Pray Not For These People/Jeremiah 11:14

[WalterandDebbie]

What does this mean? I was shocked to see several passages where God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the Israelites anymore (Jeremiah 7:16 & 11:14). Does that mean God gives up on certain people and we shouldn't pray for them anymore? How do we know when He reaches that point?

Answer:

Great observation and question! Let's look at the texts first, and then check out some comparative scriptures in the New Testament. Then we need to decide if God calls us not to pray for some people.

Do this mean we are not to pray for people? https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21:13,Luke+19:46&version=NIV

http://remnantreport.com/cgi-bin/imcart/read.cgi?article_id=371&sub=15

 

[LovethroughDove]

John 17:9 "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours."

John 17:20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also those who will believe in me through their message"

We don't exactly know who God has chosen as his, so we just pray for his will to be done.

 

[Sinthesis]

1Ti 2:1 ¶ I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 - For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Ti 2:3 - For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 - Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

[jBird]

Without getting into the details God also commanded genocide. Why should we be surprised if God doesn’t want us to pray for a certain people? David also prays for his enemies to be slain in the War Psalms.

"cut them off from being a nation"

"O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth."

The passage from 1 Tim. is talking about all kinds of men which is why he mentions "kings, and for all that are in authority." This allows for us to view the OT passages on praying against our enemies in the proper context.

In Him who saves to the uttermost,

jBird