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Thursday, August 24, 2017

Plunder


This raises an interesting question.  Read the definition of Plunder and then Scripture below that.  Then I will ask my question.

Plunder
  1. to rob of goods or valuables by open force, as in war, hostile raids, brigandage, etc.:
to plunder a town.
  1. to rob, despoil, or fleece:
to plunder the public treasury.
  1. to take wrongfully, as by pillage, robbery, or fraud:
to plunder a piece of property.

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/plunder?s=t>

So what I get from the definition is that plundering is immoral.  The definition uses terms like rob, wrongfully, robbery, and fraud to lead me to that conclusion, that plundering is immoral. 

But is it????  Read the Scripture.

Jeremiah 47:4(NKJV)
    Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines,     To cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains;     For the Lord shall plunder the Philistines,     The remnant of the country of Caphtor.

Hmm.  God is going to plunder His enemies.  Does that mean God is acting in an immoral manner or does it mean that the definition is incorrect?  I would propose to you that it has to be one or the other. 

Because I believe God is a moral and just God I would be of the opinion that the definition is wrong, or at least partially wrong.  In the case of using force against ones enemies such as is the case in war, based on God's example, I see nothing wrong with the fulfillment of the phrase "to the victors go the spoils" (which comes from Caesar BTW). 

So why is that OK?  Because in cases of war it is the rule of the jungle baby!  In civil society we don't attack other countries and just take stuff.  Countries that decide to take that route have decided to live by the rule of the jungle.  Kill or be killed.  Prey or be prey.  Based on God's example, in cases like this, we should respond in kind.  Notice that God isn't saying turn the other cheek here!

Throughout the Old Testament there has been plundering on both sides.  God sometimes God told the Israelites not to take certain things.  God put limits on it but He never banned it or condemned it outright.  So once again we would be faced with the same dichotomy of either God was promoting something immoral (plundering) or there is nothing wrong with plundering in the case of violent conflict with ones enemies. 

Interesting question though isn't it?   

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