As a people who follow Yeshua, we are the most persecuted group in the world according to studies I have seen recently. Much of the persecution comes in the Middle East from Islamic countries or in Africa and China and Russia. In America, we enjoy much freedom and protection for worshipping Yahweh. However, even here we can see the erosion of our rights which are constantly being challenged in court in examples across the nations as companies like Hobby Lobby must go to court to avoid being forced into health insurance supporting abortion. Chik Fil A is constantly persecuted on college campuses or airports or cities like New York because they stand for Christian values. Small businesses like a local Colorado baker or some florists and photographers are under assault leally because they refuse to endorse and participate in homosexual marriages or gender transition parties. University professors have been fired for refusing to use transgender pronouns to recognize someone who has tried to change their gender (which is not actually possible… it is in our DNA). High schools allow children to choose what locker room and bathrooms they can use, regardless of their actual gender.
There are other examples. We see wickedness throughout many who struggle for power in politics and business in our nation that support and lead these attacks.
Yeshua instructed us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us that we may walk in his ways and be different from the world.
“43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
It is an interesting apparent contrast with some of the prayers we find in Psalms whereby even righteous people are praying for YHWH to defeat their enemies and protect them from the wicked.
Prayer for the Overthrow of Zion’s Enemies.
A Song of Ascents.
1“Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,”
Let Israel now say,
2“Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up;
Yet they have not prevailed against me.
3“The plowers plowed upon my back;
They lengthened their furrows.”
4The LORD is righteous;
He has cut in two the cords of the wicked.
5May all who hate Zion
Be put to shame and turned backward;
6Let them be like grass upon the housetops,
Which withers before it grows up;
7With which the reaper does not fill his hand,
Or the binder of sheaves his bosom;
8Nor do those who pass by say,
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the LORD.”
We should indeed pray for our enemies, that they would repent and turn from their wicked ways and turn to Yeshua and the Father. However, we can also pray that Yahweh would defeat the plans of the wicked and their power to harm his people. I believe it is still acceptable to pray for YHWH to protect us from the wicked and bring them to defeat. We can also pray that he would transform them toward paths of righteousness.
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