Daily Devotional for Monday, June 3

David’s Supplication

“Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded,” Psalm 7:6.

At this very moment, there are believers hiding because of persecution. At this very moment, there are new believers secretly being baptized, knowing that this act, if found out, could cost them their lives. At this very moment, believers are losing their jobs, being kicked out of their families and moving to avoid harassment, harm or even death. It has been estimated that there have been more martyrdoms of Christians and religious persecution in the past one hundred years than in the previous nineteen hundred years combined.

For those of us in the West, it is hard for us to feel the pain of Psalm 7. We cringe just a little at the thought of praying like this to God, as though it were too rough or too Old Testament. We should pray for our enemies as Jesus, Paul and Peter all commanded, but to us, the closest thing we have to an enemy is a bully, a rude driver on the freeway, Hollywood actors or maybe a politician we do not like. So, praying for God to act on our behalf because of our enemies is not a normal pattern of our prayer life.

Many of our brothers around the world have enemies that are real, enemies that are dangerous and numerous. We have been commanded to pray for our brothers and sisters who are facing persecution. And even though we must pray for our enemies and the enemies of our brothers and sisters that they might be saved, we nonetheless still pray for God to bring justice and vindication. Righteousness demands it. Justice demands it. God will answer them all one day (Revelation 6:9-11).

PRAYER
“Father, please provide for, protect and preserve our brothers and sisters who suffer for your sake. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Jason Rutherford