An Objection Answered by Geo. W. Amadon

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 7, 1865

An Objection Answered.

By Geo. W. Amadon

The position of Seventh-day Adventists in reference to war, is, that it is a great moral evil, and contrary to the teachings and spirit of the Bible. To this it is replied that one of the most noted characters of the Old Testament, King David, was “a man of war from his youth,” and was still “a man after God’s own heart,” therefore the position that the whole Bible is contrary to war will not stand.

Against this view we would say, that war in the times of the Old Testament was permitted, like serfdom and concubinage, to exist, not because they were pleasing to God, but because of the hardness of the people’s hearts. Matt. xix, 9; Acts xiii, 18.

As conclusive evidence on this point we would cite 1 Chron. xxii, 7, where David declares, “It was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God.” But did the Lord permit him to erect that magnificent dwelling which was the wonder of the world? No; he said, “Thou shalt not build the house.” 1 Kings viii, 19. Why did the Lord object to having David erect his Sanctuary? Listen to what he told him when the king inquired about the matter. “The word of the Lord came to me saying, Thou hast SHED BLOOD ABUNDANTLY, AND HAST MADE GREAT WARS: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, BECAUSE THOU HAST SHED MUCH BLOOD UPON THE EARTH IN MY SIGHT.” 1 Chron. xxii, 8; xxviii, 3.

But in the same conversation the Lord made a promise to David which reads thus: “Behold a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be SOLOMON [margin, ‘that is, PEACEABLE],’” and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build an house for my name.” 1 Chron. xxii, 9. This shows that carnal warfare was as offensive to God in the days of David as it was in the time of Christ, the great Peace-maker, who said to Peter, “Put up again thy sword.” Matt. xxvi, 52.

Conclusion. If David could not build the temple of God because he had been a man of blood, surely all that worship in his temple should keep aloof from the spirit and practice of war.

GEO. W. AMADON.