First Baptist Church

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A Prayer for Israel

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“O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever.” (Psalm 131:3, NASB95)

For some time now, I have been praying for the peace of Jerusalem and for Israel. I began this after reading Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they prosper who love you.” As I have been praying, I have watched the news to see what has been going on in Jerusalem. I watch the Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera News Service, CNN, and FOX News. I try to get every angle I can because “news” today is more propaganda that actual unbiased news reporting.

As I have prayed for Jerusalem and for Israel, I have wavered at times. I have wavered by wondering if the Israel we see today is actually the Israel of the Bible at all. Most of the people of Israel today would tell you that they are atheists. Very few seem to know or care what tribe they come from and only use the concept of “Promised Land” for political means. There is very little worship of God. There is no Temple. There are no sacrifices that point to the coming of Messiah. Those who are looking for Messiah, are looking for a political leader to deliver them from the Muslims who occupy much of the land and most of the city.

As I pondered this, I realized that this pretty much matches the Biblical description of Israel throughout recorded history. Israel went through protracted periods of disbelief, idolatry, hopelessness, and difficulty. They are still doing so. They had leaders that were only interested in pursuing their own aims and goals. They still do. They faced opposition from every side and this caused them to question God’s love, power, and even existence and caused them to look to others for their identity and deliverance. That is what they are doing today.

As I have prayed for Israel for these months, another reality has hit me. In Genesis 12, God promised Abram, “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-2, NASB95) Over the years, the United States has been allies with Israel and encouraged them by helping financially, militarily, and politically. Some presidents have wavered in their support and commitment to this alliance, but over the long view, we have stood with Israel. Might this be at least part of the reason we have been blessed?

Lastly, as I have been praying, I have also begun to realize and pray that Israel would recognize that her Messiah has come. Paul said that one day the veil would be removed from her eyes. I pray that day would come sooner rather than later. I pray that they would know the completion of the plan that God had when He called Abram from Ur, for which He led Israel out of Egypt, for which He gave Joshua and the people the Promised Land, for which He called judges, prophets, and even kings to point toward, and for which He allowed Israel to go through the difficulties they faced along the way.

As I have been praying, I have come across Psalm 131:3 and my prayer has included:

“Lord, let Israel place their hope in You. From this time forth and forever, let them trust in, hope in, believe in, surrender to, worship, and accept Your Son as their way to You. Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one comes to You except through Him. Would You open their eyes? Would you open ours? In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, Amen.”

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.