Terrorism has struck Israel in the most horrific attack in the history of the modern state. How are we to respond? There are people who identify as Christians who take various positions politically on what has happened, why it happened, whose fault it is, and who is to blame. I would imagine we can all agree if you are the person whose wife has been raped and kidnapped and whose children have been killed and then beheaded on a live feed online (you can easily find this footage if you decided to which I don’t recommend) you are not interested in the different opinions of people at the local coffee shop, tattoo parlor or church. You need comfort, justice, help and hope. So before you predetermine the direction of this post or want to spin my words in a way that makes you feel better about your position let me ask you to stop. We need to pray and we need to pray past politics.
Yes, there is so much that needs to be done in Israel, Gaza, Judea, Samaria, Lebanon, Syria and on and on…. We need to pray past politics. Yes, there are practical things that must be addressed and examined. Yes, we are dealing with broken, fallen people on every side of the issues Jew and Arab alike. We need to pray. If you are bored so far, it will only get worse so perhaps move on to another more politically charged article? My goal is to convince you we need to pray and pray past politics. We have a mandate to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. No other city is named in such a way in which we are commanded to pray in the Scriptures. Surely God’s Word directs us to care for people, for cities, for nations, and to carry them in our hearts in prayer. We should, and I do, but those truths do not replace nor suffice for the reality that God calls us to pray with intention for Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jewish people. That may be offensive to you in some way? Jesus often reminds us He and His words can be taken offensively but He pleads for and prays a blessing on those who choose not to be offended by Him (Matthew 11).
God has placed a burden on me to care about these issues deeply. I wish I could tell you I received that burden by examining the Scriptures closely enough to see if for myself or that I had fasted and prayed with intention for God’s heart to be revealed to me in this way. No, when God spoke to my heart that He had an expectation on me to care for Israel and His people I was doing nothing remarkable. It truly feels like a “foolish things to shame the wise” sort of story. I can’t fully explain it to you though I feel God has given me language over time to be able to share how and why I feel it happened. Regardless, this is why I am burdened to pray and want to invite you into that same burden. (Click to read my post “What’s The Big Deal About Israel?”)
I have been hearing from friends throughout the land of Israel that are reeling from the events of the past few days and with concern for what the future holds. Many of them are Jewish believers in Jesus. Some of them are Orthodox Jews who do not look to Jesus for salvation. Some are Arab believers in Jesus who are heartbroken by the plight of those in Gaza that have no interest in supporting Hamas and its terrorism but now fear they will suffer because of the horrible things being done within their own communities. They are all my friends and they all matter to God. Will you please pray with me for them all? Let us pray through the Scriptures below and ask God that through these horrible times many Jews and Arabs will turn to Jesus, the Messiah, to find salvation in Him. (Click here to learn about the Portions Podcast I Help With)
As my friend Scott Volk says, “If you look at Israel through a political lens, you’ll end up hating Arabs or Jews—or both! But if you look at Israel through a biblical lens, you’ll end up loving both Arabs and Jews.” We need to pray past politics. Will you join me?
From The Bible:
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch…. I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. – Isaiah 62:1, 6-7 NIV
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity. – Psalm 122:6-9 NIV
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. – Zechariah 12:10 NIV