God Is a Warrior

The authors of this book, Tremper Longman III and Daniel G. Reid, have done an outstanding job of putting this subject matter together. This book flows from the Old Testament (how GOD set the children of Israel free from Egypt, How HE warred on their behalf in bringing them into the promised land and how HE turned to war against them when they no longer followed HIM), into the New Testament (how the Messiah came to restore all of Israel and to bring freedom to the Gentiles) and ends in the coming tribulation and renewal of all things. From beginning to end this book brings together how in the Scriptures from Creation to Renewal that Yahweh (GOD) wars on behalf of His people. If you are looking for a quick read, this book is not set-up for that, as there are many footnotes to Scripture and other books and writings. The principals of the Divine Warrior is One who sets a city free from evil, sets up the proper kingship and rebuilds the temple (restores proper worship) and can be found in many ancient writings and even in how many nations have set conquerors in power. The war for our souls began long before we were here and will end when all rebellion has been put down so Yahweh (GOD) Himself can restore all things back to perfect shalom (peace). For all those that are looking for a better understanding of this war that has carried on for us and just how much you mean to your Savior and conquering King then I highly recommend this book, Shalom.

There is no denying the fact that the Bible contains warrior terminology and imagery for God. This book by Longman and Reid clearly and thoroughly reveals this biblical theme. Furthermore, the idea of God as a Warrior is well-grounded in historical and traditional theology. If you want a comprehensive survey of the divine warrior motif in Scripture, this is the book for you.The authors point out that there are five stages to this warrior motif: (1) God fights Israel's flesh-and-blood enemies, (2) God fights Israel, (3) The future divine deliverer is promised, (4) Jesus fights the principalities and powers, and (5) The final battle takes place. The book then shows how some of these themes are carried out within the text of Scripture itself.Personally, I have problems with identifying God as a Warrior. I believe that Jesus in the Gospels perfectly reveals God to us, and so Jesus is the guide by which to understand the actions of the Father. Jesus never encouraged violence toward flesh and blood enemies, but love and forgiveness instead. Since this is so, we must read the Old Testament portrayals of a violent God in light of Jesus. If we do this, we see that while God is warring, He is not warring against flesh and blood, but is at war against the same enemies with which Jesus wars: namely, sin, death, and the devil.For this reason, I was very appreciative of the sections in the book where God is reveled to be warring against the forces of chaos (chapter 5), as well as the detailed explanation of God's battle against principalities and powers in the New Testament.

Tremper Longman knows just how to put things into words. His unique perspective on God's work is priceless. Any serious reader of the Bible would greatly enjoy this book. It is a great help to those in seminary or deeper studies of the story behind the story.

I bought this as a resource for a paper I was doing for Seminary. Though I am not a huge fan of Biblical Theology as a method I found this book to be very well done.

Authors fails to take into account many instances in Scripture. It's more of an overview of a few examples than a thorough study of God as Warrior.

Well written, good scholarship and affordable.

very good book and very good transaction thank you

Good book it challanges ones thinking

Pleased with item

A most refreshing and helpful insight to a difficult issue

This book shows how the God of the universe has used men and women (as weak as they are) to perform and accomplish our salvation .... from Genesis to Revelation.