March 19, 2024

Prayers – The Anger of the Lord

The Anger of the Lord

A prayer inspired by Jeremiah 28-30

Dare one make war against you, O God,

            by speaking lies

            and leading others astray?

Help us, dear Lord, to see beyond the face of our adversaries.

            Help us make peace with antagonists

            and pray for our oppressors.

Who knows what you have in store for us?

            Who knows but that we complain and wail for unjust causes?

You know if we are as guilty as our foes.

            Why should we complain and wail?

            Your judgments are just, because you are righteous.

You judge in the blowing of the wind.

            You are satisfied through the storm.

            Your wrath is witnessed in fire and quakes.

The driving wind swirls down on the heads of the wicked.

            Your fierce anger does not turn back until you fully accomplish the purpose of your heart.

Amidst the storm, unbelievers ask, Why? and cry foul.

            They see only devastation and a unfavored God.

But believers see your power and are struck with awe.

            Humility and reverence engulf our whole being.

Blessed be your Name through our Redeemer.

Commentary.  The prayer reflects on the righteous judgment of God and the inadequacy of mankind, even the righteous, to comprehend the ways of God.  The effect will be an intensification of believers’ faith and reverence.

Give Thanks

A prayer inspired by Jeremiah 32-33

Our Lord and our God,

who made us to praise your Name

and to declare your love and mercy to all mankind!

While reveling in your blessings,

let us not forget that your justice demands divine wrath upon evil,

for surely, sword, famine, and plaque express your fury.

Give us singleness of heart and actions.

            May we always fear you

            and enjoy being your children.

O Lord, you rejoice in doing good for us

and for our children.

You made the earth,

you formed and established it—Yahweh is your name.

You hide your face from cities and nations because of their wickedness.

            How can they expect to call on you and receive a favorable answer?

We offer thanks to the Lord Almighty,

            for the Lord is good.

            His love endures forever.

You know the stars by name.

            You hold a vast universe in your hand.

In David, you prefigured a King of righteousness.

            In Christ, you fulfilled your eternal promise.

Commentary.  The prayer recognizes the sovereignty, blessings, and love of God.

Integrity in Faith

A prayer inspired by Jeremiah 42

O God, may we not ask of you,

            then refuse to obey.

May we not request a blessing,

            then misuse it.

May we not seek an answer,

            then reject it because we are unsatisfied.

If we ask,

            may we obey.

If we seek, may we not hide in false security.

            Our life is hidden with Christ in God.

Commentary.  The prayer confesses a need for true faith.

A Humbling Experience

A prayer inspired by Jeremiah 51, Jonah, and Nahum

O God of truth and righteousness,

May we as a nation be like the citizens of Nineveh in the days of Jonah.

Guilty of sin, may we obey the call to repentance as though in sackcloth and ashes.

May we not forget the nature of our calling as in the days of Nahum.

            Let a delay in your wrath not be forgotten.

Renew our spiritual commitment daily

and keep us from returning to sinful ways.

May we not reach the point where we cannot be healed.

            If so, our judgment will reach the skies

            and rise as high as the clouds.

Else we must prepare for battle

            and watch our nation crumble

            as with the coming of a swarm of locust.

You made the earth by your power;

            you founded the world by your wisdom;

            you stretched out the heavens by your understanding.

You make the clouds rise from the ends of the earth.

You send lightening with the rain

and cause the waters of the heavens to roar.

You bring out the wind from your storehouses;

something man cannot do.

But the days are coming

            when you will punish us and destroy our idols.

Our defenses will be insufficient when faced with your judgment.

            But for those who honor you, there is salvation in Christ.

Commentary.  The prayer recognizes the sovereignty of God and reminds mankind that God’s judgments are certain in a time only he knows.

A Lament

A lament turned into a prayer inspired by Lam. 2:14; 3:13-40

Almighty One,

            make us alert to your bidding.

Give us discernment when listening to modern preaching,

for many are false and worthless.

They do not expose sin;

            their oracles are artificial and misleading.

Our hearts are pierced

            with arrows from their quiver.

They make us the laughingstock of the world.

            They mock me in song all day long.

They make our teeth grind;

they trample the righteous in the dust.

We have been deprived of peace.

            They attempt to make us forget what righteousness is.

So, we are tempted to say, “Our splendor is gone

            and all that we had hoped from the Lord.”

Nevertheless, because of your great love, Lord, we are not consumed,

            for your compassion never fails.

It is new every morning;

            great is your faithfulness.

O Lord, you are our portion,

            therefore, we will wait for you.

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

            to all who seek him.

It is good to wait quietly

            for the salvation of the Lord.

It is good for a man to bear the yoke

            while he is young.

Let us sit alone in silence,

            for the Lord has laid it on us to do so.

We bury our faces in the dust,

            for there may yet be hope.

We offer our cheeks to those who would strike us

            and are honored to be disgraced for the sake of righteousness.

Though, God, you may bring grief,

you show compassion.

            Great is your unfailing love.

You do not willingly bring affliction

            or grief to the children of men.

Yet, is it not from the Most High

            that both calamities and good things come?

Why should we complain

            when punished for our sins?

Let us examine our ways and test them,

            and let us solidify our relationship with you.

We lift up our hearts and our hands

            to God in heaven, and say,

“We have sinned and rebelled.

            Please forgive our sins through Christ.”

Commentary.  The prayer highlights the reason why we should be attendant to faith.

The Natural Order and Judgment

A prayer inspired by Ezek. 6:11-14

To the God who made the natural order

            and lives beyond it,

not One who identifies with nature,

            but One who controls it!

Blessed be your Name,

            lofty and sovereign.

You have established your laws in the natural order.

            In your good time, you call to the storm, and it responds.

It executes your wrath,

            and men are unable to resist.

Fire, wind, and rain sweep our hallowed places

            with redeeming benefit for life.

We consider warning,

            and wonder if it could be punishment for sin.

Secularists seek only signs of global warming.

            The righteous see a demonstration of divine power and wonder about judgment.

Unable to know the reasons for divine action,

            we turn to solitude and reflection.

We know not if the storm is judgment and the pouring out of your wrath,

            but we have reason to believe it could be.

May your Name be praised through the precious Name of Jesus!

Commentary.  The prayer raises questions, which man cannot answer definitively, except to respond in faith.

Mac Lynn

September 23, 2023

Prayers Inspired by Scripture: Issue 4