I recently watched a movie called "The King," which details the early life of King Henry V.
I say "recent" as in a few months ago. I rarely have time to watch movies these days, but I digress.
I say "life of Henry V," even though there were quite a few historical inaccuracies...but back to the point.
For whatever reason, the thumbnail for this movie on Netflix captivated my attention.
One night, after the kiddos fell asleep, my husband and I flopped on the couch and turned on the television. I suggested the film. My husband saw a sword on the thumbnail. The movie played.
Typically, I despise films containing any war scenes. After having children, I shudder at the thought of any human being killing another. It makes me want to cry...quite literally. Let me stop thinking about it before the waterworks come.
My husband fell asleep within a few minutes of the movie. I watched for another hour and responsibly forced myself to sleep (Mamas, you know how tempting it is to stay up all night once your kiddos go to bed). But the next day, I couldn't wait to finish the film.
After finishing the film, I couldn't help but to reflect on one particular battle scene. In this scene, before the soldiers went out to fight a pretty fierce battle (one that didn't appear to look promising), the soldiers were first given a "pep" talk.
I recall staring at my TV screen in awe.
Some of these soldiers would become permanently injured.
Others would die within a few moments and never see their families again.
In light of this sobering reality, these soldiers were given a "pep" talk to essentially encourage them to give it their all on the battlefield.
To leave nothing behind.
To fight as if there were no tomorrow.
Can you imagine?
I couldn't.
I have so much more life to live.
The rawness felt within this scene remained with me for days. And my awe grew each time I thought about the countless number of individuals over the years (and even today) who were forced to live with death as a constant threat.
A few weeks later, I read Deuteronomy 20.
And here is where things turn interesting.
As if a scene from "The King," Deuteronomy 20 reads the following:
When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. 3 He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. 4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”
Before the Israelites prepared for any battle, they listened to this sort of speech given to them by the priests, encouraging the Israelites to trust that the Lord was with them.
After the priests spoke, the officers would then ask a list of interesting questions:
5 The officers shall say to the army: “Has anyone built a new house and not yet begun to live in it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may begin to live in it.
6 Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it.
7 Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.”
8 Then the officers shall add, “Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too.”
In essence, the officers implied this message...
"IF YOU ARE NOT READY AND WILLING TO LOOSE EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW IN THIS FIGHT....GO HOME."
The willingness to risk it all...was a requirement for every soldier going out to fight.
A few months later, I pulled out my Bible and read Deuteronomy 20 again. This time, I asked myself, why these questions? What principles could I extract from this passage?
Here's what I got.
I believe that there are certain battles in life we don't have the zeal to currently fight because we know that we aren't willing and ready to risk it all. Why?...In part, because we have quite a bit of unfinished business back at home. We have been merely existing and not truly living with a direct aim. We have been half-working and not tasting and seeing the fruit of any harvest. We have been dreaming and not creating a vision for who it is we want to be, to have, and to do within a set time frame. We have been building homes and creating families...yet not intentionally dedicating the activities within our households to the Lord.
It's worth repeating. I think many of us don't tackle certain battles in our life with the utmost regard due to a subconscious realization that we haven't lived our past life to the fullest.
*|FNAME|*, if you were forced to live with death as a very real and imminent threat, how differently would you live today? What unfinished business do you have? Think about it.
2) Secondly, I'm reminded from this passage that the Lord desires for us to enjoy life. To ENJOY it! I find it interesting that the soldiers were asked to go home if they still hadn't experienced certain moments that the Lord wanted them to enjoy and to experience. You won't always have a chance to "return home" and to enjoy certain seasons/chapters in your life. Soak it in now and enjoy every single chapter in your life..before the next chapter begins and you’re forced to travel to a place of no return. I look back at even the most challenging periods of my life and can still recall the most glorious of moments. How both can co-exist, I don't know. But cherish the glory.
I didn't think I'd enjoy watching "The King" this much and reading Deuteronomy 20 numerous times. But, here we are.