Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. v.11
Read chapter 14
Woah! Kind of crazy that God says not to pray for this people. Now let's make sure we take this in context before you go about choosing who you don't want to pray for.
Droughts were going on during this time in Judah. Droughts were a serious concern as they were a life or death issue in these societies and especially for farmers. Droughts were also a curse of disobedience by the Lord as we read in Deuteronomy 28. The people of Judah cry out to the Lord for rain; notice that they're not mourning for their sins but lack of their loss- they're just praying so they can get what they want. They know God's there, they believe He exists, but they're asking why He's not acting. They had gone after other gods, greatly sinned and did not listen to God or His messengers. They were so hardened toward the Lord they were past the point of prayer. Notice the Lord calls them "this people" and no longer "My people." God's judgement was set and there was no turning back their justice due. One commentary notes that, "he does not forbid him praying at all for them, or for their repentance and reformation; or for spiritual good things for them, for eternal life and salvation for the remnant of his own people among them; but not for external good things for the bulk of them." (Gill's Exposition)
We do not have such a direct command today to not pray for someone. Rather the Lord tells us to pray for your enemies (Matthew 5). Who will you pray for today for their repentance and salvation?
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