Praying for a Nation Under Foreign Invasion
Praying for a Nation Under Foreign Invasion
Praying for a nation under foreign invasion involves invoking God's intervention, protection, and deliverance in times of conflict and distress. The biblical basis for such prayer is rooted in various passages that encourage supplication for God's people, especially in times of war or national crisis. For instance, Solomon's prayer in II Chronicles 6:32 emphasizes praying toward the temple, even for foreigners who come from distant lands to pray [2].
The practice of praying for deliverance from enemies is a recurring theme in the Psalms. Psalm 39:12 illustrates this, as the psalmist cries out to God, "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping" [1]. Similarly, Psalm 83:1, interpreted by Matthew Henry, highlights the plea for God to appear on behalf of His people against those who wrong them [4].
In Jewish tradition, prayers for national deliverance and protection are well-documented. The Babylonian Talmud records prayers that include petitions for the sustenance of Israel from their land and for protection against foreign rule, underscoring the importance of praying for national well-being [5, 7].
The early Christian church continued this practice, with figures like Ignatius praying for the Church in Syria, asking others to remember it in their prayers [6]. Augustine also reflects on the practice of praying against enemies, interpreting Psalm 54 as a call to pray against those who seek to destroy the faithful [8].
Reformed tradition, as represented by John Calvin, emphasizes the role of prayer in times of distress, highlighting that true prayer is accompanied by a deep feeling of the mind and often results in vocal expression [9]. The apostle Paul's prayer for Israel's salvation in Romans 10:1 serves as a New Testament example of praying for a nation's spiritual welfare [3].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 39:12 (BSB) — Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. For I am a foreigner dwelling with You, a stranger like all my fathers.”
- II Chronicles “II Chronicles 6:32 (BSB) — And as for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of Your great name and Your mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple,”
- Romans “Romans 10:1 (Geneva1599) — Brethren, mine hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saued.”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 83:1: The Israel of God were now in danger, and fear, and great distress, and yet their prayer is called, A song or psalm; for singing psalms is not unseasonable, no, not when the harps are hung upon the willow-trees. I. The psalmist here begs of God to appear on the behalf of his injured threatened people (Psa 83:1): "Keep not thou silence, O God! but give judgment for us against those that do us an apparent wrong." Thus Jehoshaphat prayed upon occasion of that invasion (Ch2 20:11), Behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession. Sometimes God see”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 53b.7: Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, concluded the language of this prayer in the name of Rav Yehuda: May the rule of power not depart from the house of Judah; and may your nation Israel not depend on each other for sustenance, rather, they should be sustained from the produce of their land; and let not the prayer of travelers enter Your presence when they pray for the rain to stop on their travels.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. IX.--PRAY FOR THE CHURCH IN SYRIA.: Remember in your prayers the Church in Syria, which now has God for its shepherd, instead of me. Jesus Christ alone will oversee it, and your love [will also regard it]. But as for me, I am ashamed to be counted one of them; for indeed I am not worthy, as being the very last of them, and one born out of due time.(6) But I have obtained mercy to be somebody, if I shall attain to God. My spirit salutes you, and the love of the Churches that have received me in the name of”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 176a.106:7: Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, concluded the language of this prayer in the name of Rav Yehuda: May the rule of power not depart from the house of Judah; and may your nation Israel not depend on each other for sustenance, rather, they should be sustained from the produce of their land; and let not the prayer of travelers enter Your presence when they pray for the rain to stop on their travels.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM LIV.[5] (part 6): "Blessed the people whereof the Lord is its God." Out of this affection this prayer[5] is being sent forth into the ears of the Lord, when it is said, "for aliens have risen up against me." 7. "And mighty men have sought after my soul." For in a new manner, my brethren, they would destroy the race of holy men, and the race of them that abstain from hoping in this world, all they that have hope in this world. Certainly commingled they are, certainly together they live. Very much to one another are opposed these two sorts: t”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: feeling is insufficient for incitement, or the vehemence of the incitement carries the utterance of the tongue along with it. For although the best prayers are sometimes without utterance, yet when the feeling of the mind is overpowering, the tongue spontaneously breaks forth into utterance, and our other members into gesture. Hence that dubious muttering of Hannah ( 1 Sam. 1:13 ), something similar to which is experienced by all the saints when concise and abrupt expressions escape from them. The bodily gestures usually observed i”