Not every law in Deuteronomy expresses God’s ultimate will. It is important to recognise this here in Deuteronomy 20. This is God making temporary provision for an already bad situation. God had previously been clear about what kind of overall situation he desired on earth. He wants people to love him and one another and live in peace on earth. What we find in these parts of Scripture is God temporarily condoning things that are not ultimately in accordance with his will. We should never set up God’s provisional commands as though they were an expression of his will ultimately. But neither should we apply God’s ultimate will in situations where clearly some provision needs to be made for an already imperfect situation. If our country was to be invaded and you were called to help defend our freedom, then it is no use referring to the fact that God does not ultimately want people to kill one another. If a man deserts his wife and marries another woman, it is no use telling the abandoned wife that ultimately God does not want divorce. These situations are bad to begin with and God has always made provision for that kind of thing, not because he condones evil, but because he loves people and ultimately wants to lead them to redemption and restoration.
Ask God to continue to grant you wisdom as you apply his word to your life and the situations that you face.
Read Deuteronomy 19-21
