Battlefields to Blessings: War and Peace
- Raymond Melendez
- Nov 16
- 10 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
At TheGoodNewsCast.com we believe peace is not the absence of war but the presence of purpose—crafted, protected, and perfected from the womb, just as nations and individuals are called to live out God’s design and be born again.
In an age where the world shifts between turmoil and tranquility, the contrasts we witness are striking. Today, Iceland stands as the world’s most peaceful nation, a title it has held since the inception of the Global Peace Index in 2007. Its shores are calm, its society harmonious—a beacon of stability in a divided world. At the opposite end, Yemen endures the crushing weight of conflict, ranked as the least peaceful country on Earth. These extremes reflect a deep tension between war and peace, between nations that endure conflict and those built for harmony.
This gap echoes a profound moment recorded in the Holy Scriptures—a moment when a kingdom stood at the crossroads of war and peace. In 1 Chronicles 28, King David, the warrior who secured Israel’s borders through years of struggle, publicly relinquishes control to his son Solomon. Yet this was no ordinary succession. Before the assembled leaders of Israel, David declares that Solomon was chosen by God: “Solomon my son, whom God has chosen, is young and tender, and the work is great, for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.” David, forged in the crucible of war, steps aside for a king destined for peace—a builder of the temple.
Just as nations today rise and fall on currents of violence or visions of peace, so too did Israel transition from a season of warfare to an era of tranquility. David’s surrender of the throne was a declaration: God’s purposes transcend the struggle, and the chosen are prepared long before they take their place on history’s page.
From modern nations striving for stability to kingdoms influenced by God's design, the contrast remains striking. Peace is not the absence of war—it is the result of something crafted, protected, and perfected.
Peace Crafted: Iceland’s Example
In a world navigating turbulence and uncertainty, Iceland stands as a stunning testament to what King Solomon attempted to achieve (Vision of Humanity). For years, the Nordic island nation has reigned as the most peaceful country on Earth—but its dominance is far more than a statistic. Iceland excels across all three Global Peace Index domains, ranking second in Safety and Security and first in both Ongoing Conflict and Militarization. With virtually no violent crime, low military costs, and a complete absence of war, Iceland has crafted a level of tranquility unmatched in today's world.
What is even more extraordinary is the sheer scale of Iceland’s lead. The gap between Iceland and second-ranked Ireland equals the difference between the 2nd and 15th place countries—a remarkable gap that highlights the effectiveness of Iceland’s social systems. This peace is not accidental; it is built on deliberate policies that protect citizens from poverty, inequality, and economic shocks through robust support systems, healthcare, and welfare programs. Iceland pairs this stability with an outward commitment to international cooperation, participating actively in organizations like the United Nations and NATO.
Though diverse in geography and culture, the world’s top five most peaceful nations—Iceland, Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, and Singapore—share core characteristics: stable governance, economic stability, low corruption, and respect for diplomatic relations. Their success proves that peace is not a luxury but the result of strategic and purposeful investment.
The Holy Scriptures affirm that the state of peace does not emerge randomly but is woven into individuals before their first breath.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you… I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” Jeremiah 1:5
The message reveals a Creator who determines the mission and identity from the very beginning. Isaiah echoes this truth: “The Lord called me from the womb; from the body of my mother I was named” (Isaiah 49:1). Throughout the Holy Bible, this pattern unfolds—Samson consecrated before birth, John the Baptist filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb, each prepared for a specific purpose.
Even beyond the Good Book, the Book of Mormon reflects this principle. Alma 7:11–12 teaches that Christ’s mission—to bear the pains, afflictions, and sicknesses of his people—was established before the foundations of the world. His calling, like ours, was part of God's design long before his life began.
From a nation that has carefully cultivated peace to the mundane life that carries a God-ordained purpose, we are reminded that both social harmony and personal destiny are not random acts. They are crafted—by the hand of God—from the very beginning.
Peace Crumbles: Yeman's Example
Yemen today is a sobering reminder of what happens when the foundations of peace disintegrate. Ranked 163rd out of 163 nations on the Global Peace Index, Yemen’s position reflects not a momentary lapse but a profound collapse of social stability (Vision of Humanity). Years of civil war, economic devastation, and an unrelenting humanitarian crisis have pushed this land into the depths of hell. Violent demonstrations continue to intensify as living conditions worsen and political instability persists with broken ceasefires and stalled negotiations. Tensions further inflame the conflict. Food insecurity grips millions, healthcare systems lie in ruins, and widespread displacement has divided families and communities. Yemen’s peace deficit is immeasurable—a tragic portrait of a nation torn from within.
Yet amid this stark reality, we encounter a deep truth that stands in powerful contrast: while peace can be destroyed, purpose is woven internally from birth. When God chooses someone for a mission, they are equipped with abilities, inclinations, and traits perfectly tailored to that purpose. It explains why Solomon, even in his youth, demonstrated an unusual depth of wisdom, diplomacy, and peaceful character—the very qualities essential for building the temple and guiding Israel into prosperity. His talents were developed from the womb and harnessed in his youth.
David’s journey illustrates the same principle. His courage tended sheep in the wilderness, his resilience grew in the face of lions and bears, and his leadership was forged on the battlefield. These experiences were not human trials but preparation for his role as Israel’s warrior-king. Purpose-driven abilities are innate, yet they require life experience and spiritual guidance before they reveal themselves. Solomon’s wisdom was present from birth, but it was his prayer that activated and amplified the gifts God had placed within him.
From Yemen’s shattered peace to the quiet call of God’s chosen, we see a profound truth emerge: peace may crumble, nations may falter, but God's purpose remains unhindered—planted in the soul long before it blossoms in the world.
In a world fractured between Iceland’s serenity and Yemen’s despair, we are reminded that both peace and struggle are part of the world’s history. And just as nations need leaders attuned to their moment in crisis, God’s kingdom needs those uniquely prepared—for both the sword and the Christ's peace.
The World Diverges: The Balance of Peace In War
The divide between Iceland and Yemen becomes even sharper when viewed within the patterns highlighted in the 2024 Global Peace Index. While Iceland leads the world in harmony and stability, much of the planet continues to grapple with escalating violence. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which—for the ninth consecutive year—remains the least peaceful region on Earth (MENA). Home to four of the ten least peaceful nations, including Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Syria, the region bears the brunt of conflicts that compound year after year, making progress toward peace painfully slow.
The roster of the world’s least peaceful nations reads like a tragic report of human suffering:
Sudan, overwhelmed by the largest refugee crisis on the planet with more than 10 million displaced people.
South Sudan, ranked lowest in safety and security.
Afghanistan, burdened by some of the highest economic costs of violence.
Ukraine, forced into unprecedented militarization amid ongoing conflict.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, plagued by decades of regional warfare.
Russia, ranking near the bottom for militarization at 160th.
Syria, where more than half the population—56.7%—has been displaced.
Israel, experiencing the steepest decline in peacefulness in 2024.
Mali, afflicted by escalating organized crime and terrorism.
These tragedies paint a world divided not merely by geography, but by the forces of war and peace. This same divide is seen in the biblical account of David and Solomon. David, God’s warrior-king, was called to establish Israel’s borders through battle, conflict, and conquest. Solomon, by contrast, was chosen to shepherd Israel into an era of peace—building the temple with wisdom and diplomacy.
This Peace-Warrior contrast is echoed in the words of Jesus: “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). At times, division is necessary to establish peace, just as David’s battles were necessary to secure Israel’s kingdom. Yet there are moments when peace must prevail, when the work of God requires unity and rest—as in Solomon’s reign. The religious leaders who once condemned David for having “blood on his hands” were looking through the eyes of Solomon, where peace cleansed all that is impure.
God’s kingdom has always required both the warrior that establishes the ground and the peacemaker who builds upon it. David could not construct the temple because his calling contrasts Solomon's whose gifts lay in counsel not combat. Both kings, though dramatically different, were indispensable to God’s plan.
Christ’s Perfect Peace: A World Drifting Apart
The 2024 Global Peace Index paints a sobering picture of a world pulling further apart. Produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace, this year’s findings reveal that peacefulness has declined in 12 of the last 16 years (Institute for Economics & Peace). The gulf between the most peaceful and the least peaceful nations is now the widest it has ever been, marking an era in which stability is increasingly concentrated in a handful of regions—while violence and collapse spread elsewhere.
At the heart of this widening divide lies more than conflict; it is the breakdown of the very institutions that hold societies together. Functional governments, fair judicial systems, economic opportunity, and civilian trust form the backbone of peaceful nations. Where these fail, violence finds fertile ground. Once eroded, these foundations are exceedingly difficult to restore, leaving nations trapped in cycles of instability and despair.
For leaders, the expanding peace gap poses an urgent call to action: addressing not just the symptoms of conflict but its roots—social injustice, institutional decay, economic inequality, and political instability. Without interventions, peace risks becoming a luxury of the few, while crisis becomes the inheritance of the many.
Yet even as the world drifts toward deeper division, Holy Scriptures reveal a unifying truth—one embodied perfectly in Jesus Christ. The transition from David to Solomon foreshadowed a kingdom built through both justice and mercy. David, the warrior-king, established Israel’s justice; Solomon, the peacemaker, built the temple. Both roles were necessary, both spiritually appointed and Jesus embodies both perfectly and completely.
Like Solomon, Christ offers a peace the world cannot replicate—
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” John 14:27
His peace, like Iceland, transcends the nations. Yet, like David, Jesus acknowledges that the sword must divide before it unites, declaring—
“I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” Matthew 10:34
This is the sword that separates us from the curse, from the destruction, and from the divide.
Just as David relinquished control to Solomon, Jesus relinquished control to the Heavenly Father so God's work is made complete and perfect in him. His submission reflects the potter’s vision in Jeremiah 18:6: humanity—like clay—is perfected through the hands of the One who finished what began in the womb.
In a world where the peace gap widens daily, Christ remains the calm in the conflict, and the justice in mercy, the sword that divides and unites. As nations crumble, he restores and unites all things under God’s perfect work from a beginning that doesn't end.
Peace on Earth, Purpose Formed: God Remains the Same
The contrast between Iceland and Yemen reveals a truth the world can no longer afford to ignore: peace is not simply the absence of conflict but the presence of the Weaver, Knitter, and the Sewer. They weave justice, knit opportunity, and stitch strong institutions together. Iceland stands as living proof that intentional policies—rooted in human rights, social equality, and strong governance—can cultivate a society where peace becomes a living truth. Yemen, by contrast, shows how fragile peace can be when these pillars collapse. Once institutions fail and trust dissolves, conflict accelerates into a downward curse that becomes nearly impossible to reverse.
As climate change, resource scarcity, political polarization, and new forms of warfare influence the global landscape, the teachings of the Global Peace Index are more relevant than ever. Iceland reminds us that peace can thrive even in uncertain times; Yemen warns of the cost when it is neglected. The calling of the global community is clear: narrow the peace gap, extend human dignity across borders, and ensure that stability is not a privilege for a few but a common achievement made possible through a complete and perfect work toward what God intended for humanity before it was even called the earth.
This global lesson finds a profound spiritual parallel in the story of David and Solomon—a story that reveals the unchanging nature of God. The Holy One of Israel is consistent across generations: the same yesterday, today, and forever. God’s choices are never random; they are woven with intention, preparation, and purpose long before birth. David was fashioned for battle, Solomon for peace—and both were created, gifted, and positioned by God's heart and mind, which comes together and fullfilled in Christ.
Understanding this transforms our place in our own lives. Our talents are not controlled, they are harnessed; our strengths are not humbled they are tamed. They are spiritual blessings crafted for specific purposes in God’s everlasting kingdom. Like David, we may be called to roar through struggle. Like Solomon, we may be called to establish peace on earth. And like John the Baptist, we are invited to recognize the submission of that work to Jesus, who let go and let God complete the good work that began in us.
In embracing our purpose with humility and releasing it with trust, we participate fully in the Holy work: God's choosing, God's preparing, and God's accomplishing what was ordained from the womb. May the world experience the joy of being born again.
Works Cited
Institute for Economics & Peace. Global Peace Index 2024: Measuring Peace in a Complex World. Institute for Economics & Peace, 2024. Vision of Humanity, https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf.
Vision of Humanity. Global Peace Index 2024: Measuring Peace in a Complex World. Institute for Economics & Peace, 2024. Vision of Humanity, https://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf.
Vision of Humanity. “10 Least Peaceful Countries in 2024.” Global Peace Index, Institute for Economics & Peace, 2024, https://www.visionofhumanity.org/10-least-peaceful-countries-in-2024/.
Vision of Humanity. “10 Most Peaceful Countries in 2024.” Global Peace Index, Institute for Economics & Peace, 2024. Vision of Humanity, https://www.visionofhumanity.org/10-most-peaceful-countries-in-the-world-2024/.
