Prayer for the Overthrow of Zion’s Enemies.
A Song of Ascents.
129 “[a]Many times they have [b]persecuted me from my youth up,”
Let Israel now say,
2 “[c]Many times they have [d]persecuted me from my youth up;
Yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 “The plowers plowed upon my back;
They lengthened their furrows.”
4 The Lord is righteous;
He has cut in two the cords of the wicked.5 May all who hate Zion
Be put to shame and turned backward;
6 Let them be like grass upon the housetops,
Which withers before it [e]grows up;
7 With which the reaper does not fill his [f]hand,
Or the binder of sheaves his bosom;
8 Nor do those who pass by say,
“The blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord.”
This is a prayer that could easily be heard today, with all the controversy and mayhem going on in the Middle East currently. But before you pray it yourself, I think there are some things we can apply wherever we live.
In v. 4, the psalmist reminds us that, “The Lord is righteous…” Indeed He is, and as we’re also reminded by this psalm, He will take care of punishing the wicked. There’s a reason this is a prayer and not a manifesto. God tells us that vengeance belongs to Him. Any attempts of our own to fulfill that are unlikely to end well, so leave it to Him no matter how tempting it may be to step in and “do justice.”
Second, and also applicable in the current political climate, is v. 5. “May all who hate…” Just stop right there, and let us say that hate does not belong anywhere near someone who claims to love God. Unless it is directed at our real enemies (Satan and his minions), it is out of place. And even then, you’re probably just wasting your time, as Satan doesn’t care how you feel about him.
Rather, check yourself, anytime you feel “compelled to speak”, check your motives. Why are you compelled? If it has anything to do with hate or vitriol, stop and re-focus your mind on God and “things above”. Take a look at Philippians 4 (especially v. 8) and use that as your measuring stick. Anything else? Don’t waste your valuable time and energy. Oof, that’s been me this morning, and I need to do better and be better! God help us all, we need your heart and love in our hearts today and every day. Amen.