FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART
OP / ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
I have been with my church’s prayer group for many years now. We have been praying three times weekly at 5:00 a.m. The call to pray for the nation(s) is on our prayer agenda. When I am asked to pray for the nation(s), I have to confess that, at times, I have struggled with how to pray.
Do I pray for the “good” leaders, or do I also pray for the “bad” leaders? Do I ask for a blessing on all, or do I pray that some will be blessed and others cursed? What kind of prayer do I pray for Mr. Putin, President of Russia? What kind of prayer do I pray for Mr. Zelensky, President of Ukraine?
What kind of prayer do I pray for President Biden and Vice-President Harris? What sort of prayer should I pray for Mr. Schumer (the majority leader in the Senate) and Mr. McConnell (the minority leader in the Senate)? What sort of prayer must I pray for Mr. McCarthy (the now Speaker of the House) and Mr. Hakeem Jeffries (the now leader of the minority in the House)? I have asked myself how selflessly I pray for them.
When I think of all Mr. Putin is doing to the people in Ukraine, I have sometimes felt like David asking the Lord to take the enemy’s life. I have read Psalm 109, and at least 30 times in it, David calls down curses on his enemies. I have often asked myself, Is this a great example? Or do I look for other examples in David’s life where his prayer differed? I have found, for example, how David treated King Saul, who hated him and sought to kill him. David could have killed Saul, but he spared his life more than once.
Yes, at times, I have struggled with praying for the enemies. I have struggled with how to pray for leaders who do despicable things. I have struggled with how to pray for those who are pushing hate speech on social media, in political speeches and otherwise, but often enough, I have resolved that the command of Jesus to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44) has to come from a heart that is freed of hatred and full of love. It is a heart that is touched by the power of God. That is why before I can pray for the enemies, I have to ask the Lord to free me from all selfish thoughts and to give me a spirit of forgiveness.
As is said, “to bless one’s enemies is not just to do them good, but actually to ask God for their well-being. … It is one thing to bless or pray for someone and another thing to wish them good.”
There is a story in 2 Kings 6:18-23 that is still amazing to me. It tells that when the Syrians attacked Israel, and they tried to capture Elisha because they learned that he was informing the king of Israel of their battle plans and thus causing their defeat, how Elisha prayed, “O LORD, strike these men blind!” The LORD answered his prayer and struck them blind. Then Elisha went to them and said, “You are on the wrong road; this is not the town you are looking for. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are after.” And he led them to Samaria.
As soon as they had entered the city, Elisha prayed, “Open their eyes, LORD, and let them see.” The LORD answered his prayer; he restored their sight, and they saw they were inside Samaria. When the king of Israel saw the Syrians, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, sir? Shall I kill them?” “No,” Elisha answered. “Not even soldiers you had captured in combat would you put to death. Give them something to eat and drink, and let them return to their king.”
So, the king of Israel provided a great feast for them, and after they had eaten and drunk, he sent them back to the king of Syria. From then on, the Syrians stopped raiding the land of Israel.
Have you ever heard the phrase “Kill them with kindness?” That is what Elisha instructed the king of Israel to do, and it changed the attitude of the Syrians toward Israel.
The apostle Paul instructed the members of his church in Rome thus:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. 17 Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:14-21).
I must be sounding pretty naïve to many of you reading this reflection on the encouragement to “bless those who curse you.” But the case is that what is causing so much destruction in our world is that we are focused so much on revenge and self-defense that we do not allow ourselves the freedom to pray for and bless those who do not like us or those whom we do not like.
The point is that if we are to survive as members of our families, as people in the community, or as strangers in the public square, we will need hearts to love and the right spirit to pray. As the Psalmist says, we need to ask, “Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
