Austin Bible Church
Nationalism is defined as loyalty and devotion to and advocacy of a nation especially in the sense of a national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups. In Genesis 10, a nation was a group of people living in a geographical location, differentiated by language, race distinction, or nationality, and under a separate governmental with a civil and social structure.
The divine viewpoint of the ideal of a nation is a group of people located together with one common origin, one language, one stock of descent, of one race, distinguished from others, and functioning under the other three divine institutions within that national entity.
Webster defines a nation as “a people connected by supposed ties of blood generally manifested by community of language, religion, and customs. An aggregation of people having like institutions and customs and a sense of social homogeneity and mutual interest. A body of inhabitants of a country united under a single independent government.”
Nationalism is a number of independent government entities with each functioning over a segment of the human race. Nationalism is the means of protecting and perpetuating the human race in order that no segment of the human race will gain so much power so as to destroy the rest of the human race and inevitably destroy themselves.
Nationalism biblically would be a principle common to all nations binding the people within those nations separately in allegiance, mutual interest and welfare of their own particular national entity. Nationalism is a principle within a nation which protects and perpetuates the human race. It divides the nations geographically, racially, and linguistically.
Internationalism puts other nations under slavery by violating Divine Institution #1 - Volition. Any form of Internationalism (more than one nation under one head) gives satanic control. Satan is frustrated by a large number of national entities with definite boundaries. The national entity is a human barrier against the supremacy of evil in the world controlled by Satan.
As a divine institution, nationalism as well as volition, marriage and family has a structure of expression and definition. The structure for the expression of nationalism includes the military, a system of laws, a system of spirituality, a system of economy, a system of taxation, a system of justice, a system of welfare, a system of punishment for crime, a system of morality, a system of independence, freedom from internationalism, a system of preservation of resources, a balance of powers with other nations, national competition in the free market, and maximum evangelization with the Gospel.
World peace depends upon a balance of power between national entities. When nationalism is in operation, world-wide evangelism is possible. When you have internationalism in control, you have heathenism or negative volition at the point of God consciousness. A major passage condemning internationalism and backing nationalism can be found in Genesis 11:1-9.
“Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-9, NASB)
The existence of nations in the Millennium will be a memorial to the grace of God in preserving the human race so that they would have a choice. Rev. 20:3.
“and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.” (Revelation 20:3, NASB)
Nationalism does not sanction personal revenge. We are to leave it to the justice of God. “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” Rom. 12:19.
“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19, NASB)
There are two means of handling opposition to the believer. The first is to commit it to the Lord as is the believer’s mandate in the spiritual life. The second is to commit it to the law of our land which is the believer’s nationalist operation.
A Military System as an Illustration of Nationalism
The illustration of the principle of nationalism is the nation of Israel’s military system. The Hebrew army had a draft system. This is taken from the Hebrew word for “send” and “furnished” in the Hebrew. In Numbers 31:4-5, “send” is שׁלח (shâlach) and means to send away and “furnished” is מסר (mâsar) and means to set apart, to furnish, to commit, to deliver.
“"A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war." So there were furnished from the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.” (Numbers 31:4-5, NASB)
The purpose for war is self-preservation. War is for adults and the undistracted. Deut. 20:4; Deut. 20:5-12.
“for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'” (Deuteronomy 20:4, NASB)
War is designed to annihilate the enemy. Deut. 20:16-18.
“"Only in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall not leave alive anything that breathes. "But you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that they may not teach you to do according to all their detestable things which they have done for their gods, so that you would sin against the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 20:16-18, NASB)
Decisions of warfare were in the hands of the military leaders, not the civilian diplomats. Prov. 24:6.
“For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Proverbs 24:6, NASB)
War was designed and executed as an expression of divine judgment on wicked nations. For example, the conquest of Canaan in the book of Joshua. Justified warfare is from God. 1 Chron. 5:19-20.
“They made war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. They were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him.” (1 Chronicles 5:19-20, NASB)
There were a number of types of weaponry used in the military and training was required. 1 Chron. 12:23-40.
“Now these are the numbers of the divisions equipped for war, who came to David at Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD. The sons of Judah who bore shield and spear were 6,800, equipped for war.” (1 Chronicles 12:23-24, NASB)
“Of Zebulun, there were 50,000 who went out in the army, who could draw up in battle formation with all kinds of weapons of war and helped David with an undivided heart.” (1 Chronicles 12:33, NASB)
“Of Naphtali there were 1,000 captains, and with them 37,000 with shield and spear. Of the Danites who could draw up in battle formation, there were 28,600. Of Asher there were 40,000 who went out in the army to draw up in battle formation.” (1 Chronicles 12:34-36, NASB)
“From the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites and the Gadites and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 with all kinds of weapons of war for the battle.” (1 Chronicles 12:37, NASB)
They had a well-organized army and system of warfare. Officers included the Commander in chief (1 Sam. 14:50), General of divisions (Num. 2:3-31), and Captains of thousands, hundreds, and fifties. (Num. 31:14, Num. 31:48).
“The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.” (1 Samuel 14:50, NASB)
“"Now those who camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab,” (Numbers 2:3, NASB)
“Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.” (Numbers 31:14, NASB)
Military tactics included camp and march (Num. 2), marching in ranks (Exodus 13:18), move in attack in three divisions (Judges 7:16), and orders delivered with trumpets (2 Sam. 2:28).
“Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:18, NASB)
“He divided the 300 men into three companies, and he put trumpets and empty pitchers into the hands of all of them, with torches inside the pitchers.” (Judges 7:16, NASB)
“So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and pursued Israel no longer, nor did they continue to fight anymore.” (2 Samuel 2:28, NASB)
Military strategies included ambushes (Josh 8:2-22), reconnaissance (Josh. 2:1-24), delays (2 Sam. 17:7-14), pursuit (Joshua 11:7), forced marches (Isaiah 5:26-27), sieges (Jer. 39:1), fortifications (Judges 9:31), standards with flags (Num. 2:2-3, Num. 2:10), and uniforms (Ezek. 23:6, Nahum 2:3).
“So Joshua and all the people of war with him came upon them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and attacked them.” (Joshua 11:7, NASB)
“He will also lift up a standard to the distant nation, And will whistle for it from the ends of the earth; And behold, it will come with speed swiftly. No one in it is weary or stumbles, None slumbers or sleeps; Nor is the belt at its waist undone, Nor its sandal strap broken.” (Isaiah 5:26-27, NASB)
“Now when Jerusalem was captured in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it;” (Jeremiah 39:1, NASB)
“He sent messengers to Abimelech deceitfully, saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are stirring up the city against you.” (Judges 9:31, NASB)
“"On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur,” (Numbers 2:10, NASB)
“"Oholah played the harlot while she was Mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians, her neighbors, who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.” (Ezekiel 23:5-6, NASB)
Weapons and armor included bow and arrow, artillery, battle ax, dagger, javelin, dart, shield, sling, chariot, sword, engine, coat of mail, helmet, breastplate, greave, and habergeon. They had a standing army. 1 Sam. 13:2. They had a choir and songs. 2 Chron. 20:21-22.
“Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent.” (1 Samuel 13:2, NASB)
“When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, "Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.” (2 Chronicles 20:21-22, NASB)
Rewards were given for meritorious conduct, generally an offer of the general’s daughter in marriage. Joshua 15:16-17.
“And Caleb said, "The one who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter as a wife." Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it; so he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife.” (Joshua 15:16-17, NASB)
Children were instructed in military arts. Insubordination under command was punished. 2 Sam. 1:18; 2 Sam. 14:17.
“and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar.” (2 Samuel 1:18, NASB)
“"Then your maidservant said, 'Please let the word of my lord the king be comforting, for as the angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and evil. And may the LORD your God be with you.'"” (2 Samuel 14:17, NASB)
Hebrew and Greek Words for a National Entity
There are several Hebrew and Greek words used for a nation in the Bible. Some of them are listed below with meanings for nation and their significance
Nation: אֻמָּה ('ûmmâh) (Aramaic): people, mother city, metropolis, multitude associated or living together.
Corporate body: גּוֹי (gôy): foreign people (usually Gentiles), heathen.
People: לאם (le'ôm): proper name of a people, called a “nation.”
People: עַם (am): tribe, kindred, nation Israel mostly.
Land, country: ארץ ('erets): countries, by land distinctions.
Race: γενεά (genea): generation, men of the same stock.
Generation: γένος (genos): race, nation, descent to part. People, the aggregate of many individuals of the same nature, kind, sort or species.
Nation: ἔθνος (ethnos): multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus.