The war of the strong have always been people with the ability to have good weaponry over the weaker people. The arrows of coal of juniper were flaming arrows that would go over the wall built by towns and village to keep away invaders. Yet with weaponry improving, the walls only keep small time thief or amateur war party out. The flames of a juniper tree were the coals on the end of the arrow. Juniper a time of tree that when cut to make coal caused great heat. Anyone living in areas where temptatures get below zero know the value of a coal heat verses wood, gas or oil. Coal is the better heat source. It burns producing high amounts of heat. Certain wood type have the same impact if sitting around a fire. Never burn pine or cedar because of the sap, messing up the chimney. Oak, maple, locust, walnut and cherry wood produce the best heat because they are hardwood. Anyone using natural products for heat understand this. Gas stoves and kerosene might burn a little hotter but in reality they put off less heat. On a cold day below 0 you do not want gas, but you want coal to heat with. Electric heat even worse on a cold day. Yet in reality if your thermometer says 70 it probably is but it not a hot heat. It the difference in standing in certain areas of dry and moisture heat. Dry climates are more dilatable on hot days then when the humidity index is high. Temp might be the same, but one is more comfortable. When the soldiers would make their coal on the end of their arrow they would use the hottest coal source that would put off extreme heat, so it be still hot when it landed behind the enemy lines.

The psalmist talks of peace, but also war. He seems to be behind enemy lines. With the protection of the enemies tent. He wants to fight because of whose tent he is in. Yet he desires peace. Is he enslaved it does not say, but gives the idea that the siege is upon his people. He is praying to God that he not be of war, but of peace. That the enemy be of peace to his people and not war. The tent of Kedar is Arab. The man that is in the Psalm sojourn took him into enemy lines of the tent of Kedar. The Arab forces having stronger and better weapons of destruction. This man understood, and peace was in his soul for his people’s protection, and yet war and destruction plagued his mouth, because of the enemy. How to fight against those with hot flaming arrows.

It is the innocent victim in the hands of a devil in the inner street going to war with cop. Cop having a pistol and the gun man with a machine gun. It makes no sense that people on the streets have something that can kill a cop, unless it is a bad cop that does not uphold the law. Society is a mess. It is not by God’s grace no one would truly survive the antics of war, between good and evil. The devil had the upper hand, but only for the length of time God would allow. The exile of Israel is only a testimony of the time in which judgment came, only to eventually be restore thousand of years later.

Hard to feel for the enemy unless one feels the plight of war. The idea of peace not because always of better weapons, but in general Israel tried their best to get along with everyone, until something terrible happens. The enemy decides he desires the wealth of Israel and would stop at nothing tell they get it. Greed for money is a terrible thing.

Our cry needs to be to God in difficult situations when we find ourselves surround by the enemies of everyday life. Speaking peace to all that want to harm us. Some still will want war and to harm you. Yet God knows your pain and your sorrow. Do not retaliate except to defend your own body or someone else’s and you know it goes against the laws of our land. God desires despite our circumstances to turn the other cheek, but there is time to fight and time to make peace. It is better to choose our battles wisely, and make sure we on the Lord’s side of the battle. The man in Kedar’s tent was on the side of the Lord in this battle, for God was taking his people from within into exile, to teach them obedience.

To be in the place of safety in the terrority of the enemy. Not a good thing in one since, but if the hand of God is against you, better be where God’s will is.

Dear Heavenly Father, teach us to hold on the ideas of peace and not wage a war of hate, despite what the devil will do. You are a God of peace and love, let your war be only against the enemy and not your people. In Jesus precious name, Amen.