Jerusalem, Israel
JUNE 2014 PRAYER UPDATE
Israel and the
Nations
Psalm 122:6-9
·
STORM
CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON! At a
recent security conference in Tel Aviv, Israeli Maj-Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad,
Director of Political-Military affairs at Israel’s Defense Ministry, warned,
“Today is a pleasant day. But, there are clouds, and a storm, on the horizon.
People don’t believe it until it comes.”
He spoke of Iran’s military nuclear program, declaring it is the
greatest threat to Israel’s security. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards now have
global command centers for terrorism. Gilad also said that Hezbollah’s
firepower threatens all of Israel’s territory. He admitted that Israel has not
been successful in preventing a build-up of rockets in Lebanon, except for a
few military operations, as has been reported. He spoke of Israel’s need to
maintain operational readiness. (Jerusalem Post, 5/21/2014).
Today, despite this need, Israel’s
defense chiefs (Moshe Ya’alon and Benny Gantz) have spoken openly about large
cutbacks in Israel’s defense budget. This is causing the IDF to operate in less
than ideal conditions. The sense is that there is infighting between the IDF
and Israel’s Treasury and Ministry of Finance. The IDF says if something is not
done soon about its budget, it will cease many of its key operations in 2015.
The IDF has been cancelling defense projects that are vital to Israel’s
security because of a lack of funds!
CRAFTED PRAYER: Lord, you know
Israel’s military needs and the preparations that are necessary for the IDF to
defend this nation. You are Israel’s
shield and buckler, a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 35:1-2; Psalm 91:4; Psalm
46:1). You are
the life-line that Israel must seek for. So, we ask You to make Yourself known
among Your people. For You are the Lord and You change not! (Malachi
3:6). We pray that the generals in the IDF will lift up their eyes to
the mountains and seek where their help comes from. According to Psalm 121, it comes from You,
Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth!
Lord, Your Word says that You will not allow our feet to slip; that You
who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. We declare that You are
the shade at our right hand, and the sun will not harm us by day or the moon by
night. You will keep Israel from all
harm. You will watch over the lives of Your Jewish People. You will watch over
this special and unique nation – as people come and go – both now and
forevermore.
·
Anti-Semitism is spreading globally. Reportedly,
25% of adults, worldwide, are anti-Semitic. In Greece, 65% of the population
holds anti-Semitic views about the Jewish People which is part of their
traditional upbringing and the conspiracy theories they believe in. The recent
killing of Jews in a Jewish museum in Belgium; the brutal beating of Jews on
the streets of France; and the increased danger for Jews living in the Ukraine
who are in the cross-fire of a civil war there – all these acts of hatred have
been of great concern to the global Jewish Community. Recent elections in the
EU resulted in radical anti-Semitic racists being voted into the European
Parliament! They now have greater influence on political decisions being made
throughout the European community. This is not a good sign for the Jewish
People in Europe and they should be making plans to come home to Israel.
Pray the Aliyah scriptures for European Jewry…
CRAFTED PRAYER: Lord, according
to Ezekiel 36:24, we pray that
the Jewish People in Europe will heed Your call to leave their homes and cities,
and come to their Promised Land… Israel. We pray they will have the faith of
Abraham, according to Hebrews 11:8,
and they will obey You and go to the place where they will receive their
inheritance. We declare that they will listen for Your voice, and will not
hesitate to take the steps necessary towards making Aliyah, even though they
may not know exactly where they will settle in the land. We proclaim that they
will be bold, strong and courageous, as spoken of in Joshua 1:9 -- that they will not fear; and, that they will
heed your commandment, O Lord, knowing You are with them wherever they go. Ezekiel 20:42 says that they will
know that You are the Lord when you bring them into the land of Israel, the
land You swore with uplifted hand to give to their ancestors. God, we trust
that You will give them good pastures on the mountains of Israel, in the
ravines, and in all the settlements in the land. Lord we remind You of Your
promise, in Ezekiel 39:27, that when You have brought
them back from the nations, and have gathered them from the countries of their
enemies, You will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations. You
promise they will know You as the LORD THEIR GOD, and as you gather them to
their own land, You will not leave any behind, according to Ezekiel 39:28. Amen, in Yeshua’s
name!
·
There has been back-biting, manipulating, and all
kinds of deals being made behind the scenes in Israel’s political corridors as
the race for the Presidency begins. In
mid-June, the Israeli government will vote on who will be the next President of
the State of Israel. It is mainly a ceremonial position, but depending on who
is elected, some of Israel’s former presidents used this high office for political
and diplomatic gain. The President can also undermine the work of the Prime
Minister and stir up trouble. On the other hand, the President can be a father
figure who brings Israelis together in times of trouble; comforts the people;
and encourages unity when there is strife in the nation. Pray that God’s choice for President will find favor in the eyes of the
Israeli government and people. Pray for the Lord to put His Spirit into His Divinely
appointed leader, and anoint this Israeli for God’s Kingdom purposes. As written in Proverbs 21:1, pray that “The king's heart is like a stream of
water directed by the LORD; He guides it wherever He pleases.”
·
Britain, France and the U.S. have intelligence
information that proves that Syrian leader Bashar Assad has failed to declare
all of the chemical weapons he has in his possession. Meanwhile, he has,
reportedly, been using chlorine gas on his people. (The death toll in Syria is now estimated at
about 170,000).
In mid-May, the IDF closed the
Quneitra border between Israel and Syria, declaring it a military zone. This is
because of the fierce fighting on the Syrian Golan Heights between Assad’s
forces and Sunni jihadists. Some of the rebels fighting are with Al-Qaeda and they
control major areas of the Syrian side of the border. This is alarming news for
Israel!
In Proverbs 12, we read that an honest witness tells the truth, but a
false witness tells lies. The Lord detests lying lips. Pray that the deeds of
the unrighteous Assad government, and the rebellious Sunni jihadists, will be
exposed and that all the poisonous chemicals will be brought out of Syria and
destroyed.
Pray that Israel’s borders will be safe and that the Lord will root out
the enemy and expose his wicked schemes. Psalm 21:8: “Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand
will seize your foes.”
Despite wars and rumors of wars, Israelis are patriotic and
they love their country. Israel’s current population is 8.18 million; 6.135
million are Jewish residents, which is 75% of the total population. The good
news is that Israelis remain optimistic about their lives with a large majority
reportedly happy to live in the land!