SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 127

Jerusalem, Israel

JANUARY 2018 PRAYER UPDATE

Israel and the Nations

*The U.S. is advancing a peace proposal that will include the Palestinian and Arab States. The Palestinians are rebuffing the U.S. as a peace “broker”, refusing to cooperate. Is this stand-off good for Israel or not?   

Israel is usually interested in the process of peace, but not peace proposals that tie the Israeli government into compromising “land for peace”. Pray that any proposal that compromises Israel’s land not be allowed to surface. Ask the Lord to make all plans of the enemy “null and void”. Be aware of false prophets promising a peace plan that will come against God’s purposes for Israel. 

Ezekiel 13:10: This will happen because these evil prophets deceive My people by saying, 'All is peaceful' when there is no peace at all! It's as if the people have built a flimsy wall, and these prophets are trying to reinforce it by covering it with whitewash!

*Israel had 3.6 million tourists visit the land in 2017. An estimated 4 million tourists are expected to visit this year, a record breaking number. With the celebrations of the 70^th anniversary of Israel’s independence coming in April 2018, more hotel rooms are being built; and, plans are underway to take care of the increase in tourism. Israel has also been experiencing relative peace in the past several months. However, there were more rockets fired from Gaza into Israel in 2017 than in the previous two years. The enemy is showing signs of wanting to disrupt the calmness in the land.

Proclaim Psalm 4:8 for the people of Israel, especially those who are in towns and cities that border Gaza: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Jesus is the real peace; the Prince of Peace for Israel! Declare: John 14:27 over the people and the land: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

*Pray for 2018 to be a peaceful year for Israel, especially during the week of April 18-19 when the events for Israel’s birthday will be happening.

Speak Isaiah 14:7 over Israel and the nations: “All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing.”

*God is raising up a new prophetic community in Jerusalem. He is using the mouths of His people to declare His good works; and, to warn the Body of Messiah of being “lukewarm”. The Lord is calling His people to greater holiness. Pray for continued unity among the congregations and the believers in Jerusalem and throughout the land!

John 17:21: “I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one -- as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us, so that the world will believe You sent Me.”

*American Vice President Mike Pence is reportedly traveling to Egypt, then Jordan, then Israel. He is expected to be in Israel on January 22-23. 

Pray that as he talks to the leaders who have peace treaties with Israel, they will line up with God’s Word and his plans for Israel and the nations.

*Jordan’s King Abdullah and his Parliament have increasingly spoken out against Israel. Jordan is aligning itself with Turkey and other states that do not serve the best interests of Israel.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is vowing to create a new alliance of Muslim countries that will stand in defense of Jerusalem, while at the same time, he continues to speak against the U.S. and Israel.  

Recently, Jordan’s Interior Minister toured the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Jordanian leaders have declared that U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements on Jerusalem violate international law. They are enforcing their control over the Temple Mount through the WAQF (the Jordanian Trust). They see themselves as the guardians of Christian and Moslem holy sites. 

But, our GOD is the guardian over Jerusalem. Ultimately, He controls the Temple Mount where His Temple was built and will be built again! Jerusalem is a stumbling block for the nations!

Zechariah 12:3: “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.”

Read Psalm 83 about what will happen to those who form an alliance against the Lord and against His nation, Israel. There will be judgements on Edom, Ammon, Moab – places that are located in Jordan. There will also be judgements against the Ishmaelite’s (which today mostly represent Sunni Moslems); Philistia (where the modern-day Palestinians claim they get their roots from); Tyre (now under Lebanon’s rule); Assyria (which is part of Syria and Iraq today); and other places mentioned in that Psalm. 

While standing on the Lord’s side, knowing that there are enemies who form a confederation against His Holy Land, declare God’s sovereignty over Israel. 

Psalm 68:32-35: “Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Sing praises to the Lord.  Selah! To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times; Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice. Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel, and His strength is in the skies. O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!”

SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 126

Jerusalem, Israel

DECEMBER 2017 PRAYER UPDATE

Israel and the Nations

DID TRUMP GO FAR ENOUGH?

The Israeli government and many of its Jewish citizens are rejoicing in the recent statement of U.S. President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, December 6, he declared, several times, in a White House speech, that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. He also announced plans to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. Israelis braced for the Palestinian and Arab rage that would follow. Nations lined up for and against the declaration.

While thousands of Jews celebrated at the Western Wall, with the good news that the greatest superpower in the world finally acknowledged that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, others expressed concern as to whether Trump’s statement was simply symbolic, or would have real lasting results.

From the Palestinian point of view, it expressed Jewish identity in Jerusalem, and hurt the Palestinian narrative of what they perceive is their rights over this holy city. But, Israel’s sovereign authority over Jerusalem has reached deep into the evangelical community surrounding Trump, with the biblical point of view that Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish homeland of Israel for more than 3,000 years.

THE DELAY AND THE SIGNING OF THE WAIVER

Trump is still delaying the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. This move of the U.S. embassy became an act of Congress 22 years ago, with a provision that the U.S. President could delay the move by six months when signing a waiver. Every U.S. President has signed the waiver since that time.

Trump signed the waver, according to his aides, for financial reasons, because the U.S. government would be obligated to set aside and use monies, within a short period of time, which would be allocated toward the embassy move. Trump wanted more time to find property and construct a new embassy in Jerusalem… maybe, even a few years. He did not want to hold up State Department allocated funds.

On a conference call with Israeli Deputy Minister Michael Oren, he was asked in a question posed by this writer, why one of the buildings already in use as an American consulate in Jerusalem could not house American embassy officials. His response was that the buildings were not large enough for U.S. embassy staff. However, as one analyst later expressed, all the United States needs to do is put their U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Freidman, in an office in one of the consulates in Jerusalem, and this begins official American representation in Israel’s capital!

THE OFFICIAL LINE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT

The State Department held a briefing on Friday, December 8, stating that there would be no change in consular services. Anyone born in Jerusalem, in the past or currently, would not be able to change their passports from their birthplace being “Jerusalem”, to “Jerusalem, Israel”. These Israeli citizens would still be “stateless”. For the State Department, even though the Trump White House was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, it didn’t mean that the State Department was recognizing that Jerusalem was actually in the state of Israel! This must be sorted out between the members of the Trump Administration so that everyone is on-board with the declaration.

WHAT DOES THE TRUMP STATEMENT MEAN?

There was no mention in Trump’s speech about Jerusalem being the “united” and “undivided” capital of Israel, a mantra declared by several of Israel’s leaders, past and present. This is a key point where clarity must be brought forth.

Russia and the Czech Republic are interested in locating their embassies to “West” Jerusalem. The Palestinians will continue to fight for “East” Jerusalem as their capital. Leaders in Saudi Arabia, apparently, don’t mind Trump stating the fact that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital, as long as that doesn’t include any change in the status quo regarding the Temple Mount and the Al-Aksa Mosque. This is still considered Moslem property to the Arab nations; still controlled by the Jordanian WAQF; still in dispute with Israel as to who governs this, and who has the authority to make changes in the eastern part of Jerusalem.

Without Trump stating that Jerusalem will be “united” under Israel authority; without him stating that Jerusalem will be “undivided” under Israel authority, the United States is still opening the door for part of Jerusalem’s sovereignty to be contested in the future.

Respecting Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a good “first start”, but it should not end there. Oren stated that it has been 70 years since the U.S. Truman Administration recognized Israel’s independence.

The question is, will it take another 70 years before the United States recognizes Israel as the Jewish State of the Jewish People with authority over all of Jerusalem, a capital that will never, again, be divided?  

This is something to consider!

PRAYER POINTS:

*Pray for the protection of Israelis at this time as the Palestinians rage and commit violent acts because of Trump’s declaration. Pray for all Jews throughout the world, especially Europe, as anti-Semitic attacks have already begun.

* In a few days, American Vice President Mike Pence will be in the Middle East, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin, and others in the region. He could firm up U.S. support for the peace process, and echo Trump’s proclamation that a two-state solution is possible if the Israelis and Palestinians agree to it. Dividing the land is not the solution! Pray for wisdom for Pence as he travels here, especially that he brings biblical principles into meetings with Israeli and regional leaders. He also needs an extra measure of protection because of the anti-American sentiments that are being expressed by Arabs on the streets in the Middle East.

*Pray for the Lord to fortify Israel’s borders from any cross-border confrontation in the north or south by Israel’s enemies who are threatening to retaliate against the Jewish State because of Trump’s declaration.

*Declare scriptures about Jerusalem and Zion as you intercede for Israel and the nations: (Psalm 2:6; Psalm 48:2; Psalm 122; Psalm 132:13-14; Psalm 135:21;  Psalm 147:12-15; Zechariah  12:3; Isaiah 12:6; Isaiah 60:14; Jeremiah 17:25; and many more!)

SITUATION ANALYSIS -- 125

Jerusalem, Israel

ISRAEL’S LATEST MUSIC SENSATION: FROM THE EAST – MIQEDEM!

A unique group of talented musicians, who play both in Israel and the nations, has hit the music scene with a new sound. The band is called Miqedem, which in biblical Hebrew means, “from the east.” 

Based in Tel Aviv Israel, and formed in 2015, Miqedem musicians started their band by writing, recording and performing their own original Middle Eastern music with lyrics taken from the Hebrew Tenach (Old Testament). 

In early 2016, they created their first album in a small basement recording studio that they rented in South Tel Aviv. They completed that first project without any outside funding, using their limited equipment, as well as other gear they borrowed from friends. 

In May 2016, that first album was released by Miqedem, independently, and now they are on-the-road playing in worship settings, and sharing their passion for rhythms and biblical lyrics that are part of their Israeli culture and the regions beyond.  

The group is playing the music they love, reaching hearts with the ancient sounds of Hebraic melodies. So far, they have shared their new music not only throughout Israel, but also in the Ukraine, France, Poland, Sweden, Germany, England and the United States. 

The response has been positive, as Miqedem band members inspire others by singing biblical texts, while incorporating Israeli rhythms based on regional cultures and traditions.

One method that helps them in creating new music and songs is that they take the original words of the scripture, memorize a certain passage, and meditate on it. They repeat it over and over again until it becomes second nature. Then, they start to feel the beat, the kind of rhythms that work, and the poetry of the vocals come. The structure begins to form, resulting in several verses of a song developing. 

Jamie Hilsden, leader of Miqedem, explains that the first verse comes easier than the rest of the verses. But eventually, the song is completed. He is often looking for parallels that exist in how Hebraic words are expressed biblically, that compare and contrast. He also digs for the deeper meanings in scripture. 

Hilsden spoke to this writer about a song he shared two years ago, “Kol Haneshama,” when he was involved in a special project. It had a unique drum rhythm to it. The music, itself was western, but the drum beat was eastern. It opened up different kinds of sounds for him, “sounds I was familiar with all my life, but we had just never used them before in the congregation.” Hilsden said it has a kind of freshness to it, especially with the various percussions used. 

Hilsden sings vocals and plays guitar. His partner, Yaron Cherniak, shares the vocals with him, and plays several authentic Middle Eastern instruments. 

While Hilsden writes the songs, Cherniak makes sure that the distinctive melodies Miqedem creates stay within the biblical traditions of the east. Cherniak has a degree in eastern music, and is working on his masters now. He understands that kind of ancient composition, while Jamie brings the pop music background, which helps westerners enjoy the blend that is uniquely, Miqedem.

Shai Sol is the only female singer in the group. She plays guitar, and percussion instruments. Other band members are Vadym Sokolyk on bass, and Gabriel Elbaz on drums.

The purpose of the band coming together has been simply to get their inspiration from the people and ethnic groups around them; then, make music and worship God; using the Hebraic scriptures in song. This has been particularly interesting for native-born Israelis who are able to enjoy the music experience as part of their own culture.  

It seems, however, that the under 18 group in Israel still identifies with Hilsden’s previous music style which was based more on rock. But, young adults in their 20’s and 30’s, both in Israel and abroad, are starting to appreciate the new harmonies that Miqedem brings.

According to Hilsden, “I like it all. And, when I go back and just want to enjoy music, my default is still western music. It is still where I come from. It’s my default form of music. But, as far as trying to create something new and fresh, we look to the east.”

After 2 years of composing new scripture based songs, the band is now planning to record a second album. Already, they have written songs and started the pre-production process for the new album. They hope to do the final recording by the end of 2017. 

Hilsden gives a further explanation to the vision of the band members. He explains that in the Torah, “the story of redemption is from the east. Abraham was called out from that same part of the world to go to a land prepared for him. The story of redemption is the story from the east… Miqedem.”

“Declaring the end from the beginning. And, from ancient times, things which have not been done, saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’ Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.”

ISAIAH 46:10-11