A Time for War

Readings:

Job 24

Job 25

Job 26

Job 27

Job 28

Job 24:1 NLT
“Why doesn’t the Almighty bring the wicked to judgment? Why must the godly wait for him in vain?

These readings remind me,

Psalms of Lamentation, Job’s words, the cries of the martyrs, and prayers of intercession that require true wrestling with God — these can all sound like grumbling against God or wallowing in one’s feelings. But they serve a very real and very powerful purpose. They rejoice in the holiness, righteousness and justice of God, and don’t just praise Him for His mercy.  When sin and injustice and pain grow to the level that we are at the end of ourselves, our cries call out to the heart of God and He hears us.

Yes, He hears and knows all, but we can see that there is something unique and special and intimate between those who know God so personally that they will enter into His courts with praise about who He is and very heartfelt struggles with why the things related to sin and the enemy have been given room to proliferate. When Hagar’s baby cries out in the wilderness facing death, God hears. When David sings psalms of Lament, God hears. When Christ prays tears of blood in Gethsemane, God hears. Even when the souls of the martyrs in heaven cry out for justice, God hears.

God’s judgement and vengeance is perched and waiting to cleanse this world, and it is not stirred by happy praise and worship from a body of believers content with how the world is in the hands of the “prince and power of the air” and “ruler of this world”. It is intercessory prayer that opposes those principalities and powers and brings our grievances to God to be heard where the wrestling and wrangling of the saints and the martyrs is done, where light is brought into the dark places, and where the Kingdom progresses on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Lord, help us to see clearly the contrast between who you are in holiness, righteousness and vengeance — versus this world, polluted and plundered by sin and your enemies. Help us to care and intercede with our heartfelt cries against the darkness — on behalf of your glory. Help us to carry light into those dark places and for our cries for justice to shake the foundations of what has been built up by the enemies of God. May the dark powers and the demons who oppose you be reminded yet again that their time is short. May hearts and minds and lives be turned away from darkness and death to know you and love you. There is so much beautiful, yet there is so much pain, suffering, wickedness and foolishness in this world. Help us to set our eyes in you alone. Amen.