Old Dog V
THE ART OF WAR
Bob Neumann
Last night one of the things THE MOST HIGH spoke to me of was THE ART OF WAR. Imagine the ANCIENT OF DAYS reminding you that a Chinese Philosopher had points the SAINTS needed to follow? Imagine the guidelines of SPIRITUAL WARFARE established by a pagan who declaired he could tell you who would win a war….
Funny, it explains lots of things….like how and why THE LITTLE HORN “prevails”….the title of the FIRST CHAPTER is interesting…
I. LAYING PLANS
(which is what “preperations” means”)
1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.
2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
(so just being aware that there is an outline that can be studied, our understanding of what is going on will be the differance between life and death.)
3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one’s deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.
(in other words….there are 5 things to look at… things that are constant)
4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth; (4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline.
(now was this a scripture study? no…a pagan historian and philosopher. when i first read Sun Tsu i was not “saved”. now as i “recall”…i “remember” it all seemed sensible at the time)
5,6. The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger. (so here is our first problem….not everyone is on “our side” …. submitted unto THE LORD.)
7. Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons.
(talk about TURN, TURN, TURN…)(awareness of the WILL OF GOD helps)
8. Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death.
(natural preperation….awareness of “the lay of the land”….taking care of the things that we can do something about…if we are given the opportunity)
9. The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness. (say YESHUA HA’MASHIAH….anyone?….)
10. By method and discipline are to be understood the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the
maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure. (i’ll leave this to THE LORD OF HOSTS)
11. These five heads should be familiar to every general: he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail.
(amen)
12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the military conditions, let them be made the basis of a comparison, in this wise:–
13. (1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law?
(2) Which of the two generals has most ability?
(3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth?
(4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?
(5) Which army is stronger?
(6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained?
(7) In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?
14. By means of these seven considerations I can forecast victory or defeat.
(so can i….we are toast….all we have going for us is our RULER…our GENERAL…)
(Now one of the things that always got my interest stoked is what Sun Tsu said about understanding “your enemy”….)
Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
(KNOW YOUR ENEMY…Know how he thinks…know his plans and strategies. And recognize what the enemy is using against us) (any of these “feel” familiar?)
According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.
All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.
If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him.
If he is in superior strength, evade him.
If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.
If he is taking his ease, give him no rest.
If his forces are united, separate them.
Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.
These military devices, leading to victory, must not be divulged beforehand.
(so far “the army of GOD” does not seem to do anything productive. do we really know who the enemy is?)
selah
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