged to a woman but not yet married her? Well, you may go home and get married! You might die in the battle, and someone else would marry her.’

8-9 “Then the officers will also say, ‘Is anyone here afraid or worried? If you are, you may go home before you frighten anyone else.’  When the officers have finished speaking to their troops, they will appoint the unit commanders. 10 “As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace. Deuteronomy 20:1-10 New Living Translation paraphrase (English Standard Version link)

One of the sad realities of life is war. Much as we wish it would never come there are times when one's nation might be attacked, and then it's a time for courage. In the case of Israel there was a difference to today because they were sometimes doing the attacking. God was using them to bring judgment on the Canaanites who had filled the land with great wickedness. Hundred's of years earlier, when Abraham first came to that region, God said to him: “It will be four generations before your descendants come back here, because I will not drive out the Amorites until they become so wicked that they must be punished.” (Genesis 15:16) As we will see in vs 11-20, Israel were not to make treaties with the nations that were close to them. But what were they do with nations that were further away and not a threat? (vs 10)

They would rather be at peace with nations who were willing to be at peace with them. While Israel was called to drive out the Canaanites, they weren’t called to colonize the world and keep expanding their Kingdom through warfare. What was the encouragement the priest was called to give to the troops? (vs 1-4)

They were not to be afraid of armies far bigger than their own because God was with them and would give them victory. We see that God was even willing to whittle down their numbers by sending away those who had only just started homes, farms or marriages! (vs 5-7) They were not be afraid of being outnumbered. What do vs 8-9 tell us was a greater danger they faced than even the opposing army?

Those who had no faith in God's power to win the battle might spread their fears to others. That actually happened when ten of the twelve men who'd been sent to spy out the land God was giving Israel, returned with scary stories of how fortified the cities were and how big the people of the land were. The fear that it caused in the camp set Israel back some 40 years!

Today's words can certainly be applied to Christians if ever they have to fight in a war to defend their country. They can take heart in the knowledge that God is with them. But it’s even more true of the spiritual warfare that all believers are engaged in. When the apostle Paul was in prison and facing possible execution he wrote these words to other believers: “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed (of the gospel) but that with full courage, now as always, Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-21) And, writing to Christians at Corinth, he said: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.  Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)