Israel Prayer & Praise

Remembering Our True Hope

Hope, in Hebrew is tikvah, this Tikvah is interwoven into the fabric of Israel, even as the national anthem of Israel is called HaTikvah– the Hope. In the Hebrew context, both biblically and in modern Hebrew, hope is more than just a dream or a wish.  It is a confident expectation, and a strong expression of faith. The Scriptures teach that hope is like a rock you can rely on. You can hold fast to it, and it strengthens you.  Psalm 62: 5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. 

Intercede with a New Fervor!…

In Psalm 122:6 we are commanded to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”  The word pray in Hebrew is Shaalu which means “to ask on behalf of.”  So, as God’s intercessors or watchmen on the wall we are commanded by God to lift up Israel in prayer.   Especially during this time when Israel is defending their God-given country against their enemies. They understand that the clear goal of Hamas and the other terrorists surrounding them is for their total destruction. More than ever, we need to intercede with a new fervor and confident hope in what God alone can accomplish. 

PRAY!

As God is the Shomer (Guardian) over Israel, (Psalm 121:3-8) 3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. 8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever, we are to be His shomrim (guardians) as we faithfully watch and pray for Israel’s peace (spiritual peace, return of Messiah), and for her salvation and physical protection.

Prayer Points…

We read in Isaiah 62:6 “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest for yourselves; 7 And give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

Will you be a watchman or guardian on the wall for Israel?  The Lord is calling each of us to be His watchmen- to pray at all times- day and night. I’m including some prayer points that can be helpful to remind us how to pray:

1.      Pray for those Messianic believing soldiers who are serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). There are many believers of all ages who are in this war.  Please pray for not only their safety but also their witness to those fellow soldiers in the IDF.

2.      Pray for the Congregations of Jewish believers in Jesus as they minister to the needs of both their people and the displaced Israelis who have been relocated from their destroyed homes and unsafe areas.  Pray that this would be an unprecedented opportunity to share the love of Yeshua and His compassion and that many hearts would be open to accept Yeshua as the Messiah.

3.      Pray for God’s comfort to be poured out to the many families who are mourning the loss of their loved ones.  That hearts would be turned to the LORD and to Messiah Yeshua. Actually, the entire country is in mourning since this small nation is like one big family.

4.      Pray for the hostages who are still being held captive.  For their immediate release and for God’s protection to reach them in their desperation.

5.      Pray for God’s wisdom for the leaders in Israel and the supernatural victory that only the LORD can give. 

6.      Pray for the United States and other countries around the world to stand with Israel and not give in to international pressure and antisemitism that is mounting against Israel.

 7.   Pray against the very real threat being opened across our northern border with Lebanon. Hezbollah is in a strategic position to strike. Intelligence reports indicate that since re-arming they are in a better level of capability than before the war.

 8. Pray for the people of Gaza who desperately need the LORD and His grace and to pray with       compassion for all who are broken and in need.

Thank you for continuing to pray and care for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel during these difficult days. Shalom.