In scripture in various places in scripture you have the righteous people praying for God's judgment to fall upon their enemies. You find a lot of this going in the Psalms of David while Saul and others chased him around seeking to kill him (Psalms 54:5, Psalms 55:8-9, *Psalms 59:1-5*) . You find Paul asking the Lord to avenge himself against Alexander the coppersmith (2 Timothy 4:14); John Gill's comment on this is "which may be considered either as an imprecation upon him, as knowing him to be a wicked blasphemer,"... In Revelations you have the saints praying for justice and vengeance as well (Revelation 6:10) .
In contrast, God also tells us to pray for our enemies. Matthew 5:44 states,
44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (NASB). The AMP, NIV, Holman CSB, ESV, all say basically the same thing. The KJV, NKJV, Literal Translation of the Holy Bible (LITV), Young's Literal translation (YLT) add too this a bit, "bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,"(NKJV)...
So are we to pray for God justice and our vengeance be done to our enemies? or not?
My humble answer to this is, yes, but first pray for their salvation first and by salvation they receive the ultimate blessing from above. Pray that we do good and love our enemies so that they may see the light. Then pray if they never repent and that their disposition towards God is continually evil that God have His way with them, even if that means God's punishment and wrath fall upon them.
What do you say?
Some other Verses to consider:
Nehemiah 4:4
4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!
Nehemiah 13:29; Psalms 17:13, 74:11,22-23, 104:35, 109, 119:84,126, 140:7-12, 141:5-10; Lamentations 3:64-66.
Now another Point to ponder, and one that is controversial:
Matthew 21:21,22:
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
I believe this verse is widely misinterpreted. Some believe this means if you have enough faith, that God will always say Yes for whatever you ask for. God does not always give you what you ask for. Some believe this mountain is obstacles and if we pray to God to removed them He will do it if we have enough faith...Again, I disagree, God helps us through our trials and obstacles, He doesn't take them away (unless it's an obstacle that causes unbelief in Him).
I believe Jesus is asking the disciples here to pray THIS mountain, the one He is standing on, which represents ancient Israel, the apostate nation and Old Covenant system of Jewish ceremonial laws and customs, to be done away with. I believe Jesus is asking or tell them to pray this imprecatory prayer that God's will be done regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and all it represents, for we know it was God's will because it happened, 70AD...I believe that is what the beheaded saints in Revelation 6:10 (these verses are related) are also praying for (although it is also a continued prayer through out time leading up to the 2nd advent, it has an immediate fulfillment in 70AD and an Ultimate fulfillment at the end of the world). This interpretation seems to fit the context as well.
In contrast, God also tells us to pray for our enemies. Matthew 5:44 states,
44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (NASB). The AMP, NIV, Holman CSB, ESV, all say basically the same thing. The KJV, NKJV, Literal Translation of the Holy Bible (LITV), Young's Literal translation (YLT) add too this a bit, "bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,"(NKJV)...
So are we to pray for God justice and our vengeance be done to our enemies? or not?
My humble answer to this is, yes, but first pray for their salvation first and by salvation they receive the ultimate blessing from above. Pray that we do good and love our enemies so that they may see the light. Then pray if they never repent and that their disposition towards God is continually evil that God have His way with them, even if that means God's punishment and wrath fall upon them.
What do you say?
Some other Verses to consider:
Nehemiah 4:4
4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!
Nehemiah 13:29; Psalms 17:13, 74:11,22-23, 104:35, 109, 119:84,126, 140:7-12, 141:5-10; Lamentations 3:64-66.
Now another Point to ponder, and one that is controversial:
Matthew 21:21,22:
21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
I believe this verse is widely misinterpreted. Some believe this means if you have enough faith, that God will always say Yes for whatever you ask for. God does not always give you what you ask for. Some believe this mountain is obstacles and if we pray to God to removed them He will do it if we have enough faith...Again, I disagree, God helps us through our trials and obstacles, He doesn't take them away (unless it's an obstacle that causes unbelief in Him).
I believe Jesus is asking the disciples here to pray THIS mountain, the one He is standing on, which represents ancient Israel, the apostate nation and Old Covenant system of Jewish ceremonial laws and customs, to be done away with. I believe Jesus is asking or tell them to pray this imprecatory prayer that God's will be done regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and all it represents, for we know it was God's will because it happened, 70AD...I believe that is what the beheaded saints in Revelation 6:10 (these verses are related) are also praying for (although it is also a continued prayer through out time leading up to the 2nd advent, it has an immediate fulfillment in 70AD and an Ultimate fulfillment at the end of the world). This interpretation seems to fit the context as well.