Praying for the enemy

Yes. You, the True Christian, are not praying for him to win, for him to prevail over you, but for his soul to find salvation.

 

Absolutely in agreement, Daisy! The very essence of being a Christian. You must believe your enemy is that 100th lamb.

 

I must confess, it is hard to pray for the enemy with a few thousand bullets buzzing past your ears, bombs exploding around you and some of your mates dying in your arms.

I was a chaplain in Korea and I can't recall ever praying for the enemy. Sorry. Perhaps I was too preoccupied with them at the moment.

Cheers,

Jim

 

As my experience is theoretical and yours is actual, I'll defer to you.

 

Daisy, Experience is not always the right thing to do, as you well know. I am just saying that on the battlefield, praying for the enemy, is the last thing on one's mind.

In scripture, we find this dichotomy of God telling us to "love our enemies" and yet, we find the saints crying, "How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" (Rev 6:10)

It seems that "love our enemies" is relative thing. For example, once we captured the enemies, we treated them well...clothing, food, sleep and shelter....

I shall relate another event. We were under heavy fire and had to retreat for our lives. We were running hard back to our trenches. A young fellow running with me, said, "Should we pray, padre?" Instantly I told him we should run, and pray when we get to the trench....thanking God that we got there.

Sometimes action is required, and sometimes civility is the action. It is a relative thing, and not an absolute.

Cheers,

Jim

 

How did David pray for his enemies ?

Psalms 6:10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.


Psalms 9:3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.


Psalms 18:37 I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.


Psalms 18:40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.


Psalms 25:2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.


Psalms 44:5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.


Psalms 60:12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.


Psalms 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

 

That's David, with all the wives...what did Jesus say?

 

Sound advice, I think.

 

The great thing about scripture, is the sins of the people who were chosen to record God's word, had their sins recorded, as well. Unlike the Koran, & others......

Do you think Jesus is contradicting David ?

 

I don't believe that scripture contradicts itself, but perhaps shows that there is more than one answer to the same question given the circumstances.

The reason one of the main tenents of hermeneutics is context, context, context.....

God did say that David was a man after His own heart......

Cheers,

Jim

 

Can you show Old Testament Scriptures telling Israel to pray for its enemies?

Perhaps when you find this out then that would be your answer.:thumbs:

 

May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't.
- General George Patton Jr

GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.'S PRAYER Below is the famous "Patton Prayer" and Christmas greeting sent to the men of the Third Army December 8, 1944:

"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen."