Pray for President Trump’s words to be true, wise, godly, and effective.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. (Pr. 25:11)

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“Although President Trump’s speech before 50 Muslim leaders in Saudi Arabia did not break new ground in terms of America’s Middle Eastern policy, it was highly significant for at least four reasons.

First, Trump mentioned ‘terror’ or ‘terrorism’ 30 times. In stark contrast, during President Obama’s (in)famous Cairo speech in 2009, he did not mention terrorism at all. More importantly, President Trump spoke directly of ‘the crisis of Islamist extremism and the Islamist terror groups it inspires.’

To fight against this, Trump urged, ’means standing together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians.’

And remember: Trump said this in the heart of Islamic holy land, Saudi Arabia.

Second, Trump identified Iran as the enemy, linking Iran directly and repeatedly to Islamic terrorism. . . .

He said, ‘It is a government that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing the destruction of Israel, death to America, and ruin for many leaders and nations in this room.’

This had to sting Iran. And this had to be unprecedented for an American president speaking in such a setting.

Third, the president put Hamas and Hezbollah in the same category as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. This means that opposition to Israel is not a justification for terrorism. . . .

The significance of this was not missed by a Lebanese professor, who, CNN reports, ‘pointed out that Trump equated Hezbollah, a Lebanese political and military group made up mostly of Shia Muslims, with ISIS and al Qaeda. Hezbollah was conceived in the early 1980s primarily to fight against Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon.’

Fourth, Trump rejected the theology of martyrdom by suicide bombing, saying, ‘Terrorists do not worship God, they worship death.’

He said, ‘This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations.

‘This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.

‘This is a battle between Good and Evil.’”(Excerpted from The Christian Post, reporting by Michael Brown.)