Jerusalem, Israel
APRIL 23, 2020 PRAYER UPDATE
Israel and the
Nations
We are in the special 50 day period of the counting of the
Omer, according to Leviticus 23:15-16. It is also called the waving of
the Omer (which is a sheaf of corn; a grain presented as an offering). The 50 days
began from Passover, and lead up to the day of Pentecost (Shavuot).
DECLARING GOD’S
KINGDOM RULE -- OVER ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS:
Psalm 93:1: “The LORD reigns; He is robed in majesty; The LORD
is robed in majesty and armed with strength. Indeed, the world is established,
firm and secure!”
Psalm 97:1: “The LORD is
King! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad!”
Jeremiah 9:23:
“This
is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the
strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. But, let him who
boasts, boasts in this: that he understands and knows Me, that I AM THE LORD,
who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth – for I
delight in these things,” declares the LORD.’ ”
Jeremiah 23:5-6:
“The
days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a
righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely, and do what is just and right
in the land. In His days, Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’ ”
Zechariah 2:12:
“The
LORD will inherit Judah as His portion in the holy land and will again choose
Jerusalem.”
MESSIAH JESUS, YOU
WILL REIGN OVER JACOB’S DESCENDANTS FOREVER; YOUR KINGDOM WILL NEVER END! (Luke 1:33). FOR
YOUR WORD SAYS THAT YOUR PORTION IS YOUR PEOPLE. THAT JACOB IS YOUR ALLOTTED
INHERTIANCE… YOUR SPECIAL POSSESSION. (Deuteronomy
32:9).
Psalm 28:9:
“Save
Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their Shepherd and carry them in
Your arms forever.”
Psalm 74:2:
“Remember
the nation you purchased long ago; the people of Your inheritance, whom You
redeemed; Mount Zion, where You dwelt.”
Zechariah 1:14:
“Then
the angel said to me, ‘Shout this message for all to hear: ‘This is what the
LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is
passionate and strong.’ ”
UPDATE ON THE ISRAELI
GOVERNMENT:
On Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance eve, April 20, 2020, Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Blue and White party chairman Benny
Gantz, announced the formation of a “national emergency unity government.” It
will become a “national unity government” within 6 months.
It’s the second time in Israel’s history that Israel has had
a unity government. (The first time was in 1984, with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak
Shamir).
In this new government, there will be 36 ministers, and 16
deputy ministers; the largest government in Israel’s history. Analysts say it
will be an expensive and complicated government to operate.
Both men will have an equal amount of ministers with
portfolios in the new government. However, the most significant positions, such
as Defense Minister and Foreign Minister will go to Gantz and his party members.
Netanyahu is being forced to share his power with Gantz (who he opposed in the
elections) in the formation of this new unity government.
Netanyahu will continue as Prime Minister for 18 months,
with Benny Gantz serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister during
that time. In the rotation, Gantz will become Prime Minister with Netanyahu
serving as Deputy Prime Minister.
May 4th was supposed to be the swearing in ceremony, but it,
reportedly, will be delayed several weeks.
The point of contention that was holding up the agreement
between Netanyahu and Gantz was a disagreement over who to appoint to the
JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMITTEE.
Netanyahu, who has been indicted and faces a court trial on
multiple counts of corruption including bribery, demanded veto power over the
nominations for the Judicial Selection Committee. The agreement with Gantz was
that the vote on the committee members to be selected, will be held after the national
unity government is formed. Netanyahu’s Likud political party has ensured a
right-wing majority on the Judicial Selection Committee.
Netanyahu’s indictment trial begins May 24th.
There are petitions before the Supreme Court that could hinder the formation of
a new unity government. One of these petitions states that Netanyahu should not
serve as prime minister as long as he is under indictment. If the Supreme Court
would rule in favor of this petition, Gantz and Netanyahu have agreed to dissolve
the Knesset and go to 4th elections. Since a majority of the Israeli public
does not want a 4th elections, it seems this new government will be formed.
Israel has been led by a Netanyahu caretaker government
since December 2018, when the Knesset dissolved, brought on by disagreements
with then Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Since then, there have been three
consecutive elections.
In March 2020, Israel found itself in an unprecedented
constitutional crisis between the Judicial, Legislative and Executive Branches
of government, though technically, Israel does not have a constitution but a
set of Basic Laws.
Netanyahu and his Likud party had been furious with the way
the courts were over-reaching and interfering with political decisions. Gantz
was entwined with members of his party list that wanted to oust Netanyahu
through legislative means, in the Knesset, before a new government had been
formed.
Their demand was that the Likud Speaker of the Knesset, Yuli
Edelstein, had to convene the Knesset, so he could be voted out as Speaker, and
then someone else could be voted in as Speaker. Then, the idea was that Gantz’s
Blue and White political partners would have enough votes in the Knesset to
oust Netanyahu through a series of new, enacted legislation put into law.
Edelstein refused to convene the Knesset before a new
government was formed. The issue then went to the Supreme Court and all judges
voted that Edelstein would have to obey the order.
Instead, Edelstein resigned, which was considered contempt
of court.
The Knesset was convened a day later by one of the senior
Knesset members, Amir Peretz. Gantz was voted in as Knesset Speaker. It was
assumed that he had made a previous deal with Netanyahu, agreeing not to bring
any legislation forward that would oust Netanyahu. This assumed that their
mutual goal was establishing a national emergency unity government.
Some politicians on Gantz’s Blue and White party list said
he had betrayed them, and his party split apart.
Meanwhile, all this paved the way for talks between Gantz
and Netanyahu. But, the judicial issue, among other issues, remained the sticking
point. When the time for a government to be formed had ended, Israel’s
President Rivlin, made a decision to give the mandate to the Knesset itself.
Knesset members were given 21 days to form a government. In the meantime, this
pushed Gantz and Netanyahu together, to form a government under pressure, within
the deadline. And, they did so on April 4, 2020.
DECLARATIONS OVER
THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT:
We declare, according
to Psalm 103:19: “The LORD has
established His throne in heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all!”
We proclaim the
Lord’s declaration, in Zechariah 8:16,
of how the politicians and officials in government are to submit before Him: “These are the things you are to do: Speak
the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts. Do
not plot evil against each other, and do not give false testimony under oath.” For
God says: “I hate lying, injustice, and
violence.”
So, we release this
God-ordained declaration over Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, and over this
new national emergency unity government, as it is being established, in Jesus’
name!
For, You God, are not
a god of disorder or confusion, but the God of Peace, our Sar Shalom!
According to Proverbs
11:21, “though they join forces, the
wicked will not go unpunished. But, the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.”
So, Lord, we ask You,
that as Netanyahu and Gantz’s political parties join forces, that you will
expose any evil, but that you will also allow the righteous to go free.
Lord, You love peace
and truth. It is You alone who judges. You bring one down; You exalt another.
You decide who will rise and who will fall.
We pray that you will
have mercy on Netanyahu, and that he will be found to be among the righteous
that is humble in heart, and delivered by Your hand during his indictment trial
this year.
Lord, you say in Jeremiah
7:23, “This is what I told them:
‘Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. Do everything as I
say, and all will be well.’ ”
WE PRAY FOR
NETANYAHU AND GANTZ TO BE OBEDIENT TO YOU. WE PRAY FOR A JUST GOVERNING SYSTEM
IN THIS NEW UNITY COALITION -- ONE THAT IS NOT FAR REACHING; ONE THAT STAYS
BALANCED AND WITHIN THE LIMITS OF ITS POWER.
According to 2 Chronicles 19:6, Lord, you said to
the judges: “Consider carefully what you
do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you, when
you render judgement.”
So, we pray that the
fear of the LORD will be on the selected judges for the State of Israel. That
they will judge carefully and with integrity. For, You LORD our God, do not
tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.
We also declare Deuteronomy 32:4: “He is the Rock;
His deeds are perfect. Everything He does is just and fair. He is a faithful
God who does no wrong; how just and upright He is!”
IN PRAYER, PROCLAIM
GOD’S PROMISES, ASSURANCES, AND WARNINGS TO ISRAEL’S LEADERS:
Daniel 4:17:
“The
decision is announced by messengers; the holy ones declare the verdict; so that
the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth,
and gives them to anyone He wishes, and sets over them the lowliest of people.”
Proverbs 23:12:
“Apply
your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.”
Jeremiah 13:15:
“Hear and pay attention. Do not be
arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.”
Exodus 19:5-6:
“Now, if you will obey Me, and keep My
covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples; for all the
earth is Mine.”
Psalm 58:11:
“Then
people will say, ‘Surely, the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a
God who judges the earth.”
Psalm 75:2:
“When
I (the Lord) choose a time, I will judge fairly.”
Psalm 75:4:
“I
warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting.’ I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your
fists!”
Proverbs 11:14: “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is
won through many advisors.”
Proverbs 15:22: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers
they succeed.”
DECLARATION OVER
SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST:
About 180,000-200,000 Holocaust Survivors are still living
in Israel. In their time of isolation, closed-in because of their age and the
spread of the coronavirus, we pray that they come to a revelation of their
Messiah, and receive Him, so their final destiny can be eternal life!
According to Isaiah 37:32 and 2 Kings 19:31: “For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,
and out of Mount Zion, a group of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will
accomplish this. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will
make this happen.”
COVED-19:
In Israel, there is confusion over exactly what is allowed
and what is not allowed as the government calls for an exit strategy. Currently,
other nations are in the most extreme of lockdowns. And, we want to pray for
those nations.
DECLARATIONS AND
PRAYER FOR ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS REGARDING COVED-19:
Lamentations 3:22-24: “The steadfast love of the LORD never
ceases; His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is
Your faithfulness, O Lord. I say, the LORD is my portion, therefore, I will put
my hope in Him.”
Lord, we ask for Your
mercy. According to Psalm 75:3:
“When the earth and all its inhabitants shake, You Lord are the One who
steadies its pillars; who keeps its foundations firm.”
God, we put our trust
in you, and we call on You to help us keep our attitudes right in the midst of
this crisis.
Matthew
5:16 says: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Let us be a light to
others and glorify You in the midst of this crisis.
According to Romans 12:12, we agree to: “Be
joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful and persistent in prayer” during
this difficult time.
We pray for those who
are out of work. We proclaim: The LORD
Himself goes before you. He will be with you. He will never leave you or
forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
And, in prayer, we
call on the Body of Messiah to: “Keep
your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have,
because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ” (Hebrew
13:5)
We have these
promises in You, Lord, as we struggle with our friends and loved ones at this
time. We entreat You that you will ward off the curse of this plague. Your
faithful Word is our guide.
Jeremiah 32:17:
“All
Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched
arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.
Jeremiah 32:27:
“I
am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Exodus 23:25: ‘Worship the LORD your God, and His blessing
will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.”
1 Chronicles
16:31: “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad. Let them say among the
nations, ‘The LORD reigns!’ ”
Psalm 98:9:
“Let
them worship the LORD! He is coming to judge everyone on the earth, and He will
be honest and fair.”
Psalm 67:4:
“Let the whole world sing for joy,
because You govern the nations with justice, and guide the people of the whole
world.”
Psalm 9:8: “He rules the world with righteousness He
judges the nations with justice.”
DEFENSE AND
SECURITY ISSUES:
In the midst of the coronavirus war, Hezbollah tried to
infiltrate Israel in the north this past week. Iran has developed a new drone
that they say can threaten and hit Israeli territory. (Iran sent a drone across
the border between Israel and Syria last year, so they could try it again).
The Israeli government is having to focus its attention on
both battlefields, and doing so without distractions: protecting our borders,
and fighting the coronavirus. Intensive intercession is needed.
Please note: RAMADAN starts April 24. If Israel closes
mosques because of coronavirus, it could be seen to the Muslim world as an act
of war. Please pray accordingly!
PROCLAMATIONS OVER
ISRAEL OF GOD’S PROTECTION:
Lord God, according
to Psalm 33:10, we ask You to:
frustrate the plans of the nations and
thwart all wicked schemes.
We declare what the
Lord will do to protect Israel’s borders: According to Isaiah 42:13: “The LORD will go forth like a warrior. He will
stir up His zeal like a soldier. He will shout; yes, He will roar. He will
prevail against His enemies.”
Lord, put on
righteousness like a breastplate; and the helmet of salvation on Your head.
Justice as Your armor, and saving power as Your helmet.
To the IDF we
proclaim: “Plans are established by
seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.”
Indeed our shield
belongs to the LORD, our King; to the Holy One of Israel!