Soldiers from two thousand years apart.
I am not going to try and convince anyone that during my era of service in the military ’70s to 90s it was so much easier or harder. then today’s men and women have it. I do think the equipment is much more advanced, they are far better protected and have better support in place for beans, bullets, fuel, and medical.
What I will say is I have the utmost respect for these heroes, every man and woman who voluntarily, signs their name on a contract (basically a blank check) promising to defend this nation from all enemies foreign and domestic. Especially today when so many want to twist the Constitution unto their own interpretation for their own advantage. They must train hard daily for any contingency or scenario that may come along. So true are the soldiers of God’s Army. All “True Christians” likewise have a duty to train daily and be prepared for spiritual attacks by Satan and his minions.
Ephesians 6 gives us the best example of tools to prepare for that battle:
We need to pray for the men and women at the forefront of the defense of our nation both physically and spiritually.
That we may be resolute and courageous in our duty, as those who know that though we may be losers for Christ, we shall not be losers by him in the end.
A Soldier
Generic Person • Political Position • Role • A skilled warrior, or someone engaged in military service.
- any person engaged or officially trained in military combat. Also: Infantry; Military Men; Soldier; A Soldier, A Warrior; Soldiers; Spearman; Spearmen; Swordsman
LOGOS Factbook Search
A soldier from The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated)
soldier, a person involved in military activity, one who is trained for war. The word “soldier(s)” appears in the Bible quite frequently, along with a number of synonymous terms such as “troops” or “warriors” (1 Chron. 12:23–38) or “men bearing arms” (Judg. 8:10). During the biblical period, soldiers were equipped with a variety of offensive and defensive weapons. Fully armed soldiers from two distinct eras are described in 1 Sam. 17:5–7 and Eph. 6:11–17; the latter reference compares the panoply of a Roman soldier to the Christian’s spiritual armor. The distinction was made between infantrymen, horsemen, and charioteers (Ezek. 26:7; Acts 23:23).
Although other ancient Near Eastern peoples had standing armies at an early date, the Hebrews had no professional soldiers until the establishment of the monarchy (eleventh-century bc). Abram’s “trained men” were obviously skilled warriors, but they were recruited from his household (Gen. 14:14). The settlement of the Israelites in Canaan (thirteenth-twelfth centuries bce) was accomplished by tribal militias of adult males (Num. 1:1–46). Since combat entailed great risk, some men were exempt from military service on the grounds that their death would come at an inopportune time (Deut. 20:5–8 …
5544 soldiers
Active members of an army, whatever their rank. Paul uses the term frequently in his letters to draw attention to the fact that believers are engaged in spiritual warfare.
Armies of soldiers under different commanders
Moses’ soldiers Nu 31:27-28,32
Joshua’s soldiers Jos 8:10-19
Abimelech’s soldiers Jdg 9:34-35
Benjamin’s soldiers Jdg 20:14-16
Philistine Soldiers 1Sa 13:5
Saul’s soldiers 1Sa 13:22; 15:4,15,21; 26:7
Hadadezer’s soldiers 2Sa 8:4
Aramean soldiers 2Sa 10:6
Jehoahaz’ soldiers 2Ki 13:7
David’s soldiers 2Sa 3:23 David’s soldiers under Joab; 2Sa 23:8-39 pp 1Ch 11:10-47 David’s mighty men; 2Sa 24:1-9 pp 1Ch 21:1-16 David displeased the LORD by counting his fighting men; 1Ch 12:23-38; 27:1-22
Zedekiah’s Soldiers 2Ki 25:5
Babylonian soldiers Jer 41:3
Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).
Individual soldiers
2Ki 5:1 See also 1Sa 14:28; 2Ch 17:17; Da 3:20-22
Soldiers came to John the Baptist
Lk 3:14
Soldiers involved in the last events of Jesus Christ’s life on earth
In his arrest and trial Lk 23:11,36; Jn 18:3,12; 19:2
In his crucifixion Mt 27:27; Jn 19:16,23-24,32-34
After his crucifixion Mt 27:65-66
After his resurrection Mt 28:2-4,12,15
Soldiers involved in the lives of the apostles
Peter Ac 12:4,6,18
Paul Ac 21:32,35,37
Soldiers used metaphorically
Eze 27:27; 39:20; Joel 2:7; Am 2:15-16
Paul draws parallels between a soldier and a Christian
1Co 9:7 An apostle has a right to be supported in material things by those to whom he preaches.
Christians are called fellow soldiers See also Php 2:25; Phm 2
Christians must put Jesus Christ first 2Ti 2:3-4
God as the commander of an army of soldiers
Ps 89:8 The term here translated as “LORD God Almighty” can be translated as “LORD God of hosts” or “LORD God of armies”. See also 1Ki 19:10; Jer 5:14; Hos 12:5; Am 4:13
Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).
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