Question. What is the instruction for a warrior in these words?
Answer. The fact that during the campaign he must especially carefully avoid every lawless and dishonest deed, both so that through vicious and unrighteous deeds he does not lose the favor of God and invisible protection in battle, and so that, if he is destined to end his life in a military feat, with a peaceful and clear conscience he will appear at the Judgment of God and undoubtedly receive the crown of righteousness.
God, our protector! Come close and behold the face of Your anointed. For behold, Thy enemies make a noise, and those who hate Thee have lifted up their heads; They have formed an insidious plot against Your people and are taking counsel against those whom You have guarded. May Your hand find all Your enemies, May Your right hand find all those who hate You. Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of Your name (see Ps. 83, 82, 20, 78). You understand that I am speaking about the present state of affairs in the words of the ancient people of God. It is fortunate for us that circumstances themselves place us in the position of the people of God against the enemies of God. Our enemies are the enemies of the Cross of Christ. Therefore, we can ask God for protection and victory not only for ourselves, but also for the glory of the name of Christ. Help us, O God, our Savior, for the glory of Your name! (Ps. 79:9).
It is only necessary that we, approaching God with this prayer, present ourselves to Him in the traits of the true people of God, which are: pure faith in God, strong hope in God, unfeigned love for God and neighbor, faithfulness to the commandments of God, devotion to the authority that comes from God, love for the Orthodox Fatherland, raised to the degree indicated by Christ’s word: There is no greater love than if someone lays down his life for his friends their own (John 15:13).
The thought of the people of God also arouses the thought that we are no longer the old people of God. It was not said to us: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Matt. 5:38). We were recognized as the new people of God, and we were given a new commandment, a new law of love and peace: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another (John 13:34). At the very birth of the King of God's new people, Jesus Christ, Heaven proclaimed peace to the earth. And when He sent His messengers to invite them into His subjects, or, even more, into the children of His Kingdom, then He commanded that peace be given to every house and every city. And when He went to a free, saving death, He left peace as a universal heritage to His Kingdom. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you (John 14:27). Shouldn't the peace of Christ be stronger than human warfare? And why didn’t He destroy the war? Why does she raise her head against the sons of the Kingdom of Christ, and even set Christians against Christians? Let him who understands understand.
Heaven, of course, did not deceive the earth, announcing peace to it along with the Coming of Christ. And Christ the Lord, having granted peace to His Kingdom, of course, did not take it back. And the peace of God, which is above all understanding, like a cloud of supersensible light, floats over the earth and is ready to overshadow every soul and all souls who sincerely desire to receive it, and really overshadows them, and fulfills them, and observes them (see Phil. 4:7), and no one can steal this inner peace from them. He is ready to descend through them into the outer world, to overshadow external life, to fill houses, cities, and kingdoms and drive away all warfare from the face of the earth. But the trouble is that there are too many people who do not accept Christ and, consequently, His peace; and what is even more sad, there are people who approach Christ with their lips, but in their hearts and lives they are far from Him and, therefore, from His world.
And therefore, to the shame of Christianity and humanity, there are people who, calling themselves Christians, go to assist the frantic and inhuman enemies of the name of Christ at the very time when their frenzy is especially incited against Christianity and humanity.
What shall we say to them? Let us encourage our zeal to be faithful to Christ in life and deeds, and as a result of this, the spiritual victory that has already overcome the world, our faith (1 John 5:4), will not fail to bring us visible victory and victorious peace over our enemies. Just as the new people of God, the Christians, were promised and given peace by God and Christ, the ancient people of God, the Israelites, were also promised the peaceful possession of the Promised Land through the expulsion from it or the extermination of pagan hostile peoples. And this promise was fulfilled, but not completely. After the miraculous victories won by Joshua over the Canaanite tribes, after the occupation of the Promised Land by the people of Israel, it seemed that it would not be difficult to completely cleanse it of the pagans. But after the difficult thing was done, the easy thing was not completed: And the Lord forsook these nations and did not quickly drive them out and deliver them into the hands of Jesus... They were left to tempt the Israelites with them and to find out whether they obey the commandments of the Lord (Judges 2:23; 3:4). What does it mean? Experience explained this.
When the Israelites remained faithful to God and His commandments, then He granted them victories over the pagans and thereby confirmed His people in the faith. But when the Israelites succumbed to the seductions of the pagans and imitated their vanity, luxury, vices, and finally idolatry, then the power of God was hidden from the people of God; The pagans grew stronger, and the people of God were encouraged by sorrows and suffering through repentance and turning to God to regain His grace and help, and with it victory, peace and prosperity.
The past is a good adviser to the present and the future, if we know how to understand it well. Take advantage of the edifying experience of ancient Israel in a timely and prudent manner, O new blessed Israel. Strive continually to be actively faithful to God and His commandments. Be careful not to weaken and enslave your spirit with the charms of vanity, luxury, sensual pleasures not controlled by reason, charming spectacles, useless and infectious readings, and finally, the charm of imaginary curiosity, which thinks more about itself than it should think (Rom. 12:3), easily turning into reprehensible curiosity and dangerous inquisitiveness. For such activities and amusements are not only beneath Christian dignity, but in part actually stem from the muddy source of pagan traditions and are imbued with a pagan spirit.
If in any way we find ourselves deviating from vigilant caution in keeping the saving commandments, let us not hesitate to return to them through repentance and the best previous intentions and deeds, to sincerely approach God and place our hearts in His strength. And may the Lord see that we have obeyed His commandments, and thus in God we will create power, and He will destroy the visible and invisible enemies that oppress us (Ps. 59:14).
Especially do not forget that a good soldier must be a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:3). To confirm this, is it necessary to again remind you of the ancient victors and assure you with the apostolic word that they conquered kingdoms by faith? You know this more closely and simply from the deeds of our ancestors, our kings, our elected leaders.
That true warrior is invincible, to whom the crown of martyrdom for faith and Fatherland is as dear as the crown of victory. The best servant and most reliable defender of the Fatherland, who in a heart faithful to God, in a clear conscience, carries the true hope of the Heavenly Fatherland.
VI. A surefire remedy against the strongest enemy
When you go out to war against your enemy and see horses and chariots [and] a people greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you (Deut. 20:1).
Question. What does this saying teach?
Answer. Because the surest remedy against the strongest enemy is firm and undoubted hope in God.
If, according to the fate of God, you should stand against the enemy, you think that you are fighting for your dear Fatherland, for the Holy Church against non-Christians, against persecutors of Christianity, against oppressing peoples of the same faith and partly of our fellow tribes, against insulters of the shrine of the worshiped places of the Nativity, Passion and Resurrection of Christ.
Under these special conditions, blessing and glory to those who overcome, blessing and bliss to those who sacrifice their lives with faith in God, with love for the Fatherland.
It is said in the Holy Scriptures about the ancient ascetics for the Fatherland: By faith they conquered kingdoms (Heb. 11:33). By faith you too will be victorious.