Psalm 144 New King James Version
A Song to the Lord Who Preserves and Prospers His People
A Psalm of David.
144 Blessed be the Lord my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle—
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues [a]my people under me.
3 Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
4 Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.
5 Bow down Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Shoot out Your arrows and destroy them.
7 Stretch out Your hand from above;
Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,
From the hand of foreigners,
8 Whose mouth speaks [b]lying words,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 I will sing a new song to You, O God;
On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,
10 The One who gives [c]salvation to kings,
Who delivers David His servant
From the deadly sword.
11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners,
Whose mouth speaks lying words,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood—
12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth;
That our daughters may be as [d]pillars,
Sculptured in palace style;
13 That our barns may be full,
Supplying all kinds of produce;
That our sheep may bring forth thousands
And ten thousands in our fields;
14 That our oxen may be well laden;
That there be no [e]breaking in or going out;
That there be no outcry in our streets.
15 Happy are the people who are in such a state;
Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Violence is defined as “physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing,” and sadly, violence is a deadly part of everyday life.
It’s in our movies and television shows, it is in our children’s bedroom, in our living rooms with their more graphic, more competitive, and more violent video games and we live in a world where power is often established through violence.
But what does all that mean for Christians when the ways of the world is always supposed to be overcome, overwhelmed, by the immutable truth of the Word?
So what does the Bible say about violence?
First of all, violence in the mind is just as hurtful as violence by the hands.
Leviticus 19:17 says, “Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.”
When we know someone is in sin, is it more “inoffensive,” “tough loving” to keep it quiet and let it boil over, build up hate and resentment towards them?
The Word of God for His Children says that we should speak frankly, and Jesus himself tells us in Matthew 5:21-22 NKJV murderous anger, hatred of brother, can lead the angry man to judgment from God as quickly as a physical blow.
The violence he exhibits toward someone else can be brought back upon himself by God.
Murder Begins in the Heart
21 “You have heard that it was said to those [a]of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother [b]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’[c] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, [d]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of [e]hell fire.
What about violence in war?
Exodus 20:13 had been incorrectly translated as “do not kill,” but it literally means “do not murder.”
God has allowed for just wars throughout the history of His people.
From Abraham to Deborah to David, God’s people have fought as instruments of judgment from a righteous and holy God.
Romans 13:1-4 tells us to submit ourselves to government authorities, nations have the right to bear the sword against evildoers, both foreign and domestic.
Violence inevitably occurs, but we must each somehow recognize the difference between holy judgment on sin and our own personal vendettas against those we dislike, which is the all too inevitable outcome of betrayed pride (Psalm 73:1-6).
God Is My Strength and Portion Forever
A Psalm of Asaph.
73 Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs until death;
their bodies are fat and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them as a garment.
While men are more prone to accept violence (especially as cultures depict real men as those who never cry, always have a plan, and carry a gun), the wisest man of all time wrote,
“Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways” (Proverbs 3:31).
Prayer and patience beats pride, violence and anger on any given day.
Blessed Be the Lord, My Rock, Who Preserves His People, Trains My Hands for War – Psalm 144:1-2
Do you ever feel like you’re in the middle of a war?
It is cliché to repeat the Christian life isn’t always a warm and fuzzy experience.
Guns and violence are all around us, erupting in our bowling alleys and taverns, in our grocery stores as we work or we shop for food, in our places of worship.
Sometimes we find ourselves engaged in a real battle on the streets we live on.
Drive by shootings on streets and in neighborhoods where children are playing, groups of people are simply having a community gathering, sharing fun, food.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a spiritual battle.
It’s easy to feel helpless, hopeless, vulnerable and exposed at times like these.
Psalm 144:1-2 New King James Version
A Song to the Lord Who Preserves and Prospers His People
A Psalm of David.
144 Blessed be the Lord my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle—
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues [a]my people under me.
We all must deal with the painful outcomes, remember, however, we are not fighting these battles in our own strength. God offers security for his people.
God’s Boot Camp
In Psalm 144:1-2, King David praised the Lord, recognizing that it was God who had enabled him to win the victory over his enemies.
Moreover, the Lord had taught him how to fight and protected him in battle.
David used similar language in Psalm 18:
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety … He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow. (Psalm 18:2, 34, (NLT)
What does God’s boot camp entail?
How does he train us for war?
The term “trains” here refers to an exercise in learning.
Consider this nugget of truth from the passage: you may not know why you’re in a battle, but you can be sure God wants to teach you something.
Jehovah God is walking you and me through an exercise in learning.
God’s boot camp involves teaching us to depend on him.
If we never faced a battle, we’d never learn to lean on God for strength and protection.
From the moment we put our faith in God for salvation, we are to depend on him for everything:
Proverbs 3:5-8 New King James Version
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [a]direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your [b]flesh,
And strength[c] to your bones.
Spiritual battles teach us to pray:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7, NIV)
What Else Does the Bible Say about Gun Violence?
Although Scripture does not mention guns, we can derive principles from the Bible about how to think about, respond to gun violence and all related issues.
Gun violence is a hot button issue that many of us feel strongly about, but the issue becomes more serious and personal when it occurs close to home — in our places of residence, of work, in our towns, neighborhoods, schools, churches.
Hearing about someone injured by a gun is different than hearing shots in your own neighborhood, getting down on the floor in your house to avoid gunfire.
In too many neighborhoods, on too many corners, for many people, including children and teens, the risk of being injured or killed by a gun is a grim reality.
Discussing gun use and control is often a controversial topic among Americans.
However, as baptized Christians, our views should be derived from God’s Word.
Although Scripture does not mention guns, we can derive principles from the Bible about how to think about, respond to gun violence and all related issues.
Scripture and Weapons
Guns were not in existence during biblical times, but Scripture does mention the use of weapons in specific circumstances.
We can read about swords, knives, slingshots, and the use of arrows in the Bible (1 Samuel 17:50-51; 1 Kings 18:28; Isaiah 5:28; Hebrews 11:37).
However, these weapons were mainly used in times of war.
Just because the Bible mentions weapons, though, does not mean that it approves of the use of weapons or bloodshed.
We should not confuse the presentation of historical facts, such as people using weapons to fight others, with any general statement of approval for violence.
As we consider the entire teaching of Scripture, we see the use of weapons and violence is only in existence because we live in a fallen world corrupted by sin.
Humans, in their sinfulness, warped their God-given ability to create items and goods by making weapons that can kill and destroy.
Swords, guns, bombs, and other objects of destruction were not part of God’s original, good creation (Genesis 1:31).
The bleak picture of a world filled with sin and violence is gratefully not the one Scripture leaves us with.
In the future, God will transform these weapons of destruction – people will learn to turn their lives to God and swords and knives into tools of cultivation (Isaiah 2:1-5).
As the prophet Isaiah describes in this verse, “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).
On that much prayed for future day, gun violence will simply no longer exist.
Based on these verses, we understand that weapons meant to kill and destroy do not glorify God and were not part of His original creation.
Humans, in their sin, created weapons to hurt and wield power over others.
However, in the future, even the most violent weapons will be transformed, the most vicious means of destruction is redeemed just like the rest of the world.
Injuring and Murdering Others
We have already seen that weapons exist because of sinful humankind.
Instead of using creativity for good, we created weapons that terrorize and kill.
These weapons have become more complex and deadly because of technological advancements.
Although Christians have long debated the ethics behind war and the use of specific weapons in warfare, Scripture is clear about the absolute value of all human life, from conception to death, and that it is 100% immoral to murder.
God created humans in His image, which is why taking another person’s life is serious (Genesis 1:27).
Multiple times in the Bible, the Lord placed a severe punishment on those who murder (Genesis 9:5; Exodus 21:12).
Therefore, when we hear on the news of any shooter murdering children in a school or of any other age from local gun violence, we should know that these murderous actions are 100% sinful and unequivocally denounced by the Lord.
In His holiness and righteousness, God does not, will not and cannot approve of murderous violence.
Some individuals may think they have an excuse for gun violence, such as seeking revenge.
Or they could argue that gun use is required in their gang or job.
Regardless of the reasons, murder is always wrong.
People may try to justify the issue in their minds, but God is the ultimate Judge, and He will hold people accountable for murder (Acts 17:31).
As followers of Jesus, we want to avoid hurting others.
In fact, we are called to go a step further and seek the good of others, including those who hate and persecute us (Luke 6:27-28).
Revenge is not anyone’s legitimate reason to use a gun against another person.
Retribution is not anyone’s legitimate reason to use a gun against another soul.
Scripture reminds us not to seek revenge (Matthew 5:38-39; Romans 12:19).
Believers should have nothing to do with using guns to intimidate, manipulate, disable. maim or injure, or murder others.
Of course, someone who has committed murder or used a gun for violent reasons can receive salvation from Christ.
If someone thinks or believes they are “too evil” to receive forgiveness of sins, Jesus can save anyone who places faith in His death and resurrection (Romans 10:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:13-16).
Salvation, though, does not negate the consequences of actions — such as serving time in prison, nor having to face God’s judgement upon their death.
Issues Related to Gun Violence
In recognizing that gun violence is wrong, we need to seek to apply biblical principles to areas related to this issue.
If we know that active shooters are sinning by murdering children and adults, then should we not also recognize the dangers of filling our minds with images of shooting and violence from the media?
Our beliefs from Scripture should inform how we approach television, movies, music, and video games that mention and depict gun violence.
Many aspects of the media glorify guns and killing.
We see this in movies, shows which the protagonists shoot and murder people.
Even in films that do not glorify murder, the scenes of killing can be graphic.
Continually watching these depictions over time can desensitize us to violence and death.
Video games also present difficulties for Christians who want to honor the Lord in their daily life (Colossians 3:17).
Many games place the player into the role of shooter, which is central to the game’s plot.
As harmless as a video game might seem, regularly playing violent games can negatively affect a person.
As Lauren Goldbeck and Alex Pew note in an article for the National Center for Health Research, “The longer that individuals are exposed to violent video games, the more likely they are to have aggressive behaviors, thoughts, and feelings.”
As Christians, we are called to a higher standard. Instead of filling our minds with violent images, we should focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
Ask yourself: would Jesus .01% approve of what I am watching, listening to, or playing – what our children are watching, listening to spending hours playing ?
Asking questions and keeping Scripture in mind can help guard yourself against becoming apathetic to gun violence thru movies, shows, music, video games.
Practical Steps to Take
Hearing about incidents of active shooters or local gun violence can leave us disturbed and unsettled.
During these times, we can feel helpless to deal with the situation.
What can one person or one church congregation do in the face of such terrible suffering?
First, we can pray (Philippians 4:6).
A few days ago, the local media ran several stories of the recurring sounds of gunshots rang out in several citywide neighborhoods during the day, at night.
Although I felt powerless in changing the situation, prayed for the residents of those neighborhoods, I knew that God does and can work in these situations.
So, I decided to start praying about gun violence in my city — praying for the end of gun and gang violence, for peace like a river to flood out the violence but also asking the Lord to work in the violent hearts of those who were involved.
Those who use or plan to use guns in gang violence or mass shootings might seem like the last people to add to our prayer lists – but they ought to be #1.
However, we should be praying for them just as much as we do for all of the individuals and families who are directly affected for God can change hearts.
Also, we can get involved in combatting issues that promote gun violence.
Shootings often happen in areas where poverty, inequality, lack of education, and other issues are prevalent.
Believers need to be involved in addressing these problems and meeting the needs of others.
This will look different for each church, but getting involved to end gun violence could include holding community meetings, working with inner city ministries, teaming up with organizations to provide job training opportunities support for bullied youth and teens, and mentorship for at-risk youth, serving in prisons, and finding a way of helping families, children affected by poverty.
All our efforts should be coupled with a desire to share the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection with others.
Why Care, Why Does or Should This Matter Anymore?
Although the Bible does not specifically mention guns, it does condemn murder and violence.
The Lord does not approve of the use of weapons to harm people, whether in gang violence or mass shootings.
The use of guns to kill, control, and intimidate others violates the sanctity of human life.
Because Scripture encourages us to love God and love others before self, the church too needs to be involved in preventing harm to others, which includes raising awareness in our congregations and communities about gun violence.
We can also take practical steps that demonstrate the love of Christ while working to address the root issues of gun violence.
And remember, God is your protection and shield. Bless him and praise him!
Celebrate God! Celebrate Life! Remember God! Remember the absolute value God assigned to all life – without exception – let us not be silent or remain still when we could be bringing 1% hope and light into areas of fear and brokenness.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
God, our hearts are broken with pain at the senseless deaths caused by gun violence. Our Families mourn, children live in fear, and some in our nation respond by arming themselves with more guns with greater capacity to end life. Our disconnection and alienation from You has caused some to turn to their guns for protection and safety. We ask that you touch our hearts with your love, heal our brokenness, and turn us away from violence toward peace. Help us to transform our own hearts and to seek peaceful ways of resolving our differences. Let our hands reach out and connect with those who feel alone, those who live in fear, and those suffering from mental illness. Let our baptized voices be raised asking our legislators to enact gun laws to protect all in our society, especially those most vulnerable. Let our ink pens write messages demanding change while also scripting words of hope and transformation. We ask this in the name of the Creator God who desires that we live together in peace. Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 