Wisdom and war

Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

The war in the Middle East shows no sign of diminishing, especially with our troop escaltion, and now Iran is rattling sabers, too. People back in Scotland are outraged at the war, but not because of the combatants and their causes. They are incensed because two U.S. military planes carrying uranium bunker bombs were flown in to Prestwick Airport in the West of Scotland, on their way to supplying the Israelis with other weapons.

Prestwick is a beautiful seaside town, where many Scots go on vacation at this time of year. It was the favorite place for summer holidays for my family and, several years ago, my siblings and I scattered our parents’ ashes along Prestwick’s shore. If one of those planes had crashed near the airport, there would have been a lot of damage and devastation, which would have made the Lockerbie disaster look miniscule. Scots people understand the sovereign right of countries to defend themselves and sometimes it means going to war, but what they hate is being taken for granted and used as pawns. It has soured their relationship with our nation. Someone, somewhere in the Pentagon, made a rash decision and we have caused a staunch ally to rethink its military partnership with us.

“Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.” Those words were written almost three thousand years ago, but they still apply as much today as they did in Solomon’s time. You would think that with all of our progress, technology and sophistication we would learn from our mistakes, but sadly it seems we’re doomed to repeat them again and again.

Some people say “pray for peace”, but perhaps it would be more biblical to “pray for wisdom.” After all, peace will come when we start thinking about God’s guidance over the hearts and minds of the sides involved, and not on our own missile guidance systems.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to find Your wisdom and seek the art of peace. Grant us the courage to go beyond outcries and outrage, wrath and rebellion, waste and war. Let Your Son’s precious guidance rule over our nations; let His eternal sovereignty be proclaimed, experienced and fulfilled. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Stushie is the writer of the Heaven's Highway daily devotional blog; the world religious news blog "Stushie's Stuff" and the weekly Sunday service prayers "Aaron's Beard."