Oh, God. How Long?

Oh, God. How long?

We lament together as your people in ways that we've read throughout the Psalms in recent days in a Psalm 13 and Psalm 82 kind of way. We lament together over any and every injustice against any and every person or group of people, including black people, not just in the history of our country, but in the last week. Based upon Micah 6:8, we want to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you.

And we lift up our eyes to you for help Psalm 121:1 and how to do that.

We thank you for just law enforcement officers who bravely risk their lives under the banner of Romans 13 to promote good and protect against evil. And we pray for your protection of them. We also pray that you will call to account and bring to an end any and every abuse of their authority for evil that you have given to them for good.

Oh, God, we pray in light of Genesis 9 and Deuteronomy 4 for just laws in our land; 2 Samuel 8 for equal, impartial execution of those laws; Proverbs 13:23 for fair process and opportunity for all people under those laws.

We pray for just leaders like we see in Psalm 72. We pray for government leaders who fear you with humility, who love, righteousness and hate evil, Proverbs 1 and Proverbs 8. We pray in light of your command in 1 Timothy 2 with honor that you command in 1 Peter 2 for our president.

For our governors.

For our state and local and city and county leaders, that under their governance we might lead peaceful, quiet, godly, dignified lives.

We pray, oh God, Jeremiah 29. We pray for the welfare of our city. We pray for the welfare of metro Washington, D.C., for the welfare of Minneapolis and Los Angeles and Chicago and New York City and Atlanta. We pray for the welfare of our country. And God, we pray for your church in our country.

We bow before you now, and we think about Jeremiah 7 and Amos 5. We pray that you would forgive and cleanse and keep us from any semblance of religion in your name that masks, ignores, or promotes injustice. We pray that you will make us, of all people, zealous to defend any and every person made in your image, Genesis 1, who is wrongly or unfairly treated.

We pray, Philippians 1, that you would help us to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Help us in every word we say, in every post we publish and every conversation we have to let our speech, Colossians 4, be gracious, seasoned with salt. In every thought we possess and emotion we feel help us to put on Galatians 3, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Philippians 2, help us to grow in affection and sympathy and love and comfort as we put others before ourselves. We pray Ephesians 4 for humility and gentleness, for patience, for bearing with one another in love. God give us eagerness to maintain the unity of your spirit in the bond of peace. God give us the grace to see the true enemy is not one another, but the evil one, John 10, who seeks to kill and destroy.

God, give us the unity together in the pursuit of you, in the knowledge of your word and the reflection of your character, Ephesians 5.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name alone. We pray your kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

I pray all of these things, according to your word, your spirit, and the name of your son, Jesus, our savior.

David Platt serves as pastor at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C. He is the founder and president of Radical. Books by David Platt include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, and Something Needs to Change, as well as the following volumes in the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series: Exalting Jesus in Matthew, Exalting Jesus in James, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, and Exalting Jesus in Galatians. David Platt received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Along with his wife and four children, he lives in the Washington D.C. metro area.

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