God's Protection From War And Legal Battles

God's protection from war and legal battles is a recurring theme in biblical texts and theological traditions, often depicted through metaphors of defense and refuge. The Psalms, for instance, frequently describe God as a "shield" and "fortress" for those who trust in Him ^{[2, 3, 15]}.

Scripture presents God as a protector in various contexts of conflict. In II Samuel, God is called a "strong fortress" who "sets the blameless free" ^[1]. Psalm 18:30 states that God "is a shield to all who take refuge in Him" ^[3]. This imagery of a shield is also used in a broader sense to represent God and earthly rulers as defenders of their people ^[7]. The concept of divine protection extends to legal disputes, as seen in Psalm 43:1, where the psalmist asks God to "Be my judge... supporting my cause against a nation without religion; O keep me from the false and evil man" ^[4].

The Bible also details instances where God actively intervenes in warfare. He is described as teaching His people the art of war and strengthening them for battle ^[6]. Ultimately, God is the one who gives victory in war and can also cause wars to cease ^[6]. This divine involvement in conflict is not always passive; sometimes, God explicitly orders wars ^[6].

Theological traditions have explored the nature and extent of this divine protection. Augustine, for example, considered wars undertaken in obedience to God to be "righteous wars," arguing that even conflicts arising from human passion cannot harm the eternal well-being of God's saints, but rather serve to chasten and benefit them ^[11]. He noted that individuals perform military duties for the "peace and safety of the community" ^[11].

John Calvin, a prominent Reformed theologian, emphasized God's providential care, noting that God undertakes the defense of His people, directs their path, and ensures that no evil befalls them ^[17]. He also acknowledged that human aid, when available for safety, should be seen as a "divine blessing" ^[18]. Calvin further articulated that kings and states might need to take up arms to maintain the tranquility of their subjects, repress seditious movements, and assist the oppressed, thereby executing public vengeance ^[16]. However, Charles Hodge, another Reformed theologian, cautioned that nations, like individuals, are bound by moral law and must exercise forbearance, exhausting all other means before engaging in war ^[13].

Catholic scholastic theology, as seen in Aquinas, discusses the spiritual combat and the role of sacraments like Confirmation in providing strength for it ^[12]. Aquinas also considered whether a religious order could be directed to soldiering, concluding that it could if directed to assisting one's neighbor and serving God, rather than worldly objectives ^[14].

The scope of God's protection is described as indispensable, seasonable, unfailing, effectual, uninterrupted, encouraging, and perpetual ^[5]. This protection is afforded to those who hearken to God, returning sinners, the perfect in heart, and the poor ^[5]. Even in affliction, God is with His saints, serving as a refuge, strength, comforter, preserver, and deliverer ^[9]. The New Testament further reinforces this, with passages like 1 Peter 1:5 and Jude 1:24 speaking of God's ability to afford protection ^[5].

Figuratively, faith itself is compared to a shield, as mentioned in Ephesians 6:16 ^[7]. This suggests that spiritual defenses are integral to God's protective plan. The name Shachia, meaning "protection of the Lord," also highlights this divine attribute ^[10]. God's protection extends to defending against enemies, even those for whom Christ prayed ^[8]. The lives of enemies are to be spared, their goods cared for, and they are to be loved and prayed for ^[8].

Sources

II Samuel “II Samuel 22:33 (LITV) — God is my strong fortress; and He sets the blameless free in his way,”
Psalms “Psalms 7:10 (KJV) — My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.”
Psalms “Psalms 18:30 (NASB) — As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.”
Psalms “Psalms 43:1 (BBE) — Be my judge, O God, supporting my cause against a nation without religion; O keep me from the false and evil man.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Protection — God is able to afford -- 1Pe 1:5; Jude 1:24. God is faithful to afford -- 1Th 5:23,24; 2Th 3:3. Of God is Indispensable. -- Ps 127:1. Seasonable. -- Ps 46:1. Unfailing. -- De 31:6; Jos 1:5. Effectual. -- Joh 10:28-30; 2Co 12:9. Uninterrupted. -- Ps 121:3. Encouraging. -- Isa 41:10; 50:7. Perpetual. -- Ps 121:8. Often afforded through means inadequate in themselves. -- Jdj 7:7; 1Sa 17:45,50; 2Ch 14:11. Is afforded to Those who hearken to God. -- Pr 1:33. Returning sinners. -- Job 22:23,25. The perfect in heart. -- 2Ch 16:9. The poor. -- Ps 14:6; 72:12-14.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: War — Antiquity of -- Ge 14:2. Originates in the lusts of men -- Jas 4:1. A time for -- Ec 3:8. God Frequently ordered. -- Ex 17:16; Nu 31:1,2; De 7:1,2; 1Sa 15:1-3. Taught His people the art of. -- 2Sa 22:35. Strengthens His people for. -- Le 26:7,8. Gives the victory in. -- Nu 21:3; De 2:33; 3:3; 2Sa 23:10; Pr 21:31. Causes to cease. -- Ps 46:9. Scatters those who delight in. -- Ps 68:30. Large armies frequently engaged in -- 2Ch 13:3; 14:9. Weapons used in -- Jos 1:14; Jdj 18:11. Preceded by Consultation. -- Lu 14:31; Pr 24:6. Great preparation. -- Joe 3:9. Rumors”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Shield — Used in defensive warfare, varying at different times and under different circumstances in size, form, and material (1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam. 1:21; 1 Kings 10:17; 1 Chr. 12:8, 24, 34; Isa. 22:6; Ezek. 39:9; Nahum 2:3). Used figuratively of God and of earthly princes as the defenders of their people (Gen. 15:1; Deut. 33:29; Ps. 33:20; 84:11). Faith is compared to a shield (Eph. 6:16). Shields were usually "anointed" (Isa. 21:5), in order to preserve them, and at the same time make the missiles of the enemy glide off them more easily.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Enemies — Christ prayed for his -- Lu 23:34. The lives of, to be spared -- 1Sa 24:10; 2Sa 16:10,11. The goods of, to be taken care of -- Ex 23:4,5. Should be Loved. -- Mt 5:44. Prayed for. -- Ac 7:60. Assisted. -- Pr 25:21; Ro 12:20. Overcome by kindness. -- 1Sa 26:21. Rejoice not at the misfortunes of -- Job 31:29. Rejoice not at the failings of -- Pr 24:17. Desire not the death of -- 1Ki 3:11. Curse them not -- Job 31:30. Be affectionately concerned for -- Ps 35:13. The friendship of, deceitful -- 2Sa 20:9,10; Pr 26:26; 27:6; Mt 26:48,49. God defends against -- Ps ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Shachia — protection of the Lord”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — BOOK XXII. (part 67): perform their military duties in behalf of the peace and safety of the community. When war is undertaken in obedience to God, who would rebuke, or humble, or crush the pride of man, it must be allowed to be a righteous war; for even the wars which arise from human passion cannot harm the eternal well-being of God, nor even hurt His saints; for in the trial of their patience, and the chastening of their spirit, and in bearing fatherly correction, they are rather benefited than injured. No one can have any power agai”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Sacrament of Confirmation, Art. 10: Article: Whether he who is confirmed needs one to stand* for him? [*Literally, "to hold him"] I answer that, As stated above (Articles [1],4,9), this sacrament is given to man for strength in the spiritual combat. Now, just as one newly born requires someone to teach him things pertaining to ordinary conduct, according to Heb. 12:9: "We have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we obeyed [Vulg.: 'reverenced']" them; so they who are chosen for the fight need instructors by whom they are inf”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 48: of his neighbour’s farm is necessary to the full enjoyment 366 of his own property, and therefore that he has the right to appropriate it to himself. It is to be remembered that nations are as much bound by the moral law as individual men; and therefore that what a man may not do in the protection of his own rights, and on the plea of self-defence, a nation may not do. A nation therefore is bound to exercise great forbearance, and to adopt every other available means of redressing wrongs, before it plunges itself and others into all the d”
theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of the Different Kinds of Religious Life, Art. 3: Article: Whether a religious order can be directed to soldiering? I answer that, As stated above (Article [2]), a religious order may be established not only for the works of the contemplative life, but also for the works of the active life, in so far as they are concerned in helping our neighbor and in the service of God, but not in so far as they are directed to a worldly object. Now the occupation of soldiering may be directed to the assistance of our neighbor, no”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:114: Here is, 1. God's care of David to protect and defend him, which he comforted himself with when his enemies were very malicious against him: Thou art my hiding-place and my shield. David, when Saul pursued him, often betook himself to close places for shelter; in war he guarded himself with his shield. Now God was both these to him, a hiding-place to preserve him from danger and a shield to preserve him in danger, his life from death and his soul from sin. Good people are safe under God's protection. He is their strength and their shield, their help and their s”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 102: indeed a bad thing to live under a prince with whom nothing is lawful, but a much worse to live under one with whom all things are lawful. 11. As it is sometimes necessary for kings and states to take up arms in order to execute public vengeance, the reason assigned furnishes us with the means of estimating how far the wars which are thus undertaken are lawful. For if power has been given them to maintain the tranquillity of their subjects, repress the seditious movements of the turbulent, assist those who are violently oppressed,”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 30: safety, how they undertake our defence, direct our path, and take heed that no evil befall us. There are whole passages which relate, in the first instance, to Christ, the Head of the Church, and after him to all believers. “He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Again, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” 110 110 Ps. 91:11 ; 34:8; Gen. 16:9 ; 24:7; 48:16; Ex. 14:19 , ”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 33: as if he had perished by his guilty negligence. Far less where, in the case of theft or murder, 192 fraud and preconceived malice have existed, will he palliate it under the pretext of Divine Providence, but in the same crime will distinctly recognise the justice of God, and the iniquity of man, as each is separately manifested. But in future events, especially, will he take account of such inferior causes. If he is not left destitute of human aid, which he can employ for his safety, he will set it down as a divine blessing; but he”

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