Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 November 2026 Isaiah 2:4b.
Isaiah 2:4b. nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
And it’s a mostly cloudy Wednesday, this Remembrance Day 0f 2026., originally established as Armistice Day in 1919 to remember World War I soldiers. The date marks the official end of the First World War hostilities, which ceased at the “11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” in 1918 (when the armistice between Germany and the Allied forces took effect). However, its meaning expanded after World War II to honor all military personnel who have died in conflicts, wars, and peacekeeping missions worldwide. What a waste of young lives it all was, but the claim is that we were fighting for freedom, for democracy.
Hn! What a joke that’s turned out to be now, when all the political leaders are fighting for dictatorial power, doing their best to consolidate power in their own hands, so they can do whatever they desire. And it’s sad that many people around the world are allowing them to do just that, not realizing or understanding that freedom is never free; it’s something you continually have to fight for, and you can never trust those in power to fight for, or even respect your democratic freedom, because it means lessening their own power.
Some leaders are seeking total power by blatant means, while others are being more underhanded, like enacting big laws, with small ones hidden in them, laws that curtail your freedom and rights, while giving those at the top more leverage to build their hidden agendas. So what freedom did all those soldiers die for eh, when things are rolling right back to either the far right or far left, leaving the populace at the mercy of their greedy and unprincipled leaders. The sad part is that too many of us don’t listen and/or pay attention to what the politicians and other powerbrokers are doing, for they say one thing, then turn around and do something else.
It’s all promises; vain and futile promises, as Cousin Sol would describe them. But as one of my friends would no doubt tell me, ‘that’s progress!’ Well if that’s progress, then you can keep it yes, I certainly don’t want any part of it! And that concludes my rant for today! (smile)
Now let’s turn to poem we recite every Remembrance Day, titled In Flanders Fields.’ It was written in 1915 by Canadian physician and soldier John McCrae. And according to one commentary, “In Flanders Fields” is a poignant war poem that reflects on the sacrifice of soldiers in World War I and the red poppies growing over their graves.’ And it’s become so popular because ‘it deeply captured the collective grief of World War I and transformed a natural image into an enduring symbol of remembrance.’
So, please read the poem with me. ‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, LOVED and were LOVED, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.’
Ah friends, it is a touching poem, but it also carries some controversy. The last word of the first sentence was apparently written ‘grow’ but it was changed to ‘blow’ later on to describe the poppies blowing in the wind, giving a more dramatic effect. And the last verse is also claimed as being a warmongering effort, inciting us to keep on fighting, and if we don’t, we’ll be letting down those who died in the war, causing their deaths to be in vain. But despite the controversy, the poem remains popular all over the world and is still recited each Remembrance Day.
And as per the main culprit in it all, ‘WAR?’ Hn! What can we say? Mankind has always had warmongering tendencies, but we don’t think there’s been as many wars going on at the same time in our world as right now. For there are wars all over the universe; both international – between different countries, as well as civil, that’s within individual nations. Strife is so prominent that you have to be very careful where you’re going these days, even for a short vacation. And there are all sorts of references to war in the Bible, even some that God sanctioned to help Israel conquer the promised land. And Cousin Sol in his wisdom even spoke of ‘ a time of war, and a time of peace.’ (Eccl. 3:8b)
Meanwhile Jesus warned us thus: ‘Take heed that no man deceive you. for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers (various) places. And all these are the beginning of sorrow.’ (Matt. 24: 4-8)
Oh my people, this certainly is a time when there’s strife in many different places, and is it ever sorrowful! For so many are unnecessarily suffering from this strife. They don’t have anything to do with it, yet the fall out from the strife is being felt worldwide. And if this is just the beginning of sorrows, per Jesus, then what will it look like as it gets closer to the end eh? I hope I won’t be around to find out.
And Revelation 19:11-16, does speak about Jesus preparing for war, ‘called Faithful and True, sitting on a white horse, eyes as a flame of fire, with many crowns on his head and in righteousness, judging and making war. Clothed in a robe dipped in blood, called the Word of God. And the armies of heaven follow him on white horses, clothed in fine white, clean linen. In his mouth is a sharp sword, to be used to smite nations, then rule them with a rod of iron, while treading the winepress with fierceness and the wrath of Almighty God. And on his robe and thigh was written KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’
But the best scripture on war comes from Isaiah. ‘And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks (pruning knives): nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.’ (Is. 2:4b) Oh my brethren, that’s the day we all long for, and it will happen, but only in the Lord’s time. So until then, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know of our wonderful position in Jesus Christ.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And for those who endure to the very end with Jesus, they will experience a future so glorious, that their minds cannot comprehend it. So please, let’s endure to the end with Jesus, so that we can enjoy that incomprehensible glorious future together! Much LOVE!
…war…what is it good for…absolutely nothing…
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