One of my favorite, and at the same time most difficult things to do is to spend time pondering and mulling over a chapter or section of scripture. Difficult because letting go the myriad of things—like dishes, sweeping and mopping, laundry, and other chores that need to get done—so that I can focus on God’s Word is so challenging, particularly since I have a somewhat challenged attention span, a sense of guilt about relaxing, and an enemy dead set against my spending time meditating on Scripture.

That being said, I have started a rich time of reading and praying through the minor prophets—something I would recommend to everyone! I read these verses in Amos 3 this morning:

“Proclaim to the strongholds of Ashdod and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say ‘Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great tumults within her, and the oppressed in her midst.’ ‘They do not know how to do right,’ declares the Lord, ‘those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.’” (vss. 9-10)

The Holy Spirit through the prophet is inviting nations who are not God’s chosen people to observe what was going on in Samaria, the principle city in the northern kingdom of Israel. And what they saw was rioting and looting, oppression, and violence.

“‘They do not know how to do right,’ declares the Lord.” (vs. 10)

This word from the Lord came before the invasion and captivity of Samaria and Israel by Assyria.

I couldn’t help but think about the cities in our nation that are currently being rocked by rioting, looting, oppression, and violence, resulting in destruction—we’ve seen some of the pictures. As Christians, we recognize that satan is the initiator of the evil happening in our nation and around the world, because Jesus clearly defined the enemy’s mission statement: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10)

We cannot expect anything good to come from demonic activities. Also, those who do not know God and do not have an intimate, faith relationship with Jesus do not know what is right, they are not capable of rightly assessing the situation, or of doing right.

One of the reasons for me in reading the Bible (and now the minor prophets) is to have a biblically informed prayer strategy–so my meditations have lead me here:

Father, your Word reminds us that there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9), so I shouldn’t be surprised by the insurrection and violence I see rocking our nation. But I am. I didn’t think it would happen here, not in my lifetime, but it is, and your Word has given us plenty of warning.

It is a fact that any person who does not know you does not know how to do right—the best that they can do is what is right in their own eyes, and that is tainted by sin and the effects of fallen humanity.

So, I praise you, Lord for being truly righteous and just. Thank you for Jesus, who, by His shed blood offers mercy and grace to all who receive Him and accept His righteousness as their own. Thank you for your Word of truth and the indwelling Holy Spirit who transforms our minds and our lives so that we can know what is right.

Lord, your description of Samaria sounds like so many cities in our nation right now. Along with idolatry and rebellion, these despicable comportments brought on the judgment and captivity of Israel—thank you for your Word promising a much better end of the story for them!

But the end of the story for this world is approaching, and just as there have been judgments on nations throughout history, they are precursors of the “Day of the Lord.” I pray that your people will awaken and remain faithful to you as that day approaches.

For now, Lord, I pray in the Name of Jesus against the strongholds of tumult (rioting), robbery (looting), oppression, and violence. Bring an end to the actions of the destroyers, O God! Send forth your warriors, your heavenly host, and your prayer warriors, to stand up against the forces of evil. Undermine the strategies of the enemy to invade, destroy, and take captive those for whom you died. Set the captives free, O God! Let the blood of Jesus cover and protect all those who call out to you.

In your precious Name, Jesus, I pray.