Monday, December 17, 2018

Psalm 41, 52 
Zechariah 1 : 7-17 
Revelation 3: 7-13 
Matthew 24: 15-31 

It is widely believed that Bashar al-Assad was responsible for using chemical weapons on an agricultural area near Damascus on August 21, 2013, thereby furthering the destruction and deaths of his homeland’s people. The United Nations was consistently frustrated in its attempts to intervene and the United States considered acting against Syria alone. There was concern that attempts to assist the Syrian people might endanger more people and further harm difficult international relationships with those who support al-Assad. The obstacles to a resolution seemed insurmountable. The consequences of intervention were greatly feared.

At the time, I feared we had left them alone.

The Bible contains many stories of perseverance, endurance and waiting, of trusting in God and of surviving evil. The psalmist, referring to those in time of trouble, tells us that God does “not give them up to the will of their enemies.” (Psalm 41:2) We must continue to pray for the people of Syria. We must not become worn out from praying for those who need our prayers. We must be as the psalmist says: keeping our faith green, that is fresh, not weary. Do not give up on prayer. (Psalm 52:8)

God of the oppressed, we pray for all those who suffer injustice at the hands of cruel and indifferent rulers, especially for the innocent victims of war. Give them strength and patience, and hasten the day when the kingdoms of this world will own the perfect law of love, made known to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. (BAS, p. 772)

––Lynne Samways-Hiltz