Spoils of War!

We are familiar with the story of Jehoshaphat and the army who won the battle against their enemies. God fought and won the battle for Jehoshaphat and his people didn’t even need to fight. After the battle, the people took the spoils, which included in large quantities, goods, clothing and precious things. My assumption is that the precious things would have included items such as gold and silver. God defeated the armies to give them victory and also gave them a great reward. In 2 Kings 6, the Syrian army had encamped against Samaria so that they were not able to move freely in order to trade. This caused a great famine in the land and people were so desperate that they resorted to cannibalism.

“But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria”” (2 Kings 7:1). God caused four lepers to approach the camp of the Syrians and multiplied their footsteps. The Syrians ran away in great fear leaving behind their tents which was loaded with food, drink, clothing, gold and silver. “Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord”(2 Kings 7:16). The possessions of the Syrians was enough to end the famine in Samaria.

There is another story 1 Samuel 30, when the Amalekites raided David’s camp, took all of the people and burnt the camp. David was instructed by the Lord to pursue the army, to overtake them and recover his possessions. “And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue”” (1 Samuel 30:8). David pursued the army with his men and recovered all that had been taken from his camp. “David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David’s spoil”” (1 Samuel 30:20).

God loves justice and hates evil. He also hates it when people decide to gang up on his children and takes pleasure in fighting our battles. Not only does God help us to win, he also wants us to have recompense and restitution. Recompense and restitution for God’s people comes in the form of spoils of war, which is enemy possession taken lawfully. When the enemy comes after us, we pray and allow God to fight our battles. God will give us the strategies to be victorious over the attacks. As we win each battle, there are spoils of war which God will give to us as recompense for damages. “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you”” (Isaiah 35:4).

A.P.-Y.

Published
January 9, 2023