The psalmist, David, prays that his armies who have known defeat, will once again be victorious.
Praying for military victory on one side is essentially praying for loss on the other.
It should be a simple matter to pray that the oppressed win and the aggressors lose. But that’s not always how the prayers go. Special interests, political and military alignments and ethnic sympathies often play a part.
Take, for example, that most western countries want Ukraine to have the victory over Russia in a war that Russia seemed to start without just cause. Well, what would constitute just cause for war anyway? In the case of biblical Israel, here in Psalm 60, the losers felt rejected by God 1” O God, you have rejected us, broken our defences; you have been angry; now restore us! “It is not difficult to understand why Ukraine seeks the tangible support of these who claim to have its interest at heart/
It’s interesting that the people of Palestine, at least those featured on the news channels, tend not to sing that song while they are bombarded with bombs, destruction and death. They mostly seem to pray, 11 “O grant us help against the foes, for human help is worthless”.
I recognise, yes, that Hamas’ murderous action provoked Israel to war against them, but this war is not going to stop killing since he only guarantee that the current aggressor can claim of Hamas’ death is the death of every Palestinian.
I ask again. What would constitute just cause for war ? When will we learn how futile it is to ask God for a victory that, in essence, requires the elimination of the other? When will we learn that in God there is enough for each and every one?
So even as we take Russia’s war on Ukraine, we can’t pray for the extermination of every Russian. And certainly, the Put who’s in will outlive many of those who feel the ill effects of war.
War, war, war. Look in the picture and you’ll see the war mound at Waterloo. Looks like a lush place to behold natural, beauty especially when from the hill you view the amazing seascapes. But this is a war memorial all the same. I guess people will always need to defend themselves. Somebody is going to start a war. Maybe we should simply ask God to empty us of the appetite that seeks to steal, kill and destroy. War is destructive in many mow ways than one