Jerusalem, Israel
FEBRUARY 2017 PRAYER
UPDATE
Israel and the Nations
*Israel’s
recent “settlement bill” passed in the Knesset, with the encouragement of
Israel’s right-wing government coalition. This bill allows 4000+ homes to
become legal that were built on land that was originally in Israel’s hands, but
eventually became private Palestinian property. The controversial bill calls
for full compensation to Palestinian property owners. The passing of the bill
has already caused an uproar in Europe. The EU cancelled a summit with Israel.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared to French President Francois
Hollande that this bill represents a “theft of Palestinian land.” The timing of
the passing of the bill has been a complication for Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu who has been in diplomatic meetings in the U.K. with Prime
Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Theresa May has been
against Israel’s settlement expansion and may use this as leverage in her
meetings with Netanyahu. Also, the concern is how this will play out when
Netanyahu meets with U.S. President Donald Trump on February 15th in
Washington. Some Israelis think the bill will be brought to the Israeli Supreme
Court and will be declared unconstitutional.
Psalm 125:3: “FOR THE SCEPTER OF WICKEDNESS SHALL NOT REST UPON THE LAND
OF THE RIGHTEOUS, SO THAT THE RIGHTEOUS WILL NOT PUT FORTH THEIR HANDS TO DO
WRONG.”
*Netanyahu,
in his meetings with U.K. leaders has been focusing on the ballistic missile
threat coming from Iran. Recently, Iranian leaders said it would only take 7
minutes for one of their ballistic missiles to hit Israel. Saber rattling on
the part of Iran is heating up, as Israel, the U.K., and the United States seek
to form a triangular alliance against the Islamic Republic.
Psalm 2: 6-8: “I HAVE INSTALLED MY
KING ON ZION, MY HOLY MOUNTAIN. I WILL PROCLAIM THE LORD’S DECREE: ‘HE SAID TO
ME, YOU ARE MY SON. TODAY, I HAVE BECOME YOUR FATHER. ASK ME, AND I WILL MAKE
THE NATIONS YOUR INHERITANCE, THE ENDS OF THE EARTH YOUR POSSESSION.’ ”
Psalm 2:11-12: “SERVE THE LORD WITH FEAR AND CELEBRATE HIS RULE WITH TREMBLING. KISS
THE SON, OR HE WILL BE ANGRY AND YOUR WAY WILL LEAD TO YOUR DESTRUCTION, FOR
HIS WRATH CAN FLARE UP IN A MOMENT. BLESSED ARE ALL WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM.”
While
Netanyahu tries to keep Iran as the main focus of his talks in Israel and
overseas, his right-wing government coalition is focusing more on the issue of
settlements. This division could affect Netanyahu’s talks with international
leaders, as Israel needs a clear foreign policy initiative. The nations are
waiting for it! Also, reportedly, Israel’s inactions in Syria, especially
regarding an increased militant presence on Israel’s borders, could open up the
Golan Heights to a greater presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces in
the future.
Our focus as
intercessors is to pray and declare that, ultimately, it is the Lord who will
fight on behalf of Israel.
Psalm 44:2-8: “WITH YOUR HAND YOU
DROVE OUT THE NATIONS AND PLANTED OUR ANCESTORS; YOU CRUSHED THE PEOPLES AND
MADE OUR ANCESTORS FLOURISH. IT WAS NOT BY THEIR SWORD THAT THEY WON THE LAND,
NOR DID THEIR ARM BRING THEM VICTORY; IT WAS YOUR RIGHT HAND, YOUR ARM, AND THE
LIGHT OF YOUR FACE, FOR YOU LOVED THEM. YOU ARE MY KING AND MY GOD WHO DECREES
VICTORIES FOR JACOB. THROUGH YOU, WE PUSH BACK OUR ENEMIES; THROUGH YOUR NAME,
WE TRAMPLE OUR FOES. I PUT NO TRUST IN MY BOW; MY SWORD DOES NOT BRING ME VICTORY;
BUT, YOU GIVE US VICTORY OVER OUR ENEMIES; YOU PUT OUR ADVERSARIES TO SHAME. IN
GOD, WE MAKE OUR BOAST ALL DAY LONG, AND WE WILL PRAISE YOUR NAME FOREVER.”
Zephaniah 3:16-17: “ON THAT DAY THEY WILL
SAY TO JERUSALEM, ‘DO NOT FEAR, ZION; DO NOT LET YOUR HANDS HANG LIMP. THE LORD
YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU; THE MIGHTY WARRIOR WHO SAVES. HE WILL TAKE GREAT DELIGHT
IN YOU; IN HIS LOVE, HE WILL NO LONGER REBUKE YOU. BUT, HE WILL REJOICE OVER
YOU WITH SINGING!”
Psalm 108:13: “THROUGH GOD WE WILL DO VALIANTLY, AND IT IS HE WHO SHALL
TREAD DOWN OUR ADVERSARIES.”
As you pray through these scriptures
remember that He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. And,
nothing is too difficult for our God, and His Messiah Yeshua -- the ruler of
men and of all the kingdoms of this earth! May Israel find quiet, stillness and
rest in the Lord in the midst of a chaotic Middle East. (See and proclaim Psalm Chapter 46 over
Israel!).