Does it make you uncomfortable to pray
against others? It doesn’t seem very
loving does it? Yet here it is in the
Bible; David praying for God to work against his enemies.
That being said, we should note that David
doesn’t only pray against his enemies here, does he? He says that when they were sick he wore
sackcloth and fasted. He prayed for them
with his head bowed down. He cares for their
wellbeing. He lifts them before the LORD in love and
compassion.
So what do we do with this mixed message, as
David prays both for and against his enemies?
As Christians we certainly love all people,
including our enemies, and pray for them.
This is clearly Jesus’ call for our lifestyle. We know that God loves all people and that
every person is precious to Him, and as God’s children, representing Him, we
love them on His behalf. We remember
that Jesus gave His life for us while we were alienated from God, and Romans 5
says that He died for us while we were God’s enemies. Having been loved in such a way while we were
God’s enemies moves us to love even our enemies in the same way.
Yet because we love people we will pray
against those who contend against God’s Word, distort His truth, and confuse
the Word of Life we have been given.
When we live in faith and we are being God’s witnesses in this world,
those who oppose us do not only oppose us, they also oppose God Himself.
This prayer against God’s enemies is implicit
in the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer as we ask for God’s name to be kept holy,
His kingdom to come, and His will to be done.
As we ask for these things we must reason that there are those who do
not keep God’s name holy, want His kingdom to come, or desire for His will to
be done. Yet these things bring
salvation into our lives. God’s holiness
moved Him to address our sin and send His Son to save us. God’s kingdom on earth is seen in the Church
where people gather to receive salvation and forgiveness of sins, to hear the
Word, and receive the Sacraments. God’s
will is that all people would be saved and know the truth regarding the
salvation Jesus has won for all people; that it is a free gift given in His
grace. (1 Timothy 2:4)
In Christ we pray for the Father to contend
with, fight against, disappoint, and generally ruin the efforts of anyone who obstructs
His Word from being proclaimed, casts doubt on His salvation, or leads people
into sin. To do less would actually be
un-loving.
But to what end do we pray these prayers? To see these people punished? Their lives ruined? No, indeed!
The purpose is to lead them (and us) to repentance!
We cry out, “How long, O Lord, will you look
on?” We pray, “How long will You allow
people to blaspheme You name and corrupt Your Word? How long will You tolerate such blatant
sinful behavior as exists in this world, this nation, this individual, and even
in my own life? Put an end to it! Put an end to the corruption, the wickedness
and oppression. Put an end to
persecution and violence against Your people.
Put an end to the sin in me that I might be righteous in the things I
say, think, and do.”
And the Lord is not silent. He is not far away. He is still at work saving us and others through
Jesus’ death and resurrection. .
LORD, please do Your saving
work in my life, and through my life save others for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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