Why We Fight

IsraLuv writes:

14 soldiers killed today....May Hashem have mercy on their souls.

May their families be comforted amoungst the mourners of Zion in Jerusalem.

my soul is crying.

Our history, from the Tanak:

All of them together plotted to come and fight against Yerushalayim and thus throw us into confusion. However, we prayed to our G-d and, because of them, organized a watch against them day and night.

Y'hudah was saying, "The strength of the people who carry loads away is starting to fail, and there is so much rubble that we can't build the wall."

Our enemies were saying, "They won't know or see anything, until we have already infiltrated them and begun killing them and stopping the work." And even the Judeans living near them came and must have said to us ten times, "From every place you must come back to us."

So in the lower parts of the space behind the wall, I stationed men according to their families, with their swords, spears and bows. After inspecting them, I stood up and addressed the nobles, leaders and the rest of the people: "Don't be afraid of them! Remember Adonai, who is great and fearful; and fight for your brothers, sons, daughters, wives and homes." When our enemies heard that the plot was known to us, and G-d had foiled their plans, we all returned to the wall, everyone to his work.

From then on, half of my men would do the work; and half of them held the spears, shields, bows and armor; while the leaders stood guard behind the entire house of Y'hudah, as they continued building the wall. Those who carried loads held their loads with one hand and carried a weapon in the other. As for the construction-workers, each one had his sword sheathed at his side; that is how they built. The man to sound the alarm on the shofar stayed with me.

I said to the nobles, the leaders and the rest of the people, "This is a great work, and it is spread out; we are separated on the wall, one far from another. But wherever you are, when you hear the sound of the shofar, come to that place, to us. Our God will fight for us!" Nehimiah 4:8-20

Our battle has never been easy. We have always faced enemies from without and fear from within. But now is not the time to be afraid! Now is the time to take hold of HaShem's promises and rejoice in our victory that is close at hand! It is He who promises to give us the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness! (Isaiah 61:3) We cannot allow ourselves to listen to the whims, wishes, failures, and lies of others. We must push forward with the fight, praying as we go and trusting that HaShem has already claimed our victory. We cannot stand down. We cannot give in. We must fight and WE WILL WIN!

Stand on guard, people of Israel. Be the watchmen on the wall, keeping your eyes and ears open, ready to take on the lies of the enemy the way our soldiers are taking on the fight in the fields. Keep your eye on them, but do not let their vision consume you. Rather, let your vision be that of Adonai Tzvaot in the Heavenlies, battling on your behalf, and remember: IF WE FEAR HASHEM AND HIS ARMIES, WE NEED FEAR NOTHING!

Fight, Israel! Fight for your fathers, brothers, sons, daughters, wives, and homes! Fight for Israel! Fight for Yerushalayim!

Israel war HaShem