“It’s obvious to all; [God] will have nothing to do with corrupt rulers
who pass laws that empower evil and defeat what is right.”
(Psalm 94:20 TPT)
For the last two years, my primary prayer around the state of our world has been Psalm 37:17: “God, break the power of the wicked and uphold the righteous.” Day after day, week after week, month after month, we’ve seen SO much wickedness exhibited in our government, media, businesses, and so many other places. Watching or reading the “news” is a festival of evil, corruption, and soul-chilling wickedness on display. God has been gracious, patient, and kind for a very long time, not wanting any to perish, but wanting all to come to a saving knowledge of the love and grace of Jesus Christ. But we must admit that, for whatever reason, some people will not choose God no matter what. While we believers are called to pray for evildoers to come to repentance, when God’s patience runs out, they will not have another chance to repent. When I came across Psalm 94 (again), I knew this prayer went along with my prayers that God will break the power of the wicked in our society and world.
Lord God Almighty, you are the God who takes vengeance on your enemies.
It’s time for you to punish evil!
Let your rays of revelation-light shine from your people and
pierce the conscience of the wicked and punish them.
It’s time to arise as judge of all the earth; arise to punish the proud with the penalty they deserve!
How much longer will you sit back and watch the wicked triumph in their evil, boasting in all that is wrong?
Listen to them bragging among themselves, big in their own eyes, all because of the crimes
they’ve committed against your people!
See how they’re crushing those who love you, God, cruelly oppressing those who belong to you. Heartlessly they murder the widows, the foreigners, and even the orphaned children.
They say to themselves, “The Lord God doesn’t see this.
Their God, the God of Jacob, he doesn’t even care!”
But you’d better watch out, you stupid fools!
You’d better wise up! Why would you act like God doesn’t exist?
Do you really think that God can’t hear their cries?
God isn’t hard of hearing; he’ll hear all their cries.
God isn’t blind. He who made the eye has superb vision, and he’s watching all you do.
Won’t the God who knows all things know what you’ve done?
The God who punishes nations will surely punish you!
The Lord has fully examined every thought of man and found them all to be empty and futile.
Lord Yah, there’s such a blessing that comes when you teach us your Word and your ways.
Even the sting of your correction can be sweet. It rescues us from our days of trouble
until you are ready to punish the wicked.
For the Lord will never walk away from his cherished ones,
nor would he forsake his chosen ones who belong to him.
Whenever you pronounce judgments, they reveal righteousness. All your devoted lovers will be pleased.
Lord, who will protect us from these wicked ones?
If you don’t stand to defend us, who will? We have no one but you!
We would have been killed so many times if you had not been there for us.
When we screamed out, “Lord, we’re doomed!” your fiery love was stirred, and you raced to our rescue.
Whenever our busy thoughts were out of control, the soothing comfort of your presence
calmed us down and overwhelmed us with delight.
It’s obvious to all; you will have nothing to do with corrupt rulers who pass laws that empower evil
and defeat what is right. For they gang up against the lovers of righteousness
and condemn the innocent to death.
But we know that all their evil plans will boomerang back onto them.
Every plot they hatch will simply seal their own doom.
For you, our God, you will destroy them, giving them what they deserve.
For you are our true tower of strength, our safe place, our hideout, and our true shelter. (Psalm 94 TPT)
So, God, move in a way that is undeniable that you are LORD and Sovereign over all the earth. We continue to pray for evildoers to come to repentance, but we pray you will break the power of the wicked in this day and hour and in all places. Uphold, protect, and bless your people who are called by your name and know you, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. Holy Spirit, guide us into all truths and righteousness. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
“The power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.” (Psalm 37:17 NIV)
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (1 Peter 3:9 NIV)
“Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.” (Isaiah 43:6-7 NIV)
“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (Psalm 25:5 NIV)