(Jeremiah 14:11-12) Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”
The Bible exhorts us to “pray,” but there are times we should “not pray.” Israel loved to “wander,” (Jeremiah 14:10). Like a wayward lamb; thus, God had no choice but to break their legs, like a Good Shepherd, that they might return to Him. There are people you will encounter in the church, who never seem to learn, who love to “wander” from the truth of God. On their behalf we have stood in the “gap” in prayer; yet, as I consider the dealings of our Father with Israel, I believe there are times when we should “not pray” for such individuals. Instead, we should silently wait for God to break them.
In relationship to our nation, with all the prayer meetings being held for the awakening of our land, I wonder sometimes if the Lord is saying, “do not pray,” that judgement might come to America, if it hasn’t already, given our presidential candidate choices.
(Isaiah 3:12) “As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.”
God does not demean the leadership of women, remember Deborah judged Israel, (Judges 5); but the point He is making in this indictment against Israel, is that men were derelict in their “duty” as leaders, within the Israelite society. Thus, women have to take up the slack, and “children,” the naïve and inexperienced became their “oppressors”; we see evidence of this today, amidst the demands of special interest groups. Like ancient Israel America loves to “wander,” in fact, we have grown openly “hostile” toward the word of God. Should we pray for such a people? America is clearly not Israel, however, God is still God, and will deal with any nation that rejects Him.
(Psalm 9:17) The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.
My prayer is that it’s not too late for our nation and the church in America. God will not be “mocked,” we will reap what we sow. Let us pray, until God says, “cease to pray for this people.” As with Israel, God’s mandate to “not pray,” was motivated out of love; in hope that they would return to Him. This is always the Lord hope in regard to the individual or a nation. Despite Israel’s rebellion God, for His Name sake, remained faithful. This is the hope in which we must pray, that for His name sake “revival,” and an “awakening” might visit our land! Pray until He says, “do not pray!”
Pastor Al
