Your words…

Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities and intended to break into them. Then Hezekiah strengthened his position by rebuilding the entire broken-down wall and heightening the towers and the other outside wall. He repaired the supporting terraces of the city of David, and made an abundance of weapons and shields. He set military commanders over the people and gathered the people in the square of the city gate. Then he encouraged them, saying, “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria or before the large army that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. He has only human strength, but we have Yahweh our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people relied on the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.  2 Chronicles 32:1, 5-8

My words…

Praise

 Lord, to You everything is now. You see the city of Jerusalem surrounded by Assyrians while King Hezekiah rallies his terrified people, and You see me writing this prayer to You – all at the same time. Do you glance along the line of events spread out before You and see the ancient, pagan Assyrians and the modern-day reprobates as living in the same camp? They both defy the armies of the Living God. They laugh at things I don’t find funny, and they sneer at truths I hold dear. They prey on the defenseless and flaunt their arrogance. They take what is not theirs then mock their victims. They poison the airwaves with toxic lies, claiming You, their Creator and Savior, are powerless, deaf, and vindictive. I live a non-violent life, but I claim these “Assyrians” as my enemy.

Praise be to You – the God whose eye is trained on my enemies. They never wander from Your sight or hide from You. Just as You saved Jerusalem, so You will save me. Although Hezekiah’s army was outnumbered on the ground, they weren’t in the air. The Israelites did not wield a sword or launch an arrow. You unleashed Your heavenly warriors to vanquish Sennacherib’s army. And when he fled to his home, his children welcomed him by killing him. Complete defeat.

Prayer for others

When I hear of children being shackled and starved in their own homes, of the elderly being murdered for a social security check, of women being abused because they cannot defend themselves, of missionaries imprisoned for proclaiming Your name, I know the “Assyrians” are at the gate. You see all, and Your army is greater in number and strength. Fight for them, Lord!

Prayer for me

So, here’s the hard part. I live under the covenant of love and forgiveness. If I understand it correctly, I am to love my enemies. When I read the account of Sennacherib’s defeat and assassination, I cheer. When I read the news report that a rapist came to harm in his jail cell, I smile. Is that wrong? The fact that I am questioning my reaction leads me to believe that it is. These evil-doers may be reprehensible, but they are souls – souls worth saving. They are sinners. I am a sinner. You are the One who saves all of us Assyrians.